Psalms 44
PATmy exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God, my God. Then will I faithfully perform my promises unto thee; and the first thing I do, shall be to go to thy altar, with sacrifices of thanksgiving to thee, the author of my joy and triumph: which shall not cease with that public service; but when I am alone, entertaining myself with my harp, I will praise thy mercy, and faithfulness, and power, O God, my righteous judge; who graciously protectest the innocent, and defcndest those that cannot right themselves. Vcr. 5. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God; for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.] I doubt not of it; and therefore be no longer dejected, O my soul: why shouldest thou give thyself any farther disquiet, and trouble thyself with tumultuous thoughts? Ilope in God to see better days; and believe the enemy hath not so blocked up the way to his tabernacle, but God will open it again, and give me liberty to go and sing praises there unto him; from whom alono as I expect deliverance, so he (who hath always been my most gracious God) will turn roy mourning into joy, and let my countenance be dejected no more* To the chief Musician, for the Sons ofKorah. MaschiL This is the third of those Psalms called Maschil, (see Psal. xxxii.) and the second of those directed to the sons of Korah, (see Psal. xlii.) but doth not seem to have been composed by David, as the two foregoing were: for in his days they were not oppressed by foreign enemies, as, the Psalmist here complains, in the name of the whole church, they were to such a degree, that some of them were made slaves, others killed, and all of them became a reproach. Yet I do not think it was composed in the captivity of Babylon (much less in the persecution by Antiochus, as Theodoret thinks, when these inspirations were ceased), but before that time, though long after David’s days, while their kingdom was as yet standing, and they had some forces remaining, though God did not bless them with success, (vcr. 9.) And if we will fix upon any particular time^and not content ourselves to know, in general, that it was penned when the whole nation was in great distress, I can find none so likely as the days of Hezekiah, who was a pious reformer of that church, and had restored the Divine service, according to the law of Moses, and the ordinances of David; (2 Chron. xxix. 3, 4. 12. 25.) and taken care the priests and Levites should not only do their duty, but have their tithes paid them punctually, &c. (2 Chron. xxx. xxxi.) and yet, notwithstanding, was invaded by the king of Assyria. Who did not merely make somo inroads upon them, and carry away a great many people, (as had been done before his time, 2 Chron. xxix. 9.) but took all the fenced cities, and came before Jerusalem with a great army, (2 Kings xviii. 13. 17. Isa. xxxvi. 1.) In this strait, that good king (or some other Divine person, 2 Chron. xxix. 25.) indited this Psalm; wherein he remembers what God had done for their ancestors; and, considering ho was still their king, thought they might have hoped for the like victories, of which they could not but still boast and glory. BuL alas! it fell out quite contrary; for when they expected his help, he delivered them up into their enemies’ hands, and that when they were the true worshippers of him, and for his sake were slain all the day long. The consideration of which, he hoped, would move God at length to take compassion upon them, and arise for their deliverance. This is the best account I can give of this Psalm, which I; shall follow in my Paraphrase. And we need not scruple to think there were psalmodists in Hezekiah’s days; for after that we find this gift remained with the prophets. For instance, it is visible in Habakkuk; who composed a prayer after the manner of David’s Psalms,,as we read in -the last chapter of his prophecy: whero there are several words, which are to be met withal no w T here but in the book of Psalms; such as Sigionoth, Selah, and Niginoth.
Psalms 44:1
fr E have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told its, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. We have been certainly informed, O Lord, by our fathers, and we believe what they have told us, not only concerning the wonderful works thou didst in their times, but in the ages long before them; as our ancestors that lived in those days have recorded.
Psalms 44:2
How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out J. How thou didst by thy power expel the seven nations out of the land of Canaan, and settle in their stead thy people Israel, whom thou didst transplant thither from among the Egyptians; upon whom thou inflictedst the sorest plagues, till they were forced themselves to thrust them out, (Exod. vi. 1. xii. 33.)
Psalms 44:3
For 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.] This is to bo ascribed to theo alone, and not to their strength and valour: such a speedy conquest was not gained by the force of arms, but by thy mighty power and glorious presence; which thon wast pleased to afford them; not because they had obliged thee by their meritorious services (for they were a murmuring and refractory people), but merely out of thy love and good-will towards them.
Psalms 44:4
Thou art my King, O God; command deliver ances for Jacob.* And thou, O God, who. didst such as-’ tonishing things for them, art still the very same almighty being; whom I honour as my sovereign, my governor, and protector; and humbly beseech thee that thou wilt now in this sore distress vouchsafe to deliver (for, alas! it is not in my poAver, though thou canst as easily as speak a word deliver) the posterity of those, for whom thou hadst so great a favour.
Psalms 44:5
Through thee will we push down our enemies; through thy name will we tread them under that rise xtp against its. If thou wouldest but appear for us, the most powerful enemies should not be able to stand before us; but (as thy servant Moses foretold, Deut. xxxiii. 17. O fulfil that gracious promise!) we should overthrow and trample underfoot all that oppose us.
