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Commentary on Psalms 44 verses 17–26
The people of God, being greatly afflicted and oppressed, here apply to him; whither else should they go?
I. By way of appeal, concerning their integrity, which he only is an infallible judge of, and which he will certainly be the rewarder of. Two things they call God to witness to: -
1.That, though they suffered these hard things, yet they kept close to God and to their duty (Psa 44:17): "All this has come upon us, and it is as bad perhaps as bad can be, yet have we not forgotten thee, neither cast off the thoughts of thee nor deserted the worship of thee; for, though we cannot deny but that we have dealt foolishly, yet we have not dealt falsely in thy covenant, so as to cast thee off and take to other gods. Though idolaters were our conquerors, we did not therefore entertain any more favourable thoughts of their idols and idolatries; though thou hast seemed to forsake us and withdraw from us, yet we have not therefore forsaken thee." The trouble they had been long in was very great: "We have been sorely broken in the place of dragons, among men as fierce, and furious, and cruel, as dragons. We have been covered with the shadow of death, that is, we have been under deep melancholy and apprehensive of nothing short of death. We have been wrapped up in obscurity, and buried alive; and thou hast thus broken us, thou hast thus covered us (Psa 44:19), yet we have not harboured any hard thoughts of thee, nor meditated a retreat from thy service. Though thou hast slain us, we have continued to trust in thee: Our heart has not turned back; we have not secretly withdrawn our affections from thee, neither have our steps, either in our religious worship or in our conversation, declined from they way (Psa 44:18), the way which thou hast appointed us to walk in." When the heart turns back the steps will soon decline; for it is the evil heart of unbelief that inclines to depart from God. Note, We may the better bear our troubles, how pressing soever, if in them we still hold fast our integrity. While our troubles do not drive us from our duty to God we should not suffer them to drive us from our comfort in God; for he will not leave us if we do not leave him. For the proof of their integrity they take God's omniscience to witness, which is as much the comfort of the upright in heart as it is the terror of hypocrites (Psa 44:20, Psa 44:21): "If we have forgotten the name of our God, under pretence that he had forgotten us, or in our distress have stretched out our hands to a strange god, as more likely to help us, shall not God search this out? Shall he not know it more fully and distinctly than we know that which we have with the greatest care and diligence searched out? Shall he not judge it, and call us to an account for it?" Forgetting God was a heart-sin, and stretching our the hand to a strange god was often a secret sin, Eze 8:12. But heart-sins and secret sins are known to God, and must be reckoned for; for he knows the secrets of the heart, and therefore is a infallible judge of the words and actions.
2.That they suffered these hard things because they kept close to God and to their duty (Psa 44:22): "It is for thy sake that we are killed all the day long, because we stand related to thee, are called by thy name, call upon thy name, and will not worship other gods." In this the Spirit of prophecy had reference to those who suffered even unto death for the testimony of Christ, to whom it is applied, Rom 8:36. So many were killed, and put to such lingering deaths, that they were in the killing all the day long; so universally was this practised that when a man became a Christian he reckoned himself as a sheep appointed for the slaughter.
