This Psalm is also famously referenced in Romans 8. It is really one of the hardest readings I've seen yet. What exactly is going on? The author cries out his innocence against God's judgement, but there seems to be no respite...
v1-8: In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever
The first 8 verses follow the trend of many other Psalms. They rejoice in the Lord's great works to save His people, they rejoice and praise God for His provision for the Israelites in bringing them to the Promised Land, they praise God for the blessings that He has given them. He declares the trust in God and not man, how God delivers them from what sword and bow cannot.
v9-16: But You have rejected us
Now here's where it gets interesting. There is a change in tone here. The author now describes God going against Israel - no longer going out before them, making them a sheep for slaughter. God scatters the people of Israel across the nations and made them the taunt of their neighbours. Their shame is before them all day long and they have no status in the world.
The question is, why?
v17-22: For Your sake we are being killed all the day long
Verses 17-22 are the shocking part of this Psalm. In the Old Testament, we often equate such judgement to be an effect of the lack of faith of the Israelites. It is often assumed that faith leads to blessing in the Old Testament, and even today, many churches preach what we call the "Prosperity Gospel" - believe in God and God will bless you.
Here's your proof that this gospel is a lie. God promises His blessings, and His blessings are eternal. God never promised us an easy life. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34). Take up my cross. Something I haven't been doing myself, despite writing things here to remind myself of that. Job suffered though he was a righteous man. Jesus suffered though He was the perfect man. Paul suffered proclaiming Christ. Of the 12 disciples, 11 died martyred for preaching Christ crucified and risen to judge.
This section is also quoted famously in Romans 8 - where Paul writes "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us". What does this mean? He means through whatever suffering we face, we are victorious because of what Christ has done. Suffering is temporary.
God's promises are eternal - and they are not here now. They will come on the last day - you can bet on that.
v23-26: Redeem us for the sake of Your steadfast love
The Psalm ends off with the Psalmist's cry to God to redeem them, pleading for God to judge the situation now.
I think there are a couple of key takeaways from this Psalm. I read quite a fair bit of opinions on it - and I particularly like this one. Rephrased into my own words, this is the way I understand it:
The Psalm is intentionally written to show God's glory first - in the Mosaic days and the days of Saul and David where they conquered others. It then goes on to days of unwarranted distress, and leaves no conclusion.
This points to 2 things. Firstly, an intentional empathic link between the Psalmist and the reader. We are often caught up in situations we don't like, in our sufferings of this age. Where the rest of Psalms seems to have some resolution to this suffering, Psalm 44 intentionally leaves out such an ending. Secondly, it points to the chapter that quotes it - Romans 8, where Paul explains the unwarranted suffering. Paul explicitly states out that nothing can separate us from the love of God, despite our present sufferings and trials.
Well, apparently there's also some more answers in Psalm 45. Shall look forward to doing it tomorrow. Tough Psalm to understand, really, with the misconception that faith brought worldly, material blessings. But trusting God's blessings in an eternal viewpoint really changes that.
Just another thought. I've been waking up early to run the past one and a half weeks or so. I don't quite know why, but the world seems like it's got a little more sunshine than usual. Really enjoying the beautiful mornings God has created.
v1-8: In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever
The first 8 verses follow the trend of many other Psalms. They rejoice in the Lord's great works to save His people, they rejoice and praise God for His provision for the Israelites in bringing them to the Promised Land, they praise God for the blessings that He has given them. He declares the trust in God and not man, how God delivers them from what sword and bow cannot.
v9-16: But You have rejected us
Now here's where it gets interesting. There is a change in tone here. The author now describes God going against Israel - no longer going out before them, making them a sheep for slaughter. God scatters the people of Israel across the nations and made them the taunt of their neighbours. Their shame is before them all day long and they have no status in the world.
The question is, why?
v17-22: For Your sake we are being killed all the day long
Verses 17-22 are the shocking part of this Psalm. In the Old Testament, we often equate such judgement to be an effect of the lack of faith of the Israelites. It is often assumed that faith leads to blessing in the Old Testament, and even today, many churches preach what we call the "Prosperity Gospel" - believe in God and God will bless you.
Here's your proof that this gospel is a lie. God promises His blessings, and His blessings are eternal. God never promised us an easy life. Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Mark 8:34). Take up my cross. Something I haven't been doing myself, despite writing things here to remind myself of that. Job suffered though he was a righteous man. Jesus suffered though He was the perfect man. Paul suffered proclaiming Christ. Of the 12 disciples, 11 died martyred for preaching Christ crucified and risen to judge.
This section is also quoted famously in Romans 8 - where Paul writes "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us". What does this mean? He means through whatever suffering we face, we are victorious because of what Christ has done. Suffering is temporary.
God's promises are eternal - and they are not here now. They will come on the last day - you can bet on that.
v23-26: Redeem us for the sake of Your steadfast love
The Psalm ends off with the Psalmist's cry to God to redeem them, pleading for God to judge the situation now.
I think there are a couple of key takeaways from this Psalm. I read quite a fair bit of opinions on it - and I particularly like this one. Rephrased into my own words, this is the way I understand it:
The Psalm is intentionally written to show God's glory first - in the Mosaic days and the days of Saul and David where they conquered others. It then goes on to days of unwarranted distress, and leaves no conclusion.
This points to 2 things. Firstly, an intentional empathic link between the Psalmist and the reader. We are often caught up in situations we don't like, in our sufferings of this age. Where the rest of Psalms seems to have some resolution to this suffering, Psalm 44 intentionally leaves out such an ending. Secondly, it points to the chapter that quotes it - Romans 8, where Paul explains the unwarranted suffering. Paul explicitly states out that nothing can separate us from the love of God, despite our present sufferings and trials.
Well, apparently there's also some more answers in Psalm 45. Shall look forward to doing it tomorrow. Tough Psalm to understand, really, with the misconception that faith brought worldly, material blessings. But trusting God's blessings in an eternal viewpoint really changes that.
Just another thought. I've been waking up early to run the past one and a half weeks or so. I don't quite know why, but the world seems like it's got a little more sunshine than usual. Really enjoying the beautiful mornings God has created.
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