Psa 44:19 | KingComments | STEP | The remnant utters that even though “all this” has happened to them, they still have not forgotten God and have not dealt falsely with His covenant ( ). The severe trials do not result in them ceasing to think about Him. On the contrary, they focus all the more on Him because they know that He alone can give salvation. That is trusting in faith. Their heart has not turned back to adhere to other gods ( ), but have remained faithful to God. Nor have their steps deviated from the way God wants them to go. Their walk and behavior are in accordance with His will. The severe trials do not result in them ceasing to serve God. They are keeping His commandments. God has disciplined them so severely through the trials that they feel in the midst of their enemies as if they were “in a place of jackals” or a desolate place ( ; cf. ). There they are crushed by Him. What a contrast with their “homeland”, the land flowing with milk and honey. While they would expect God to shelter them in the foreign land, they find that God “covered” them “with the shadow of death”. If it were indeed the case that they had forgotten the Name of their God and had extended their hands to a strange god to ask its help ( ), God would certainly find out and discover it ( ). “For He knows the secrets of the heart” (cf. ). To forget the Name of God means that they do not call upon Him, but they do nothing else than call upon His Name continually. Still less have they forgotten His Name by calling on a strange god, for they address Him exclusively. They are constantly attacked by their enemies. The fact that they speak in the we-form indicates that they are united with each other as the people of God in this situation. They tell God that for His sake they “are killed all day long” ( ; cf. ). Surely this proves that they have not forgotten Him. Their enemies see them as “sheep to be slaughtered” precisely because of their faithfulness to God. But if the people are not unfaithful to the covenant, then it seems that God is unfaithful to His covenant. How can that be? The psalmist is now confused. This leads to the prayer in . Paul quotes this verse to show the believers in Rome – and us as well – the close connection that exists between the believers and Christ ( ; cf. ; ). Believers undergo trial and tribulation because of their connection with the Lord Jesus. They suffer what He suffered. In the world they suffer tribulation. “But” says the Lord to them, “take courage, I have overcome the world” ( ).

‏ Psalms 44:19

Confession of Faithfulness

The remnant utters that even though “all this” has happened to them, they still have not forgotten God and have not dealt falsely with His covenant (Psa 44:17). The severe trials do not result in them ceasing to think about Him. On the contrary, they focus all the more on Him because they know that He alone can give salvation. That is trusting in faith.

Their heart has not turned back to adhere to other gods (Psa 44:18), but have remained faithful to God. Nor have their steps deviated from the way God wants them to go. Their walk and behavior are in accordance with His will. The severe trials do not result in them ceasing to serve God. They are keeping His commandments.

God has disciplined them so severely through the trials that they feel in the midst of their enemies as if they were “in a place of jackals” or a desolate place (Psa 44:19; cf. Jer 9:11 ; Jer 10:22). There they are crushed by Him. What a contrast with their “homeland”, the land flowing with milk and honey. While they would expect God to shelter them in the foreign land, they find that God “covered” them “with the shadow of death”.

If it were indeed the case that they had forgotten the Name of their God and had extended their hands to a strange god to ask its help (Psa 44:20), God would certainly find out and discover it (Psa 44:21). “For He knows the secrets of the heart” (cf. Jer 17:9-10). To forget the Name of God means that they do not call upon Him, but they do nothing else than call upon His Name continually. Still less have they forgotten His Name by calling on a strange god, for they address Him exclusively.

They are constantly attacked by their enemies. The fact that they speak in the we-form indicates that they are united with each other as the people of God in this situation. They tell God that for His sake they “are killed all day long” (Psa 44:22; cf. Psa 44:8 ; 15). Surely this proves that they have not forgotten Him. Their enemies see them as “sheep to be slaughtered” precisely because of their faithfulness to God. But if the people are not unfaithful to the covenant, then it seems that God is unfaithful to His covenant. How can that be? The psalmist is now confused. This leads to the prayer in Psa 44:23-26.

Paul quotes this verse to show the believers in Rome – and us as well – the close connection that exists between the believers and Christ (Rom 8:35-36; cf. 1Cor 15:31; 2Cor 1:8-10 ; 2Cor 11:23). Believers undergo trial and tribulation because of their connection with the Lord Jesus. They suffer what He suffered. In the world they suffer tribulation. “But” says the Lord to them, “take courage, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33b).