Psalm 44
Folks,
Today’s Psalm 44 is strange – to me. In the first eight verses the psalmist praises God and thanks Him for His deliverance of Israel in the days of old (v. 1) and current distresses (v. 5). It’s all about Him, summed up in verses 6 and 7: 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.
Then the psalmist continues his focus on God in the next eight verses, but now he blames God for their current difficulties. In six continuous verses we have the words “You have…” repeated, seemingly blaming God for what is happening – or at a minimum, faulting Him for His failure to deliver them. Then in next six verses, in the midst of their misfortune the writer proclaims his/their innocence. Finally, in the final four verses the psalmist cries out to God for help.
So, God has delivered us in the past, but He is failing us now – even though we are innocent. Please help.
Am I missing something?
Blessings!
See also:
“Strange”? Hmmm. Perhaps we need to go back and read Job all over again. Perhaps we need to review all the ups and downs of Israel’s history. Perhaps we need to review Church history, beginning with the persecutions of the Church in the first century. Perhaps we need to take a deeper look at Paul’s quoting of Psalm 44:22 in Romans 8:36. Perhaps we need to look at our own lives and our relationship with the Lord.
Yes, strange! To me, Psalm 44 is, indeed, strange! The psalmist is blaming God…! I wrote, “In six continuous verses we have the words “You have…” repeated, seemingly blaming God for what is happening – or at a minimum, faulting Him for His failure to deliver them.” I stand by those words. I simply cannot relate to blaming God. God not acting, sure. But the charges that the psalmist lays in those six verses, “You have… You have… You have…”! Unbelievable!
John cites Job. Yes, we would all agree that the book of Job is strange, certainly different than any other book of the Bible. John cites Israel’s history. Yes, Israel’s history is also strange, certainly different than all the other nations the world has ever known. Church history, also strange! And the verse in Romans, Paul citing Psalm 44:22 – a totally different context than the psalmist blaming God for his or the nation’s troubles. If you want to cite Romans 8:36, please put it in context by adding Romans 8:35 and Romans 8:37. God is not CAUSING these difficulties!
If you would like to follow this discussion further, please go to the “See also…” citations – my posts from 2022. The first, April 16 is “normal” by any standards, but the second and third, from April 17 and 18 – different! Go back and read my posts there and the comments from others. The discussion turns to us getting angry at God. And I argue that I cannot find in my life that I have ever been angry at God. Yes, I’ve had many disappointments in my life and I’ve often wondered why God was not doing this or that, but I’ve never been angry at God. The psalmist is 44:9-14 looks to be angry at God. I cannot relate. Yes, to me, Psalm 44 is strange!
So, let me ask just one question: Was the Crucifixion God’s will?
Before anyone offers a quick answer to that question, please give it very careful consideration. Think it through, really.