Psalm 44

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:10

Verse 10 10.Thou hast made us to turn back from the enemy. Here the people of God still further complain, that he had made them to flee before their enemies, and had given them up as a prey to be devoured by them. As the saints firmly believe that men are strong and valiant only in so far as God upholds them by his secret power, they also conclude, that when men flee, and are seized with trembling, it is God who strikes them with terror, so that the poor wretched creatures are deprived of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:11

Verse 11 To the same purpose is that other comparison, (verse 11) in which they say that they were given as sheep for food (141) By this the prophet intimates, that being already vanquished previous to the battle, they fell down, as it were, upon the earth before their enemies, ready to be devoured by them, (142) and not fit for any thing else than to gratify their insatiable cruelty. It ought to be observed, that when the faithful represent God as the author of their calamities, it is not in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:12

Verse 12 12Thou hast sold thy people, and not become rich. In saying that they were sold without any gain, it is meant that they were exposed to sale as slaves that are contemptible, and of no value. In the second clause, too, And hast not increased the price of them, there seems to be an allusion to the custom of exposing things to auction, and selling them to the highest bidder. We know that those slaves who were sold were not delivered to the buyers till the price of them had been increased... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:13

Verse 13 13Thou hast made us a reproach to our neighbors Here the Psalmist speaks of their neighbors, who were all actuated either by some secret ill-will, or avowed enmity to the people of God. And certainly it often happens, that neighborhood, which ought to be the means of preserving mutual friendship, engenders all discord and strife. But there was a special reason in respect of the Jews; for they had taken possession of the country in spite of all men, and their religion being hateful to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:15

Verse 15 15My reproach is daily before me. The Hebrew words כלהיום, col-hayom, mean all the day, and denote long continuance: but they may be understood in two ways, either for the whole or entire day, from morning to evening, or for continued succession of days. According to either of these interpretations, the meaning is, that there is no end to their misfortunes. As to the change of the number from the plural to the singular, it is not at all inconsistent that what is spoken in the name of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:17

Verse 17 17All this has come upon us, etc. As they have already attributed to God all the afflictions which they endured, if they should now say that they were undeservedly afflicted, it would be the same thing as to accuse God of injustice; and thus what is here spoken would no longer be a holy prayer, but rather an impious blasphemy. It is, however, to be observed, that the faithful, although in their adversities they do not perceive any obvious reason for being so dealt with, yet they rest... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:19

Verse 19 19Although thou hast broken us in the place of dragons. In the Hebrew it is, For thou hast broken us, etc.; but the causal particle, כי, ki, according to the idiom of the Hebrew language, is often taken in the sense of although or when. (146) And certainly it must be so rendered in this place, for these three verses are connected, and the sentence is incomplete till the end of the words, For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. The faithful repeat more largely what we have already... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:21

Verse 21 21Shall not God search this out? We have here a solemn and emphatic protestation, in which the people of God dare to appeal to him as the judge of their integrity and uprightness. From this it appears, that they did not plead their cause openly before men, but communed with themselves as if they had been before the judgment-seat of God; and moreover, as a token of still greater confidence, they add, that nothing is hidden from God. Why is it that hypocrites often call God to witness,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:22

Verse 22 22Surely for thy sake we are killed all the day. Here the faithful urge another reason why God should show mercy to them, namely, that they are subjected to sufferings not on account of crimes committed by themselves, but simply because the ungodly, from hatred to the name of God, are opposed to them. “This,” it may be said, “seems at first sight a foolish complaint, for the answer which Socrates gave to his wife was apparently more to the purpose, when, upon her lamenting that he was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:23

Verse 23 23Arise, O Lord! why sleepest thou? Here the saints desire that God, having pity upon them, would at length send them help and deliverance. Although God allows the saints to plead with him in this babbling manner, when in their prayers they desire him to rise up or awake; yet it is necessary that they should be fully persuaded that he keeps watch for their safety and defense. We must guard against the notion of Epicurus, who framed to himself a god who, having his abode in heaven,... read more

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:12

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:19

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:23

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