Psalm 44
Trusting in Never Failing Love
Have you been in that situation before where someone keeps telling you how good it used to be? They regale you with stories of balconies full with people every Sunday morning and evening. They recount how Sunday School was attended by every child in the village. They harken back to when the Minister was held in high regard. They talk of a time when Scotland was known as ‘The Land of the Book’.
You don’t doubt those telling you the stories. In fact, you long to have experienced them yourself.
But you look around and wonder why God was so active then and so quiet now.
That’s where we find the ourselves in this Psalm, wondering when the God of yesterday will meet us today.
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.
1 We have heard it with our ears, O God;
our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.
2 With your hand you drove out the nations
and planted our ancestors;
you crushed the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.4 You are my King and my God,
who decrees victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
8 In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name for ever.9 But now you have rejected and humbled us;
you no longer go out with our armies.
10 You made us retreat before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold your people for a pittance,
gaining nothing from their sale.
We have heard the stories of old.
We have read the ancient Scriptures.
We have sung of their mighty deeds.
And we know that their mighty deeds are the result of the hand of the Almighty. He intervened for our ancestors. He triumphed for his people. He vanquished their foes.
This is the God who lifted his people out of back breaking and hope sapping slavery. This is the God who led his people through the wilderness. This is the God who led his people into victory over much more established and wealthier nations.
This Psalm is written by those who know that their strength lies not in their natural abilities but in the supernatural power of God.
The people of God refuse to put their hopes in the world. They don’t trust in weapons and wealth.
They are sure and certain that all true power comes from God. In him and in him alone do they boast.
Yet there’s a jarring turn in v9. God is seemed so present now seems so missing. Instead it seems as though he has withdrawn both his presence and his favour. He has left his people out to dry.
The God of yesterday does not seem to be the God of today.
13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbours,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads at us.
15 I live in disgrace all day long,
and my face is covered with shame
16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.17 All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals;
you covered us over with deep darkness.20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us for ever.
24 Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?25 We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up and help us;
rescue us because of your unfailing love.
The Psalmist then details the hurt and suffering he and the faithful remnant of God’s people have journey through. They have been maligned and and shamed and cursed by their enemies.
In v22, we come to the reason for their current situation. What is happening to them is for God’s sake. They are suffering because of the world’s rebellion against him.
The words of this verse come right in the middle of one of the Bible most beautiful and precious passages, Romans 8.31-39. The affliction and tribulation and oppression for God’s people is real and persistent. We suffer for, like and with Jesus our Lord.
Yet, that passage also tells us that nothing this world can hurl at us can do any damage to God’s love. His love is unfailing. It is steadfast. It is never ending. It is ever present. It is incorruptible. It is powerful.
And we can never be separated from it. Not by governments. Or by evil spirits. Or by war. Or by anything else in this world.
The confidence Paul has in Romans 8 is he has seen the sacrificial love of God in the cross of Christ. And so he knows the God of yesterday is the God of today and will be with us and will never leave us. The historical reality gives us a certain hope for the future.
And so it is this love that the Psalmist, and we, call on. We call on God to rouse himself in power and rise up for us. And God did that. He raised up his Son. And he will raise us up too.
Glory be to God the Father, who sent his Son in love for his people.
Glory be to God the Son, who gave his life in love for his people.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who is the love of God poured into the hearts of his people.
Ever three and ever One.