Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 44

We have heard with our ears - That is, it has been handed down by tradition.

Our fathers have told us - This refers to our ancestors. They have passed it down from generation to generation.

The word translated “told” properly means to carve, or to engrave on a stone, and then to write. It then comes to mean to number, to count, to recount, to tell, or to declare. This word would be applicable to any method of making the thing known, either by hieroglyphic figures in sculpture, by writing, or by oral tradition, though it seems probable that the latter mode is particularly referred to here. (Exodus 12:26–27).

What work you did in their days - The great work which you accomplished for them; or, how you interposed on their behalf. The reference is to what God accomplished for them in delivering them from Egyptian bondage, and bringing them into the land of Canaan.

In the times of old - In ancient times; in the beginning of our history. The idea here is that we may properly appeal to the past—to what God has done in former ages—as an argument for His interposition in similar circumstances now, for:

1. His former interposition showed His power to save;
2. It was such an illustration of His character that we may appeal to that as a reason for asking Him to interpose again.

How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand - The word rendered “heathen” means simply nations, without necessarily conveying the idea of paganism as that word is now understood. It means the nations, namely, of the land of Canaan, or the Canaanites. Since these nations were in fact idolaters, or strangers to the true religion, the word came in time to have that idea attached to it. It is in that sense that we use the term now, though the word “nations” would accurately express the meaning of the original.

The word rendered “drive out” - ירשׁ yârash - properly means to take, seize, or take possession of. Then, in the form used here (Hiphil), it means to cause to possess, to give possession of, and then, to take possession of, to drive out of a possession, to dispossess, or to disinherit. The meaning here is, he dispossessed them of their country; he disinherited them. This, the psalmist says, God had done by his hand; that is, it was by his own power.

And plantedst them - That is, he planted his people—the children of Israel. He put them in the place of those whom he had disinherited or dispossessed. The word is properly applicable to a tree but is also used with reference to a nation, meaning that he assigned them a fixed and permanent residence. Thus we say in English, “to plant a colony.” Compare Amos 9:15; Jeremiah 24:6; Jeremiah 32:41; Psalms 80:8; 2 Samuel 7:10.

How thou didst afflict the people - That is, the people of the land of Canaan; the nations that dwelt there. The word means to bring evil or calamity upon anyone.

And cast them out - The word used here can be understood in the sense of sending out or expelling (1 Kings 9:7). In that case, it would apply to the Canaanites, meaning that God had expelled or driven them out, as our translators understand it. Alternatively, the word may be used to denote the sending out of shoots or branches by a tree or vine (Jeremiah 17:8; Ezekiel 17:6–7). If so, it would refer here to the Israelites, meaning that God caused them to increase, multiplied them, and spread them over the land as a vine spreads (Psalms 80:8–11). The parallelism here clearly demands the latter interpretation. So it is understood by Luther, DeWette, Tholuck, and Prof. Alexander.

For they got not the land in possession - The land of Canaan. The purpose of this verse is to illustrate the truth expressed in the previous verse: that they owed their establishment in the promised land entirely to God.

The fact that He had intervened on their behalf and shown His ability to defeat their enemies is invoked as a reason why He should now intervene in a time of national danger and calamity.

He who had driven out the nations in the days of their ancestors, He who had established His people peacefully in the land from which the former inhabitants had been expelled, was able to intervene now and save them.

The prominent thought in all this is that it was God who had accomplished all that had been done. That same God was able to save them again.

By their own sword - That is, it was not due to their valor, but to the divine power (Deuteronomy 8:10–18; Deuteronomy 9:3–6; Joshua 24:12).

Neither did their own arm save them - Not their own strength or prowess.

But thy right hand - The right hand is mentioned because it is the one used in wielding the sword or the spear in battle.

And the light of thy countenance - Your favor. It was because You lifted upon them the light of Your countenance, or because You favored them. See the notes on Psalm 4:6.

Because thou hadst a favor unto them - You desired to show them favor; You had pleasure in them. The idea in the Hebrew word is that of delighting in anything, or having pleasure in it.

You are my King, O God - literally, “You are He, my King, O God”; that is, You are the same: the same King, and the same God, who intervened in the time of the fathers. You are also the one whom I recognize as King, as the Sovereign Ruler of Your people. The psalmist here uses the singular number, “my King,” to express his own feelings, though he doubtless also means to speak in the name of the people. It seems likely from this that the author of the psalm was the reigning monarch during the time of the troubles referred to. If not, it was evidently one who assumed his role and intended to represent his feelings.

The language shows the strong confidence of the author of the psalm in God, and perhaps also is designed to express his personal responsibility at the time, and his awareness that his only refuge in conducting the troubled affairs of the nation was God.

Command deliverances for Jacob - It is as if everything was under His command, and He only had to give direction, and salvation would come. The word “Jacob” here is used to denote the descendants of Jacob, or the people of God. See the notes at Psalms 24:6.

Through thee - By your help. Will we push down our enemies. The word here rendered “push down” means literally to strike or push with the horns, spoken of horned animals (Exodus 21:28; Exodus 21:31–32). Then it is applied to a conqueror prostrating nations before him (Deuteronomy 33:17; 1 Kings 22:11).

Through thy name - That is, acting under your authority and by your help. If he gave the commandment (Psalms 44:4), it would be certain that they would be able to overcome their adversaries.

Will we tread them under - We will conquer or subdue them. The language is taken from the custom of treading on a prostrate foe. See Psalm 7:5; Psalms 18:40; compare Job 40:12; Isaiah 10:6; Isaiah 63:3; Daniel 7:23.

That rise up against us - Our enemies that have mustered their strength for war. The language would properly denote those who had rebelled against a government; but it seems here to be used in a more general sense, as referring to those who had waged war against them. See Psalm 18:39.