Psalm 44-49

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 44

We are not told either who was the penmen of this psalm or when and upon what occasion it was penned, upon a melancholy occasion, we are sure, not so much to the penman himself (then we could have found occasions enough for it in the history of David and his afflictions), but to the church of God in general; and therefore, if we suppose it penned by David, yet we must attribute it purely to the Spirit of prophecy, and must conclude that the Spirit (whatever he himself had) had in view the... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 44:9-15

The people of God here complain to him of the low and afflicted condition that they were now in, under the prevailing power of their enemies and oppressors, which was the more grievous to them because they were now trampled upon, who had always been used, in their struggles with their neighbours, to win the day and get the upper hand, and because those were now their oppressors whom they had many a time triumphed over and made tributaries, and especially because they had boasted in their God... read more

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

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 44 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil . It is not certain who was the writer of this psalm, nor when it was written, and to what time it belongs: some have thought it was composed by one of the Babylonish captivity, and that it gives an account of the church and people of God in those times; but what is said in Psalm 44:17 does not seem to agree with Daniel 9:5 . It is most likely it was written by David, and to him the Targum ascribes it;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:1

We have heard with our ears, O God ,.... The church being in distress calls to mind the past favours of God to his people, in order to encourage her faith and hope; and this expression, delivered in such a form, shows the clearness, evidence, and certainty of what was heard; and which was heard not only as a tradition from father to son; but being recorded in the writings of Moses and the prophets, and these things read both in private and in public, were heard with the ear; our fathers... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:4

Thou art my King, O God ,.... Besides the favours God had done for his people in time past, the church takes notice of her interest in God as her King, who was able to protect and defend her, and to deliver her out of all her distresses, in order the more to strengthen her faith and hope in him; and, claiming her interest in him, she draws nigh to him with an holy boldness, and desires him as a King, that by a word of his (for where the word of a king is, there is power) he would command... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 44:5

Through thee will we push down our enemies ,.... The Chaldee paraphrase renders it, "through the Word": the essential Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the church's King and God, and has wrought out complete deliverance and salvation for his people; and he is the horn of salvation, by which, though weak in themselves, they push down their enemies, which are many and mighty, and they are more than conquerors over them: the metaphor is taken from creatures pushing with their horns... read more

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