Psalm 44

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:22

Martyr Churches, Hebrew and Christian: a contrast. There is something marvellously touching about this psalm. It is the voice of a martyr Church, which has to witness for God amid persecution, flame, and sword. It divides itself into four parts. In the first there is a glowing retrospect ( Psalms 44:1-8 ); £ in the second, a mournful plaint ( Psalms 44:9-17 and Psalms 44:22 ); in the third, a solemn appeal to the Church's King and Lord ( Psalms 44:18-21 ); in the fourth, an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23

Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? The psalmist does not really believe that Jehovah "sleeps." The heathen might so imagine of their gods ( 1 Kings 18:27 ), but not an Israelite. An Israelite would be sure that "he that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps" ( Psalms 121:4 ). The writer consciously uses an anthropomorphism, really intending only to call on God to rouse himself from his inaction, and lay it aside, and come to Israel's aid. Arise (see Psalms 7:6 ; Psalms 9:19 ; ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23-26

The appeal to God is now made, after the case has been fully represented. God has always hitherto maintained the cause of his people, and given them victory over their enemies, unless they had fallen away from him ( Psalms 44:1-8 ). Now he has acted otherwise—he has allowed their enemies to triumph ( Psalms 44:9-16 ). And they have given him no reason for his desertion of them ( Psalms 44:17-22 ). Surely, if they call upon him, and plead their cause before him, he will relent, and come... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:24

Wherefore hidest thou thy face (comp. Psalms 13:1 ; Psalms 27:9 ; Psalms 69:17 , etc.). And forgettest our affliction and our oppression? (see Psalms 13:1 ; Psalms 74:19 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:25

For our soul is bowed down to the dust ; i.e. brought very low, humbled, as it were, to the earth, so weakened that it has no strength in it. Our belly cleaveth unto the earth. The body participates in the soul's depression, and lies prostrate on the ground. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:26

Arise for our help ; literally, arise as a help unto us ; i.e. arise, and come to our aid. Help against the enemy is the one object of the entire prayer. And redeem us ; or, save us—"deliver us" (comp. Psalms 25:22 ). For thy mercies' sake (comp. Psalms 6:4 ; Psalms 31:16 ). read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44

The title of this psalm, “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil,” is the same as the title prefixed to Psalms 42:1-11, except with a slight transposition. See the notes at the title to Psalms 42:1-11. This does not, however, prove that the psalm was by the same author; or that it was composed on the same occasion; or that the design and the contents of the two resemble each other; but merely that they were alike submitted, for the same purpose, to those descendants of the family... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:1

We have heard with our ears - That is, it has been handed down by tradition.Our fathers have told us - Our ancestors. They have delivered it down from generation to generation. The word rendered “told” means properly to grave, or to insculp on a stone; and thence, to write. Then it comes to mean to number, to count, to recount, to tell, to declare. The word would be applicable to any method of making the thing known, either by hieroglyphic figures in sculpture, by writing, or by oral tradition,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:2

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, to wit, of the land of Canaan, or the Canaanites; and as 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... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:3

For they got not the land in possession - The land of Canaan. The design of this verse is to illustrate the sentiment in the previous verse, that they owed their establishment in the promised land wholly to God. The fact that He had interposed in their behalf; that He had shown that he was able to discomfit their enemies, is appealed to as a reason why he should now interpose in a time of national danger and calamity. He who had driven out the nations in the days of their fathers; he who had... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:23-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:24

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:25

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:26

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 44:3

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