Psalm 44:2-3

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 44:1-8

Some observe that most of the psalms that are entitled Maschil?psalms of instruction, are sorrowful psalms; for afflictions give instructions, and sorrow of spirit opens the ear to them. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest and teachest. In these verses the church, though now trampled upon, calls to remembrance the days of her triumph, of her triumph in God and over her enemies. This is very largely mentioned here, 1. As an aggravation of the present distress. The yoke of servitude cannot... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:2

How thou didst drive out the Heathen with thy hand ,.... Of power; that is, the Canaanites, as the Targum; the seven nations which inhabited the land of Canaan before the children of Israel came into it, Deuteronomy 7:1 ; and plantedst them : not the Canaanites elsewhere; but, as the same Targum explains it the house of Israel in their land; which, like a vine, was removed from one place, and planted in another; and the settlement of the children of Israel in the land of Canaan is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:3

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword ,.... There were many things which show that the possession of the land of Canaan was not of the Israelites themselves, but of the Lord; as their passing over into it through Jordan as on dry land; the manner in which Jericho, the first city of it, was taken, and the smiting of the Israelites by the men of Ai; neither did their own arm save them ; from their enemies, and deliver them into their hands: they were too apt to ascribe... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:2

Thou didst drove out the heathen - The Canaanites were as a bad tree planted in a good soil, and bringing forth bad fruit with great luxuriance. God plucked up this bad tree from the roots, and in its place planted the Hebrews as a good tree, a good vine, and caused them to take root, and fill the land. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:3

For they got not the land - Neither by their valor, nor cunning, nor for their merit; yet, they were obliged to fight. But how did they conquer? By the right hand of the Lord, and by his arm; by his strength alone, and the light of his countenance - his favor most manifestly shown unto them. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:2

Verse 2 2.Thou hast expelled the heathen with thy hand. This is an illustration of the preceding verse: for the inspired writer had not yet expressly referred to that work of God, the fame of which had been preserved by their fathers. He therefore now adds, that God with his own hand expelled the heathen, in order to plant in their room the children of Abraham: and that he wasted and destroyed them, that he might increase and multiply the seed of Abraham. He compares the ancient inhabitants of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 44:3

Verse 3 3For they got not possession of the land by their own sword. Here the sacred writer confirms by contrast what he has just said; for if they obtained not possession of the land by their own power and skill, it follows that they were planted in it by the hand of another. The multitude of men who went out of Egypt was very great; but not being trained to the art of war, and accustomed only to servile works, they would soon have been defeated by their enemies, who far excelled them in... 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

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