The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 44:1-26

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

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 them what work God had done in their days—in the days of old. What a history of Divine work have we in the past of the Christian Church!

II. INCONSISTENT WITH THEIR FAITH IN HIM. (Verses 4-8.) God was their Almighty King, through whom they were able to achieve all conquests.

III. IT WOULD BRING NO PROFIT OR HONOUR TO GOD. (Verse 12.) To leave them to their enemies. How could God act thus, so as to seem to dishonour himself and to bring no profit to his people?

IV. IT COULD NOT BE A PUNISHMENT FOR UNFAITHFULNESS. (Verses 17-22.) They had not forgotten God; their heart was not turned back, neither had their steps declined from his way. They could not explain.

V. DID NOT SEEM CONSISTENT WITH GOD'S REGARD TO HIS OWN HONOUR. (Verses 15, 16, 24.) He seemed to be taking the side of the blasphemer, and forgetting their fidelity. And this was the mystery of their experience.

VI. YET IT DID NOT UPROOT THEIR FAITH IN DIVINE HELP AT LAST. For they continue to supplicate the redeeming interposition of God (verses 23-26). Faith always conquers its difficulties thus, by trusting where it cannot see or explain.—S.

Psalms 43

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Psalms 45

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