II. By way of petition, with reference to their present distress, that God would, in his own due time, work deliverance for them. 1. Their request is very importunate: Awake, arise, Psa 44:23. Arise for our help; redeem us (Psa 44:26); come speedily and powerfully to our relief, Psa 80:2. Stir up thy strength, and come and save us. They had complained (Psa 44:12) that God had sold them; here they pray (Psa 44:26) that God would redeem them; for there is no appealing from God, but by appealing to him. If he sell us, it is not any one else that can redeem us; the same hand that tears must heal, that smites must bind up, Hos 6:1. They had complained (Psa 44:9), Thou hast cast us off; but here they pray (Psa 44:23), "Cast us not off forever; let us not be finally forsaken of God." 2. The expostulations are very moving: Why sleepest thou? Psa 44:23. He that keeps Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps; but, when he does not immediately appear for the deliverance of his people, they are tempted to think he sleeps. The expression is figurative (as Psa 78:65, Then the Lord awaked as one out of sleep); but it was applicable to Christ in the letter (Mat 8:24); he was asleep when his disciples were in a storm, and they awoke him, saying, Lord, save us, we perish. "Wherefore hidest thou thy face, that we may not see thee and the light of thy countenance?" Or, "that thou mayest not see us and our distresses? Thou forgettest our affliction and our oppression, for it still continues, and we see no way open for our deliverance." And, 3. The pleas are very proper, not their own merit and righteousness, though they had the testimony of their consciences concerning their integrity, but they plead the poor sinner's pleas. (1.) Their own misery, which made them the proper objects of the divine compassion (Psa 44:25): "Our soul is bowed down to the dust under prevailing grief and fear. We have become as creeping things, the most despicable animals: Our belly cleaves unto the earth; we cannot lift up ourselves, neither revive our own drooping spirits nor recover ourselves out of our low and sad condition, and we lie exposed to be trodden on by every insulting foe." 2. God's mercy: "O redeem us for they mercies' sake; we depend upon the goodness of thy nature, which is the glory of thy name (Exo 34:6), and upon those sure mercies of David which are conveyed by the covenant to all his spiritual seed."
To judge rashly of the secrets of another’s heart is sin; and it is unjust to reprove him on suspicion whose works seem not other than good, since God alone is Judge of those things that are unknown to people. He alone “knows the secrets of the heart,” and not another.
It is impossible for anyone transgressing the laws or planning to do so to escape your notice, Lord, because you so carefully occupy our minds.
"Shall not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart" [Psalm 44:21]. He "knows," and yet He "searches them out"? If He knows the secrets of the heart, what do the words, "Shall not God search it out," do there? He "knows" it in Himself; He "searches it out" for our sakes. For it is for this reason God sometimes "searches a thing out;" and speaks of that becoming known to Himself, which He is Himself making known to you. He is speaking of His own work, not of His knowledge. We commonly say, "A gladsome day," when it is fine. Yet is it the day itself that experiences delight? No: we speak of the day as gladsome, because it fills us with delight. And we speak of a "sullen sky." Not that there is any such feeling in the clouds, but because men are affected with sullenness at the sight of such an appearance of the skies, it is called sullen for this reason, that it makes us sullen. So also God is said to "know" when He causes us to know. God says to Abraham, "Now I know that you fear God." [Genesis 22:12] Did He then not know it before then? But Abraham did not know himself till then: for it was in that very trial he came to know himself....And God is said to "know" that which He had caused him to know. Did Peter know himself, when he said to the Physician, "I will be with You even unto death?" [Luke 22:33] The Physician had felt his pulse, and knew what was going on within His patient's soul: the patient knew it not. The crisis of trial came; and the Physician approved the correctness of His opinion: the sick man gave up his presumption. Thus God at once "knows" it and "searches it out." "He knows it already. Why does He 'search it out'?" For your sake: that you may come to know your own self, and may return thanks to Him that made you. "Shall not God search it out?"
