Psalm 44 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study
Psalm 44 Short Summary:
The sons of Korah, who wrote Psalm 44, recounted God’s great deeds in supporting the nation of Israel during the time of their forefathers. They trusted in God, but their faith was being tested because God had allowed them to lose some military battles, and they couldn’t figure out why. They asked God to “Rise up” and come to their aid against their enemies.
Psalm 44 Summary
AUTHOR:
The Sons of Korah (a family of the Tribe of Levi).
NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES:
Romans 8:36
THEMES:
History records God’s power to deliver His people.
The human natural response when that deliverance doesn’t come as swiftly as we might expect or hope.
DEFINITIONS:
Maskil (44:1) – The exact meaning of this term remains unknown. It may have been a musical indicator, telling the musician or performer how the psalm was to be presented. Other people think the term indicates a psalm that was written to impart wisdom.
Byword (44:14) - A parable or proverb, usually one having a negative connotation.
Jacob (44:4) – Jacob was the grandson of Abraham and the son of Isaac. Jacob was the father of the 12 patriarchs, the men from which the 12 tribes of Israel would take their names. Sense he was the father of the nation of Israel, his name is sometimes used to refer to the nation collectively. You’ll see it used this way in Psalm 44:4.
Jackal (44:19) – Jackals are medium sized canines related to dogs and wolves. They are similar to coyotes, although generally slightly smaller. In the Bible they are commonly associated with abandoned and desolate places.
OUTLINE:
GOD’S HISTORICAL HELP TO ISRAEL (44:1-8):
The sons of Korah, who wrote this psalm, begin by recounting God’s goodness towards their nation in the “days of old.”
God had helped their fathers drive enemy nations out of their lands. He strengthened their nation and made them prominent in the region.
The psalmist didn’t hesitate to give all the glory to God. He knew all of Israel’s success had been thanks to God.
He wrote, “For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us” (42:6-7).
ISREAL’S PRESENT DISTRESS (44:9-26):
Though God had given Israel victory in the past, it seems Israel had suffered some defeats around the time Psalm 44 was written.
The author respectfully complains to God, asking why this was allowed to happen.
He wrote, “But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies” (44:9).
Israel’s enemies were laughing at them, and the psalmist didn’t understand why God permitted the nation to fall into shame.
He wasn’t aware of any sin Israel had committed. Israel wasn’t worshipping idols (44:20-21).
The author felt like God was hiding, he asked the Lord to rouse Himself and come to their aid (44:23).
He concludes the psalm with this petition, “Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love” (44:26).
The men of Israel were depressed, and they needed their God.
APPLICATION:
There are going to be times when we don’t understand why God permits things to happen.
There are going to be times when we are faithfully following God when He doesn’t answer our prayers right away.
There are going to be times when our plans that we thought were God honoring won’t work out and we won’t understand why.
It’s not wrong to be a little frustrated about that, and to take that frustration to God.
But at the end of the day, it is important that we remember that God is God, and we are not.
God has reasons for everything He does, He is orchestrating the world in a million ways, and He doesn’t give us all the details about His work.
When our plans don’t work out, when our prayers don’t get answered the way we want, and when hardship is the outcome of our faithfulness, trust that God has allowed those things for a good reason.
He isn’t hiding from you. He hasn’t abandoned you. He is likely shaping you in some way you’ll only fully be able to understand when He explains it to you in Heaven.
