Psalms 44 - Printer Friendly

What does Psalms 44 mean?

Chapter Commentary:

This psalm implies Israel was recovering from an especially embarrassing defeat. No explicit event is mentioned. However, various clues in the text suggest an incident with Edom. There, Israel was surprised and battered by their enemies while the main army was occupied elsewhere (Psalm 60; 85; Amos 1:6; 2 Samuel 8:13). Since no other details are offered, connecting this passage to its inspiration is mere speculation.

The psalmist begins by acknowledging that God was responsible for Israel's great victories in the past. Tales of these triumphs were passed down from generation to generation. They were also recorded in books such as Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua. There is no question in the writer's mind that the Lord deserves praise for those events. For the same reason, the writer notes that any success he might have in the future will depend on God's power, not his own (Psalm 44:1–8).

However, the Lord has allowed Israel to suffer defeat. In fact, this loss has shattered the psalmist's confidence. The people are subject to shame, ridicule, and taunting from their enemies. The situation is so dire that the name of Israel is being used as a punchline: a joke referring to their current situation. The psalmist experiences humiliation and embarrassment and feels God had completely abandoned them during the recent debacle (Psalm 44:9–16).

Making matters worse, the psalmist sees no reason for this defeat. Israel had been defeated in the past when they ignored God or His commands (Numbers 14:39–45). God promised that idolatry and other national sins would lead to negative consequences (Deuteronomy 30:15–18). Yet the psalmist is convinced Israel is guilty of no such sins. The writer does not go as far as to claim that the nation is perfectly following the Law. Yet he insists the people are loyal to God, not false idols. The psalmist agonizes to think that God has allowed such suffering, though Israel has not been disloyal. In the New Testament (Romans 8:36), Paul cites verse 22 when teaching that suffering does not imply God has ceased to love His people (Psalm 44:17–22).

Scripture often records statements of raw, unfiltered anguish towards God (Habakkuk 1:2–4; Psalm 73:2–3). These can be uncomfortable, but always return to an acknowledgement of the Lord's goodness and truth (Habakkuk 1:5–11; Psalm 73:15–19; Job 13:15). Verse 23 repeatedly suggests God is uncaring or oblivious to their pain, using the metaphor of being asleep. The writer employs the question human beings ask amid suffering: "why?" Despite that angst, the psalmist prays for God's help. The final statement of the psalm is a reference to God's unending love and loyal care for His people. Despite his pain, the psalmist still prays to the Lord, whom he assumes will come to the rescue (Psalm 44:23–26).

Psalm 44:1–3 is a suitable prelude. The psalmist recalls God's wondrous deeds on behalf of Israel from the exodus from Egypt to the settlement of Canaan. These events are covered in the books of Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, and Judges. This is followed by an expression of trust in God (Psalm 44:4–8). The rest of the psalm forms a lament, a striking contrast to these opening lines.

Psalm 44:4–8 is still focused on God's mighty deeds of the past (Psalm 44:1–3). Here, however, the psalmist expresses his present faith in the Lord. He intends to praise God now and in the future. This declaration helps to frame the psalmist's anguished confusion in the next passage—as if the writer is careful to qualify his upcoming complaint. Beginning in verse 9, the tone shifts dramatically as the writer mourns God's current treatment of the Israelites.

Psalm 44:9–16 marks a drastic change in tone. The previous section contained praise for God's miraculous intervention on Israel's behalf. The psalmist made clear his intent to serve and praise the Lord. Here, however, the writer's words overflow with complaining and questioning. Suffering an especially humiliating defeat leads the people to ask, "why?" Has God abandoned them, or is there another explanation? This resembles other passages expressing natural human anguish when God doesn't act as we'd expect (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4).

Psalm 44:17–22 comes after detailing the aftermath of Israel's defeat. Next, the psalmist insists the nation has done nothing to deserve such treatment. This passage leads to the closing verses of the psalm, in which the psalmist gives an anguished—even accusing—appeal to the Lord for help.

Psalm 44:23–26 contains one of Scripture's boldest, rawest complaints levied against the Lord. This closing section of Psalm 44 comprises the psalmist's desperate plea for help. After insisting Israel's recent humiliation was not due to national sin (Psalm 44:17–22), the psalm turns to a prayer for rescue. This starts with a suggestion—possibly a rhetorical statement—that God is sleeping and ignoring the situation. However, the prayer is also grounded in the assumption of God's "steadfast love."

Chapter Summary:

Israel passed down stories of God's miraculous power and the victories the Lord granted. However, this psalm comes after the nation has suffered some humiliating defeat. The psalmist struggles to understand why, as he sees no evidence of national sin in Israel to justify punishment. The writer expresses raw emotion, frustrated and anguished, yet prays for rescue out of faith in God's lovingkindness.

Chapter Context:

This psalm seems to follow a major defeat in battle. No explicit context is given, though the psalmist claims it was not God's punishment for national idolatry. Some commentators see connection to a conflict with Edom, who surprised Israel when the nation was engaged in other battles (Psalm 60; 85; Amos 1:6; 2 Samuel 8:13) as a possible explanation. This is another example of biblical writers expressing raw human emotions as they struggle to understand God's will. Psalms 69 and 73 include related themes. Habakkuk chapter 1 expresses similar ideas.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

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