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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 Though thou hast slain us, we have continued to trust in thee: Our heart has not turned back; we have not secretly withdrawn our affections from thee, neither have our steps, either in our religious worship or in our conversation, declined from they way (Psa 44:18), the way which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."
"Our heart has not turned back; and You have turned aside our goings out of Your way" [Psalm 44:18]. See here is "understanding," in that "our heart has not gone back;" that we have not "forgotten You, have not behaved frowardly in Your covenant;" placed as we are in great tribulations, and persecutions of the Gentiles. "You have turned aside our goings out of Your way." Our "goings" were in the pleasures of the world; our "goings" were in the midst of temporal prosperities. You have taken "our goings out of Your way;" and hast shown us how "strait and narrow is the way that leads unto life." [Matthew 7:14] What is meant by, "hast turned aside our goings out of Your way"? It is as if He said, You are placed in the midst of tribulation; you are suffering many things; you have already lost many things that you loved in this life: but I have not abandoned you on the way, the narrow way that I am teaching you. You were seeking "broad ways." What do I tell you? This is the way we go to everlasting life; by the way ye wish to walk, you are going to death. How "broad and wide is the road that leads to destruction: and" how "many there be that find it! How strait and narrow the way that leads unto life, and" how "few there be" that walk therein! [Matthew 7:13-14] Who are the few? They who patiently endure tribulations, patiently endure temptations; who in all these troubles do not "fall away:" who do not rejoice in the word "for a season" only; and in the time of tribulation fade away, as on the sun's arising; but who have the "root" of "love," according to what we have lately heard read in the Gospel....
"For You have brought us low in the place of infirmity" [Psalm 44:18]: therefore You will exalt us in the place of strength.
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SUMMARY
Psalm 44:18 presents a profound declaration of unwavering faithfulness and integrity by the community of Israel amidst a period of severe national distress and defeat. This verse asserts that their current suffering is not a consequence of their rebellion, apostasy, or deviation from God's covenant and ways, thereby deepening the paradox of their plight and intensifying their fervent plea for divine intervention and vindication.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 44:18 employs several powerful literary devices that enhance its meaning and impact. The most prominent is Parallelism, specifically Synonymous Parallelism, where "Our heart is not turned back" and "neither have our steps declined from thy way" express similar ideas in different words, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of their faithfulness. The "heart" represents the inner being and intentions, while "steps" represent outward conduct and actions, creating a Merism. This literary technique uses two contrasting or complementary parts ("heart" and "steps") to represent the whole of a person's being and behavior, emphasizing that their integrity is complete, encompassing both internal disposition and external practice. The phrase "thy way" also functions as a form of Metonymy, where "way" stands for God's laws, commands, and righteous path, encapsulating the entirety of His revealed will. The entire verse is embedded within a larger Lament genre, which characteristically expresses deep sorrow, confusion, and an appeal to God in times of distress, often challenging conventional theological understandings of suffering. The psalmist's strong assertion of innocence is a rhetorical device within the lament to intensify the appeal for divine intervention.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 44:18 stands as a profound theological statement that challenges simplistic notions of divine retribution and highlights the complexity of suffering in the lives of the righteous. It asserts that faithfulness does not always guarantee earthly prosperity or immunity from hardship, compelling believers to grapple with the mystery of God's providence. This verse underscores the importance of maintaining integrity—both internal and external—even when God's actions are inscrutable or seem contrary to expectations. It invites a deeper reflection on God's sovereignty and purposes, reminding us that His ways are often higher than our own, and that true faithfulness perseveres in trust beyond immediate understanding. The psalmist's declaration of innocence, while seemingly questioning God's justice, is ultimately an appeal to God's covenant faithfulness, urging Him to act on behalf of His loyal people who have not turned away.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 44:18 offers a vital lesson for believers navigating life's inexplicable hardships. It challenges us to examine the depth of our own commitment: when circumstances are dire and our faithfulness seems unrewarded, does our "heart" truly remain turned towards God, and do our "steps" continue to align with His "way"? This verse encourages a profound trust in God's character and sovereignty, even when His methods or timing defy our comprehension. It reminds us that integrity in adversity is a powerful testimony, and that our ultimate hope is not in immediate earthly deliverance but in God's ultimate justice and faithfulness. Furthermore, as a communal lament, it calls us to collective perseverance, encouraging us to stand together in faith and prayer, affirming our loyalty to God even when facing shared challenges that test the very foundations of our understanding. It prompts us to consider how our community of faith can collectively bear witness to God's faithfulness even when suffering unjustly.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does this verse imply that suffering is never a result of sin?
Answer: No, this verse does not imply that suffering is never a result of sin. The Bible clearly teaches that sin can and often does lead to negative consequences and suffering, as seen in passages like Romans 6:23. However, Psalm 44:18, along with other passages like the Book of Job, challenges the simplistic and retributive view that all suffering is always a direct, immediate, and proportionate consequence of personal sin or apostasy. The psalmist is asserting that their current national distress is not due to a breach of covenant or a turning away from God's way. It highlights that righteous individuals and communities can suffer for reasons beyond their own specific sin, whether for testing, discipline, or as part of God's larger, often mysterious, purposes in a fallen world, as Jesus Himself indicated in John 9:1-3.
How can a community confidently declare such innocence?
Answer: The community's declaration of innocence in Psalm 44:18 should be understood not as a claim of absolute moral perfection or sinlessness, but as an assertion of covenant faithfulness and a denial of apostasy. They are not claiming to be without any sin, but rather that their current suffering is not a consequence of a deliberate, corporate turning away from God or a fundamental breach of His covenant. It is a plea based on their perceived loyalty and adherence to God's "way," appealing to God's justice and faithfulness to His covenant people. In the context of a lament, it is a cry of confusion and a challenge to God's apparent inaction, based on their understanding that they have upheld their end of the covenant relationship. It is a corporate confession of integrity in the face of perceived divine abandonment or inexplicable hardship, a demonstration of their continued trust despite the trials.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 44:18 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. While the psalmist's community asserted their faithfulness amidst suffering, Jesus perfectly embodied the "heart not turned back" and "steps not declined from thy way." He was uniquely without sin (Hebrews 4:15), perfectly obedient to the Father's will in every aspect of His life, even to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:8). Yet, He experienced the most profound suffering, not for His own sin, but as the ultimate righteous sufferer, bearing the sins of humanity, as prophesied in Isaiah 53:4-6. His suffering was the means by which God's "way" of salvation was accomplished, demonstrating divine love and justice simultaneously. In Christ, believers are united with the One whose heart never turned back and whose steps never declined. Our own integrity and standing before God are secured not by our imperfect faithfulness, but by His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice on our behalf (2 Corinthians 5:21). Through Him, we can face trials and suffering, knowing that the perfectly righteous One suffered for us, and that our ultimate hope is in His victory and the kingdom to come (1 Peter 2:21-24).