Psalms 44:6
For I will not trust in thy boiv, neither shall my sword save me. It is thou alone must do it, as thou didst for our forefathers, when thou broughtest them into Canaan: for I have not the least confidence (as they slander me, 2 Kings xviii. 20.) in my arms; no hope to be delivered from this dreadful invasion by any forces that I can raise:
Psalms 44:7
But thou hast saved us from oar enemies, and hast’ put them to shame that hated us. But by thee, O Lord, of whose goodness we ourselves, as well as those before us, have had experience; for thou hast often rescued us from our enemies, and shamefully disappointed those, whose hatred armed them Ugainst us;
Psalms 44:8
In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. In this we glory, and make our boast continually, that we have such a King, such a mighty Saviour and Deliverer, who hath wrought wonderful things for us, and for our forefathers: this is our only comfort and security, which gives us hope that we shall praise thee for relieving us in this distress, and that all posterity shall praise thy power and goodness.
Psalms 44:9
Bat thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies. But for the present thou art so far from being our defender, that thou hast exposed us to the will of our enemies: the shame which was wont to fall on them (ver. 7.) is now our portion; and thou hast withdrawn that gracious presence, (ver. 3.) wherewith thou wast wont to conduct and accompany our armies.
Psalms 44:10
Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy; and they which hate us spoil for themselves. We have lost the courage wherewith thou didst formerly inspire us, and cannot defend our cities and fortresses: but, instead of pushing down our enemies, (ver. 5.) are forced to flee before them, and shamefully leave our camp to be a spoil to them that hate us.
Psalms 44:11
TIiou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. And some of us they kill in the pursuit without any mercy, like sheep appointed for the shambles: others they carry captive, and disperse them among strange people: (2 Chron. xxix. 9.)
Psalms 44:12
Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price. Where being disowned by thee, they are become so contemptible, that they are sold as the vilest slaves, who are nothing worth: thou hast parted with them very easily, and their lords look upon them as unprofitable wretches; by whose sale they do not enrich themselves, but only seek to be rid of a useless burden.
Psalms 44:13
Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. This hath made us that remain to be so cheap in the eyes of all our neighbours, who do not only despise, but reproach and vilify us; for we are grown ridiculous to them that are round about us, and they make a scoff of us.
Psalms 44:14
TIiou makest us a by-word among the heathen, a sltaking of the head among the people. Thou hast brought upon us the curse pronounced by thy servant Moses, (Deut. xxviii. 37.) for we are become a by-word among the heathen; who, when they would express the wretchedness of any person, say," he is viler or more miserable than a Jew; and when they say nothing they signify, by the scornful motion of their heads, their contempt and derision of us. *
Psalms 44:15
My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me. I cannot open my eyes but the tokens of our disgrace present themselves before me; which hath made me so ashamed, that, to hide it, I do not willingly shew my face.,
Psalms 44:16
For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger. For I can hear nothing neither but reproachful words against us, and blasphemous words against thee: (2 Kings xix. 3. 23.) from that insolent enemy, whose very countenance is full of disdain and scorn, and threatens farther mischief to us.
Psalms 44:17
All this is come upon us: yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. This great heap of calamities is fallen upon us, and certainly we have deserved them all: though this comfort is still remaining, that we are not sp wicked as to be moved by all this to desert thee, and violate that covenant whereby we are engaged to worship thee alone.
Psalms 44:18
Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way. We adhere still to thy religion, though both it and we be thus vilified and persecuted: (2 Kings xviii. 22.) we have such a hearty affection to it, that we have not hitherto proved apostates from it:
Psalms 44:19
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. No, though thou hast so shattered and broken in pieces all our forces,’ that we are in the most dismal and forlorn condition; little short of utter destruction.
Psalms 44:20
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strmige god. Thou knowest the truth of this: for if there have been so much as a design in our hearts to revolt from thee; or we have made prayers when we spread out our hands towards heaven unto any other god, whose worshippers we saw so prosperous;
Psalms 44:21
Shall not God search this out? for he knoiveth the secrets of the heart. How is it possible for us to conceal it from thee? or how should we escape thy vengeance for it, who art privy to the most secret motions that are in our souls?
Psalms 44:22
Yea, for thy sake are we kilted all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. And that which thou seest in secret, our sufferings testify openly to all others: for our constancy to thee exposes us to continual slaughters; wo prefer a shameful death before prosperous impiety; and, rather than sacrifice to any other god, choose to fall ourselves a sacrifice to thee.
Psalms 44:23
Awake, why steepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever. And therefore we hope at last thou wilt take notice of our fidelity; and no longer seem to neglect those that have not deserted thee. Give us leave, O God, to beg this of thee most earnestly, and to ask why thou dost not send relief to thy afflicted servants. Make no farther delay; but, though for our sins we have been exposed to the cruel contempt of our enemies, (ver. 9.) own us now at length for thy people: and shew that we are not such abjects as they account us.
Psalms 44:25
For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly cleaveth unto the earth. For the load of it is so great, that it hath sunk us into the most dejected condition: wherein we lie dismayed, as men without life and soul, having no strength at all to help ourselves.
Psalms 44:26
Arise for our help, and redeem us, for thy mercies 9 sake. Therefore do thou appear for our deliverance, now that we can neither do any thing for ourselves, nor deserve any thing of thee: let not thy goodness, which hath been so famed, suffer together with us; but, for the sake of that, which we and our fathers have so often experimented, rescue us from our miseries,
Wlierefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?. It is very grievous to us to think that they look upon us as deserted by thee; which Microsoft® [psalm xlv. provokes us to expostulate with thee, and to demand (in an humble manner) wherefore is it that thou givest us no countenance; nor cxpressest the least regard to our intolerable affliction, wherewith we are oppressed?