PAST TRIUMPHS AND PRESENT PROBLEMS

Psalm 44 is a collective confession and appeal to God. We recognize that private prayer is vitally important, but “Two are better than one … and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”, Eccl. 4. 9-12. Let us seek the active fellowship of the godly; there are problems common to all for which to pray together.

How happy to hear of past prosperity and triumphs. Happier still to hear that it was not the military prowess of Joshua and Israel’s ancestors that gained them the land of Canaan, but the “right hand” (the mighty power) of God Himself, Psa. 44. 3. Thus the first section of the psalm confidently concludes, “In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever”, v. 8.

But now God seems to have forgotten His people: “But thou hast cast us off, and put us to shame”, v. 9. What a weighty word “but” can often be. Note the words, “reproach, scorn, derision, byword, confusion, shame”. And Israel acknowledge that this is not “chance” but the Lord’s doing. They say with Job, “shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?”, Job 2. 10. They say effectively, Thou hast given us like helpless sheep to be slaughtered; Thou sellest Thy people like slaves in the market place, vv. 11, 12.

Now note verse 22 that Paul quotes in Romans 8. 36, “for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter”. This was evidently as true in apostolic days as of old; and still there are many martyrs today. The people of God, when faithful to Him, have met violent opposition from the world ever since Cain slew his brother Abel. The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves”, Matt. 10. 16. So let us not be surprised if we suffer for doing right, but heed our Lord’s words, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad”, Matt. 5. 12.

“If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf’, 1 Pet. 4. 16.