Psalm 44

Scripture 

Psalm 44:22-26

22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;

    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?

    Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide your face

    and forget our misery and oppression?

25 We are brought down to the dust;

    our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Rise up and help us;

    rescue us because of your unfailing love.

Observation-What does it say?

The Psalmist is protesting that Israel had been faithful to God, yet is still feeling defeated. Verses 22-26, is basically a plea for help from God. (Reference: David Guzik commentary on enduringword.com)

Understanding-What does it mean?

The faithful ones felt forgotten by God. They felt rejected, humbled and as if God had turned His face from them.

Have you ever felt forgotten by God or that He’s allowed bad things to happen to you, when the whole time, you’ve been a faithful servant? 

We are not alone. In this Psalm, the Psalmist records the faithful feeling rejected by God. 

Life Application 

We must keep pressing in to God, even in times when we don’t understand. 

It is a popular view to correlate obedience with blessing. However, did you know that obedience can also be correlated with hardship, especially in this world? 

Let’s take Job for example. He was a faithful servant of God, yet God allowed him to suffer. He allowed the enemy to throw everything he had on him, because God TRUSTED Job. Job lost his family, all his possessions and health too. Later on though, God restored everything, plus more! 

How about Jesus’ disciples? All of them except John, died a martyr’s death; And then there’s the Apostle Paul. He was beaten and always imprisoned for his faith, yet they were ALL willing to suffer, die and were at peace (just like Stephen when stoned to death) because they believed wholeheartedly in their mission here on earth. I know that their eternity is anything but suffering now though. 

Last, but certainly not least, there’s Jesus. He died a criminal’s death and was completely pure and innocent. However, His death and resurrection defeated sin and the grave and He is now sitting back on His throne in Heaven. 

We cannot be afraid to plead our case with the Lord, but also give Him full trust if He doesn’t answer the way we think He should or in our timing.  In our limited understanding, we may not always understand God’s plans or understand what He allows, but we must trust that because of His omniscience (all knowing God), He knows what He’s doing. 

-Michelle Gaddi