We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. The Law required all Israelites to teach their children the past history of the nation, and especially the mercies which had been vouchsafed to it (see Exodus 10:2 ; Exodus 12:26 , Exodus 12:27 ; Exodus 13:8 , Exodus 13:10 , etc.). read more
The blessing of memory: a commemoration sermon. "We have heard," etc. Memory is the thread which binds life together. A failing memory is one of the saddest infirmities of old age. Yet there is often this compensation—that the long-distant past is well remembered. The old man forgets what weather it was yesterday, but the sunny birthdays and snowy Christmas Days of childhood live in his memory. The old house, the old frees and voices, the old joys and sorrows, the lessons that sank into... read more
The occasion of the psalm is some serious reverse which the Israelites had sustained in a war with foreign enemies, but who were the enemies, and when exactly the reverse was sustained, are uncertain. No doubt there were many temporary reverses in the course of David's wars, after one of which the psalm may have been written. The psalm divides itself into four parts. In part 1. ( Psalms 60:1-8 ) the writer recounts God's mercies in the past, and from them confidently concludes that... read more
In the days of old. From this psalm we may learn three great lessons— I. WE ARE TAUGHT TO SEE GOD 'S HAND IN HISTORY . There is no such thing as chance. "The chapter of accidents," as some one has well said, "is the Bible of the fool." There are differences in the nations and the ages; but God is in all. We acknowledge how God was with the Jews; but we are not so ready to admit that he had to do just as really and truly with other peoples. The difference, in the case... read more
A prayer for help against foreign enemies. The train of thought is this: "Thou hast helped us, thou must help us; but thou hast not helped us; yet have we not by any guilt on our part cut ourselves off from thy help; do thou therefore help us." The problem of suffering , as argued in this psalm, is similar to the problem in the Book of Job. That God should not help them — I. WAS INCONSISTENT WITS GOD 'S PAST TREATMENT OF THEM . (Verses 1-3.) Their fathers had told... read more
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand ; i.e. "by thy power." The conquest of Canaan is the historical fact referred to. And plantedst them (comp. Exodus 15:17 , "Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance;" and see also Psalms 80:8 , "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it"). How thou didst afflict the people; rather, the peoples , i.e. the Canaanitish nations. And cast them... read more
For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them (comp. Joshua 24:11 , Joshua 24:12 ): but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them (see Deuteronomy 4:37 , Deuteronomy 4:38 ; Joshua 24:11 , Joshua 24:18 ). read more
Thou art my King, O God ; literally, thou art he that is my King , O God ; i.e. I acknowledge no other king but thee, no other absolute lord and master. Command deliverances for Jacob . Being King, thou hast a right to command. We pray thee at this present time to command our deliverance. read more
Through thee will we push down our enemies. Do as we ask—command our deliverance—and then we shall assuredly "push down," i.e. overthrow and prostrate, our enemies. Thy help will be found as effectual in the future as in the past. Through thy Name will we tread them under that rise up against us. Having pushed our foes to the ground (comp. Deuteronomy 33:17 ), we shall then be able to "tread them under." The imagery is drawn from the practice of buffaloes and wild bulls. read more
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John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:25
Verse 25 25For our soul is humbled to the dust The people of God again deplore the greatness of their calamities, and in order that God may be the more disposed to help them, they declare to him that they are afflicted in no ordinary manner. By the metaphors which they here employ, they mean not only that they are cast down, but also that they are crushed and laid upon the earth, so that they are not able to rise again. Some take the word soul for the body, so that there would be in this verse... read more