Psalm 44:21

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 44:21

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:21

Shall not God search this out? - We confidently appeal to the true Good, the searcher of hearts, for the truth of this statement. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:1-26

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:17-22

In this third stanza the psalmist strongly emphasizes his complaint by maintaining that the calamities from which they are suffering have not come upon the people through any fault of their own, or been in any way provoked or deserved He is, perhaps, over-confident; but we cannot doubt that he is sincere in the belief, which he expresses, that the people, both before and during their calamities, have been obedient and faithful to God, wholly free from idolatry, and exemplary in their conduct... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:21

Shall not God search this out! i.e. visit for it—punish it. Such a result was to be expected. But when there had been no precedent idolatry, no neglect of the worship of Jehovah, what then? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Secret idolatry would, of course, explain the state of things; but the writer evidently knows of no secret idolatry. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:21

God's knowledge of men's hearts. "Shall not God search," etc.? A world of perfect, mutual knowledge, in which the secrets of every heart lay open to every eye, must needs be either heaven or hell. Every one must be perfectly good or else perfectly miserable. In this world of mixed good and evil, God has mercifully built a wall of secrecy, or at least thrown a veil of privacy, around the consciousness of each one of us. Every heart has its own secrets. But the text reminds us that there is... read more

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