Psalms 44

King James Version

Full text for Psalms Chapter 44

1¶ To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. 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.

2[How] thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; [how] thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

3For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

4Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

5Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

6For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

7But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

8In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

9¶ But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

10Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

11Thou hast given us like sheep [appointed] for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

12Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase [thy wealth] by their price.

13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

14Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

15My confusion [is] continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

16For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

17¶ All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;

19Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

21Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

23Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast [us] not off for ever.

24Wherefore hidest thou thy face, [and] forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

25For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

26Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

The psalm begins by recounting God's mighty acts of deliverance for their ancestors, emphasizing that victory came solely through divine power and favor, not human strength. However, the psalmist then laments a present state of defeat and shame, feeling abandoned by God and scattered among the nations. Despite this suffering, the people affirm their faithfulness to God's covenant and earnestly plead for His intervention and redemption.

Medium Summary

Psalm 44 opens with a remembrance of God's powerful interventions in the past, where He, by His own hand, drove out nations and established Israel, underscoring that their ancestors' success was due to divine favor, not their own might. The psalmist declares God as their King, trusting in His name for future victories and boasting in His past salvation. Yet, a dramatic shift occurs as the psalm expresses profound distress, describing how God has seemingly cast them off, allowing them to be defeated, scattered, and made a reproach among their neighbors. Despite this deep humiliation and suffering, the people vehemently assert their unwavering loyalty to God and His covenant, affirming that their hearts have not turned back nor their steps declined from His way, even in the face of death. They contend that their persecution is for God's sake. The psalm concludes with an urgent plea for God to "awake," arise, and redeem them according to His mercy, questioning why He hides His face from their affliction.

Long Summary

Psalm 44, a Maschil for the sons of Korah, commences with a profound recollection of God's historical acts of deliverance for the Israelite ancestors. The psalmist recounts how God, by His own hand, drove out the heathen and planted His people, explicitly stating that their possession of the land was not by their own sword or arm, but by God's right hand, arm, and the light of His countenance, due to His favor. This establishes God as their sovereign King, through whom they expect to overcome enemies, trusting not in their own military might but in His name and power. The psalm then shifts dramatically, expressing a deep lament over a present state of national humiliation and defeat. The psalmist feels God has cast them off, put them to shame, and no longer accompanies their armies, leading to retreat before enemies and spoilage by haters. They describe being given up "like sheep appointed for meat," scattered among the heathen, and sold for nought, becoming a reproach, scorn, and byword among surrounding nations. Despite this overwhelming confusion and shame, the people make a solemn affirmation of their faithfulness to God. They declare they have not forgotten Him, nor dealt falsely in His covenant, nor have their hearts turned back or steps declined from His way, even when broken in "the place of dragons" and covered with "the shadow of death." They challenge God to search their hearts, knowing His omniscience, and assert that they are "killed all the day long" and "counted as sheep for the slaughter" precisely "for thy sake." The psalm culminates in an impassioned and urgent cry to God. They implore Him to "awake" from His seeming slumber, to arise and not cast them off forever, questioning why He hides His face from their profound affliction and oppression. Their soul is bowed to the dust, and their belly cleaves to the earth, prompting a final desperate plea for God to arise for their help and redeem them for His mercies' sake.

Core Concepts

  • Divine DeliveranceThe historical recounting of God's powerful acts in driving out nations and establishing Israel, emphasizing that victory was solely by His hand and favor, not human strength.
  • National HumiliationThe profound lament describing Israel's current state of defeat, shame, and scattering, feeling abandoned by God and made a reproach among their neighbors.
  • Covenant FaithfulnessDespite intense suffering and perceived divine abandonment, the psalmist and the people affirm their unwavering loyalty to God and His covenant, asserting they have not forgotten Him or turned from His ways.
  • Suffering for God's SakeThe assertion that their ongoing persecution and being "killed all the day long" are endured precisely because of their allegiance to God, likening themselves to "sheep for the slaughter."
  • Plea for Divine InterventionAn urgent and direct appeal to God to "awake," arise, and redeem His people, questioning His apparent inaction and hidden face in the midst of their deep affliction.
  • Trust in God's PowerThe initial declaration of trust in God as their King and the source of their strength against enemies, contrasting with the later lament of His seeming withdrawal.