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SUMMARY
Psalms 44:21 is a profound declaration of God's absolute omniscience, particularly His intimate and comprehensive knowledge of humanity's deepest thoughts, intentions, and hidden motives. Framed as a rhetorical question within a communal lament, this verse serves as a powerful appeal to divine awareness, asserting that no secret of the human heart can remain concealed from the Almighty. It underscores the psalmist's conviction that God, being fully aware of their unmerited suffering despite their perceived faithfulness, will ultimately vindicate His people.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Psalms 44:21 is Rhetorical Question. The phrase "Shall not God search this out?" is posed not to seek information, but to emphasize a point with greater force than a direct statement. It compels the listener or reader to acknowledge the obvious truth: God's knowledge is undeniable and profound. This device serves to heighten the emotional intensity of the lament and to express the psalmist's unwavering conviction in God's omniscience, appealing to His character as the basis for their plea. Additionally, there is a clear instance of Synecdoche in the phrase "secrets of the heart," where "heart" represents the entire inner person—including intellect, will, and emotion—rather than just the physical organ. This emphasizes the comprehensive scope of God's knowledge, extending to the very core of human identity and motivation. The verse also implicitly uses Assertion through the rhetorical question, making a strong statement about God's nature.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 44:21 serves as a profound theological statement on God's omniscience, particularly His intimate knowledge of the human heart. This attribute is foundational to biblical theology, affirming that God is not merely aware of external actions but penetrates the deepest recesses of human thought and intention. This truth provides both immense comfort and sobering accountability: comfort in knowing that our true motives, hidden struggles, and genuine devotion are fully known and understood by a compassionate God, and accountability in realizing that no pretense or insincerity can be hidden from Him. It underscores the divine standard of integrity, where inner truth matters as much as outward conformity, forming the basis for true righteousness and authentic relationship with the Creator.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 44:21 offers a powerful lens through which to examine our relationship with God and ourselves. In moments of misunderstanding, false accusation, or when our outward circumstances contradict our inward faithfulness, this verse provides immense comfort. It reminds us that God sees beyond the surface, beyond what others perceive, and even beyond what we can fully articulate. He knows the "secrets of the heart"—our deepest intentions, our hidden struggles, our unvoiced prayers, and our genuine commitment to Him, even when life feels unjust. This knowledge fosters a profound sense of peace and trust, encouraging us to lean into His ultimate justice and perfect timing, knowing that He will ultimately vindicate the righteous. Conversely, this verse also serves as a profound challenge. It calls us to live lives of genuine integrity, knowing that our deepest motives and hidden thoughts are transparent to God. It urges us to cultivate a heart that is truly devoted to Him, not merely performing outward acts of piety for human approval. It prompts us to ask whether our "secrets of the heart" align with His perfect will, encouraging a life of authentic faith that seeks to please God in both the seen and unseen aspects of our lives, fostering a deeper, more sincere walk with Him.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "secrets of the heart" imply that God judges our unexpressed thoughts?
Answer: "Secrets of the heart" refers to our deepest motives, intentions, and true character, not merely fleeting or unbidden thoughts. While God is aware of every thought, the emphasis here is on the underlying disposition and true orientation of our inner being. The Bible consistently teaches that God judges the heart and intentions, as seen in 1 Samuel 16:7 where God tells Samuel, "For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." Similarly, Hebrews 4:12 states that the word of God "is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." This means He evaluates the sincerity and direction of our will and desires. This is not about condemning every stray thought, but about discerning the true spiritual condition and moral bent of a person's inner life. It encourages us to cultivate a pure heart, knowing that God sees beyond mere outward conformity to the very core of who we are.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 44:21, with its profound assertion of God's omniscience regarding the "secrets of the heart," finds its ultimate fulfillment and most tender expression in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While the Old Testament reveals God as the one who searches the heart, as articulated in Jeremiah 17:10, the New Testament demonstrates this divine attribute perfectly embodied in Christ. Jesus consistently revealed His knowledge of people's inner thoughts and motives, whether discerning the skepticism of the scribes in Mark 2:8, the true intentions of His disciples in John 6:61, or the hidden faith of the woman who touched His garment in Luke 8:47. He taught that true righteousness emanates from the heart, not just outward observance, as He declared in Matthew 15:18-19. Ultimately, Christ, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), took upon Himself the sin that originates from the heart. Through His atoning sacrifice, He offers a path to cleanse and transform our inner being, making us new creations in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17), so that our "secrets of the heart" might be purified and brought into alignment with His perfect will. Thus, the God who knows the secrets of the heart is also the God who, in Christ, provides the means for those secrets to be redeemed and made holy.