Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 44
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 44
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 44
"We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, What work thou didst in their days, In the days of old. Thou didst drive out the nations with thy hand; But them thou didst plant: Thou didst afflict the peoples; But them thou didst spread abroad. For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, Neither did their own arm save them; But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, Because thou wast favorable unto them. Thou art my King, O God: Command deliverance for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our adversaries: Through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, Neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our adversaries, And hast put them to shame that hate us. In God have we made our boast all the day long, And we will give thanks unto thy name for ever. Selah" — Psalms 44:1-8 (ASV)
Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong supports to faith and powerful pleas in prayer under present calamities. The many victories Israel obtained were not by their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace.
The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords, so that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought for Israel; otherwise, they would have fought in vain.
This is applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not by any human policy or power. Christ, by His Spirit, went forth conquering and to conquer; and He who planted a church for Himself in the world will support it by the same power and goodness.
They trusted and triumphed in and through Him. Let him who glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of His name, let them give to Him the glory due to it.
"But now thou hast cast [us] off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts. Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves. Thou hast made us like sheep [appointed] for food, And hast scattered us among the nations. Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us. Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples. All the day long is my dishonor before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger." — Psalms 44:9-16 (ASV)
The believer must have times of temptation, affliction, and discouragement; the church must have seasons of persecution. At such times the people of God will be ready to fear that He has cast them off, and that His name and truth will be dishonoured. But they should look above the instruments of their trouble, to God, well knowing that their worst enemies have no power against them except what is permitted from above.
"All this is come upon us; Yet have we not forgotten thee, Neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from thy way, That thou hast sore broken us in the place of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death. If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god; Will not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? Arise, cast [us] not off for ever. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And forgettest our affliction and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust: Our body cleaveth unto the earth. Rise up for our help, And redeem us for thy lovingkindness` sake. " — Psalms 44:17-26 (ASV)
In afflictions, we must not seek relief by any sinful compliance, but should continually meditate on the truth, purity, and knowledge of our heart-searching God. Sins of the heart and secret sins are known to God, and must be accounted for. He knows the secret of the heart; therefore, He judges words and actions.
While our troubles do not drive us from our duty to God, we should not allow them to drive us from our comfort in God. Let us take care that prosperity and ease do not make us careless and lukewarm. The church of God cannot be persuaded by persecution to forget God; the believer's heart does not turn back from God.
The Spirit of prophecy referred to those who suffered even to death for the testimony of Christ. Observe the pleas used (see verses 25-26)—not their own merit and righteousness, but the poor sinner's pleas. None who belong to Christ shall be cast off, but every one of them shall be saved, and that forever. The mercy of God—purchased, promised, constantly flowing forth, and offered to believers—dispels every doubt arising from our sins, while we pray in faith, Redeem us for Your mercies' sake (Psalms 44:26).
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