Psa 44:1-8 | Clarke | STEP | The psalmist recounts the mercies of God; shows to his people how God in ancient times gave them the victory over all their enemies, ; points out their present miserable state, ; asserts that thy have not apostatized, and appeals to God for the truth of his assertion, ; and calls upon the Lord for deliverance from their enemies, . The title here is the same as that in (note); which see. The Syriac says it was "A Psalm of the sons of Korah, which the people and Moses sung at Horeb." Such titles are fancies to which no credit should be attached. Like the preceding, it appears to belong to the time of the captivity. Verse 1 We have heard with our ears - The psalmist begins with recounting the marvellous interpositions of God in behalf of the Jewish people, that he might the better strengthen his confidence, and form a ground on which to build his expectation of additional help.

Psalms 44:1-8

Introduction

The psalmist recounts the mercies of God; shows to his people how God in ancient times gave them the victory over all their enemies, Psa 44:1-8; points out their present miserable state, Psa 44:9-16; asserts that thy have not apostatized, and appeals to God for the truth of his assertion, Psa 44:17-22; and calls upon the Lord for deliverance from their enemies, Psa 44:23-26.

The title here is the same as that in Psa 42:1-11 (note); which see. The Syriac says it was "A Psalm of the sons of Korah, which the people and Moses sung at Horeb." Such titles are fancies to which no credit should be attached. Like the preceding, it appears to belong to the time of the captivity.

Verse 1

We have heard with our ears - The psalmist begins with recounting the marvellous interpositions of God in behalf of the Jewish people, that he might the better strengthen his confidence, and form a ground on which to build his expectation of additional help. Verse 2

Thou didst drove out the heathen - The Canaanites were as a bad tree planted in a good soil, and bringing forth bad fruit with great luxuriance. God plucked up this bad tree from the roots, and in its place planted the Hebrews as a good tree, a good vine, and caused them to take root, and fill the land. Verse 3

For they got not the land - Neither by their valor, nor cunning, nor for their merit; yet, they were obliged to fight. But how did they conquer? By the right hand of the Lord, and by his arm; by his strength alone, and the light of his countenance - his favor most manifestly shown unto them. Verse 4

Thou art my king - What thou wert to them, be to us. We believe in thee as they did; we have sinned and are in captivity, but we repent and turn unto thee; command, therefore, deliverances to Jacob, for we are the descendants of him in whose behalf thou hast wrought such wonders. Verse 5

Through thee will we push down - Through thy Word, במימרא bemeimra, "Thy substantial Word." - Chaldee. If thou be with us, who can be successfully against us? Literally "We will toss them in the air with our horn;" a metaphor taken from an ox or bull tossing the dogs into the air which attack him.

Through thy name - Jehovah; the infinite, the omnipotent, the eternal Being; whose power none is able to resist. Verse 6

I will not trust in my bow - As he is speaking of what God had already done for his forefathers, these words should be read in the past tense: "We have not trusted," etc. Verse 8

In God we boast - We have told the heathen how great and powerful our God is. If thou do not deliver us by thy mighty power, they will not believe our report, but consider that we are held in bondage by the superior strength of their gods.