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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 44:17-26

The people of God, being greatly afflicted and oppressed, here apply to him; whither else should they go? I. By way of appeal, concerning their integrity, which he only is an infallible judge of, and which he will certainly be the rewarder of. Two things they call God to witness to:? 1. That, though they suffered these hard things, yet they kept close to God and to their duty (Ps. 44:17): ?All this has come upon us, and it is as bad perhaps as bad can be, yet have we not forgotten thee,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:17

All this is come upon us ,.... Not by chance, but according to the purpose and counsel of God; not for sin, and as a punishment of it, but for Christ's sake and his Gospel; for a profession of faith in him, and for the trial of it; yet have we not forgotten thee ; not the being and perfections of God, on which they often meditated, especially as displayed in the affair of salvation by Jesus Christ; nor the works of God, which were remembered to encourage faith and hope in their present... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:18

Our heart is not turned back ,.... To its original hardness, blindness, and bondage, to its former sin and folly, to cherish, gratify, and fulfil its lusts and desires; not from God, from love to him, faith in him, and desires after him; nor from his worship and service; their trials had no such influence upon them as to cause them to apostatize from God, neither in heart, nor in action; neither have our steps declined from thy way ; from the way of his commandments, from the paths of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:19

Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons ,.... Where men, comparable to dragons or their poison and cruelty, dwell; particularly in Rome, and the Roman jurisdiction, both Pagan and Papal, the seat of Satan the great red dragon, and of his wretched brood and offspring, the beast, to whom he has given his power; here the saints and followers of Christ have been sorely afflicted and persecuted, and yet have held fast the name of Christ, and not denied his faith; see Revelation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:20

If we have forgotten the name of our God ,.... As antichrist, and the antichristian party did in those times, Daniel 11:36 ; or stretched out our hands to a strange god ; as not to any of the Heathen deities under the Pagan persecutions, so not to any images of gold, silver, brass, and wood, under the Papal tyranny; not to the Virgin Mary, nor to angels and saints departed; nor to the breaden God in the mass, never heard of before; see Daniel 11:38 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:21

Shall not God search this out ?.... Undoubtedly he would, was it so, and expose it, and punish for it; as he will the Balaamites and children of Jezebel, Revelation 2:18 ; this seems to be an appeal to God for the truth of all that the church had said concerning her steadfastness and integrity under the most trying exercises; for he knoweth the secrets of the heart ; whether the heart is turned back, or there is any inclination to apostatize from God, or his name is forgotten in it; as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:22

Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long ,.... These words are cited by the Apostle Paul in Romans 8:36 ; and are applied to his times, showing the then close attachment of the saints to Christ, and their strong love and affection for him; and they have the same sense here, being an instance and proof of the church's integrity and faithfulness in the cause of God, amidst the sorest afflictions and persecutions; for the truth of which she appeals to the searcher of hearts; and had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:23

Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord ?.... Not that sleep properly falls upon God: the Keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; his eyes are always upon his people; he never withdraws them from them, and he watches over them night and day: but sometimes he seems and is thought to be asleep; as when wicked men flourish and triumph over the righteous, and go on in sin with impunity; when their judgment seems to linger, and their damnation to slumber, though it does not; and when the saints... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:24

Wherefore hidest thou thy face ?.... See Psalm 10:1 ; and forgettest our affliction and our oppression . Not that the Lord does really forget either the persons of his people, which he cannot, since they are engraven on the palms of his hands, and a book of remembrance is written for them: nor the afflictions of his people; he knows their souls in adversity; he chooses them in the furnace of affliction; he makes all afflictions work together for good, and delivers out of them. But... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:25

For our soul is bowed down to the dust ,.... Which may signify great declension in spiritual things, much dejection of mind, and little exercise of grace, Psalm 119:25 ; or a very low estate in temporals; subjection to their enemies; they setting their feet upon their necks, and obliging them to lick the dust of them: and even it may signify nearness to death itself; see Joshua 10:24 ; our belly cleaveth to the earth ; as persons that lie prostrate, being conquered and suppliants. read more

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