Psalms 44:1 - Meaning and Application

Some observe that most psalms titled “Maschil,” or “instruction,” are sorrowful psalms. Trouble teaches, and a sad heart often listens better. “Blessed is the one whom you discipline and teach” (Psalm 94:12). Here, the church, though now trampled down, remembers the days when God gave her victory over her enemies.

This memory is used in two ways. First, it makes their present suffering feel even heavier. The yoke of slavery feels especially painful to people who once wore the crown of victory. God’s signs of displeasure are most bitter to those who have long known his favor. Second, it gives them hope that God will still turn their captivity and show mercy again. So the psalm joins remembrance, prayer, and hope together.

They begin by recalling the great things God had done for them in the past. “Our fathers have told us what you did in their days” (Psalm 44:1). The many acts of providence are spoken of as one work, because all God does fits together in one wise plan. His many works have a beautiful unity.

This was a duty every generation owed to the next. Those before us told us what God did in their days, and we must tell our children what he has done in ours. In that way, one generation praises his works to another (Psalm 145:4). The fathers make God’s truth known to the children (Isaiah 38:19).

We should not only remember what God has done in our own time. We should also learn what he did long ago, and teach it to our children. Scripture gives us a sure record of those old events, as sure as prophecy. Children should listen carefully when their parents tell them of God’s wonderful works, because these memories will help them later.

Past mercies are strong support for faith and strong reasons in prayer during hard times. Gideon used this kind of appeal when he said, “Where are all his wonders our fathers told us about?” (Judges 6:13). The church now does the same.

Their fathers had told them, especially, how God first planted Israel in Canaan, the land he promised them (Psalm 44:2, Psalm 44:3). He drove out the native peoples to make room for Israel. He defeated them and handed them over, as dust under Israel’s sword and stubble before their bow. The victories under Joshua were not Israel’s own doing.

Those victories were not won because Israel deserved them, but because of God’s favor and free grace. It was through the light of his face, because he was pleased with them. Moses said it was not because of Israel’s righteousness or upright heart that God drove out the nations (Deuteronomy 9:5, Deuteronomy 9:6), but because he kept his oath to their fathers (Deuteronomy 7:8). That takes glory away from us, but it gives us comfort, because every success comes from God’s favor.

Those victories were also not won by Israel’s own strength. God’s right hand and arm brought them the land. Without him, all their efforts would have failed. He fought for Israel, or they would have fought in vain. Through him they acted bravely and won. God planted Israel in that good land like a careful farmer planting a tree and expecting fruit (Psalm 80:8).

This also points to the planting of Christ’s church in the world through the preaching of the gospel. Pagan worship was driven out in a wonderful way, like the Canaanites, though not all at once. It was not done by human skill or power, for God chose to use the weak and foolish things of the world. It was done by God’s wisdom and power. Christ, by his Spirit, went out conquering and to conquer. That memory is a great help to those who groan under antichristian tyranny. Some think the later part of this psalm fits the church under New Testament Babylon very well. The same God who planted his church by his power and goodness will surely uphold it by the same power and goodness, and the gates of hell will not defeat it.

They also remembered how often God had given them victory over enemies who tried to disturb them in that good land (Psalm 44:7). He had many times saved them, put their enemies to flight, and so put them to shame. The victories of the judges over the nations that oppressed Israel showed this clearly. In the same way, many persecutors of the Christian church have been put to shame by the power of truth (Acts 6:10).

They used this record well, and had used it before. They had taken God as their rightful King and sworn loyalty to him (Psalm 44:4). The church says, “You are my King, O God!” (Psalm 74:12). God rules his church as a king. He gives laws for it, keeps peace and order in it, judges for it, pleads its cause, fights its battles, and protects it. It is his kingdom in the world and should live under his rule.

Or the psalmist may be speaking for himself. “Lord, you are my King; where else should I go with my requests?” The favor he asks is not only for himself, but for God’s church. It is everyone’s duty to use personal access to God’s throne of grace for the public good of his people. Moses prayed in this way, “If I have found favor in your sight, guide your people” (Exodus 33:13).

They had also always come to God in prayer when they were in trouble: “Command deliverances for Jacob.” Their request is large in scope. They ask for deliverances, not just one, but many, as many as they need. They seek a whole chain of rescue, a deliverance from every danger. Their faith also shows strong trust in God’s power.

They did not ask God merely to work deliverances, but to command them. That shows how easily and quickly he can save, as when he speaks and it is done. It also shows how sure and effective his word is. They wanted him to command as one with full authority, whose orders will certainly be obeyed. As Scripture says, where the word of a king is, there is power, and this is even more true of the King of kings.

They had trusted in God before and had triumphed through him. Just as they admitted that it was not their own sword and bow that had saved them (Psalms 44:3), so they refused to trust their own weapons for the future (Psalms 44:6). They were saying, “I will not rely on my bow, or on any military strength, as if those could help me without God. No, through you we will strike down our enemies (Psalms 44:5). We will act in your strength, depending only on that, not on the size or skill of our forces. Since you are on our side, we will not doubt victory. Through your name, by your wisdom guiding us, your power strengthening us, and your promise securing success, we will trample down those who rise against us.”

They had also made God their joy and their song of praise (Psalms 44:8). “In God we have boasted, and in him we will keep boasting, every day, all day long.” When their enemies boasted about their own strength and victories, like Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, and Rabshakeh, his spokesman, who threatened Hezekiah, king of Judah, they answered that they had nothing to boast of except their relationship to God and their place in him. If God was for them, they could face the whole world without fear. Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord, and let that shut out every other kind of pride. Those who trust in God should glory in him, because they know whom they have trusted. They may boast in him all day long, since there is always more to say of his goodness. Yet they should also praise his name forever. If they enjoy the comfort of his name, they should give him the glory that is due to it.