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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 Though thou hast slain us, we have continued to trust in thee: Our heart has not turned back; we have not secretly withdrawn our affections from thee, neither have our steps, either in our religious worship or in our conversation, declined from they way (Psa 44:18), the way which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."
We cannot see God’s face. But there is a place where, by faith, God shows himself to us. The place is with God; and if we were to stand on the rock—that is, in awareness of this flesh and in firmness of faith—we will see as much as can be allowed to us to see. We cannot see the fullness, but we can, in a certain sense, drink in some remnant of his light. Moses did not see the full and entire divinity that dwells in Christ corporeally. But he saw the back of Christ. As man he saw his splendor, he saw the glory of his passion, he saw him draw back for us the bolts of the heavenly kingdom.
"Wherefore hidest Thou Your face:" as if You were not present; as if you had forgotten us? "And forgettest our misery and trouble?" [Psalm 44:24].
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SUMMARY
Psalms 44:24 articulates a profound and anguished communal lament from the people of Israel, who, in a state of severe national distress, question God's apparent withdrawal and indifference. This verse captures their bewilderment and pain as they perceive God to have "hidden His face" and "forgotten" their intense affliction and oppression, despite their asserted faithfulness, pleading desperately for divine intervention in their dire circumstances.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: Psalm 44 stands as a unique and poignant communal lament within the Psalter, distinguished by its assertion of the nation's blamelessness concerning their current suffering. Unlike many laments that confess sin as the cause of distress, this psalm emphasizes Israel's covenant faithfulness, as powerfully articulated in verses like Psalm 44:17-18. The psalm opens with a historical recounting of God's mighty acts of deliverance for their ancestors, establishing His unwavering power and faithfulness in the past (Psalm 44:1-8). This glorious past forms a stark contrast with their present reality of military defeat, humiliation, and scorn from enemies (Psalm 44:9-16). Verse Psalms 44:24 is a direct, anguished rhetorical question posed to God, expressing the people's profound sense of abandonment and bewilderment in their national crisis, leading into a desperate plea for God to "awake" and "redeem" them (Psalm 44:23-26).
Historical & Cultural Context: While the precise historical setting of Psalm 44 remains a subject of scholarly debate, it clearly emerges from a period of significant national crisis for Israel. Possible contexts include the devastating Assyrian or Babylonian invasions, or even the Maccabean period, when the nation faced severe external threats and internal turmoil, challenging their very existence. The imagery of God "hiding His face" (Hebrew: סָתַר פָּנִים, satar panim) is a powerful biblical idiom reflecting a perceived divine withdrawal of favor, presence, or active help, signifying a deep spiritual and existential desolation. Culturally, the people of Israel understood their national well-being and security to be directly tied to their covenant relationship with Yahweh. Military defeat, national humiliation, and oppression were often interpreted as signs of divine displeasure or abandonment, making the psalmist's assertion of faithfulness in the face of such calamity particularly striking and challenging to conventional theological understanding. The "affliction" (Hebrew: עֳנִי, oni) and "oppression" (Hebrew: לַחַץ, lachats) refer not merely to personal hardship but to the severe national distress, public humiliation, and existential threat posed by their relentless enemies.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within Psalm 44 and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it highlights the theme of divine hiddenness or apparent absence, a common motif in laments where God seems distant or unresponsive to the suffering of His people, as seen in the opening cry of Psalm 10:1. Secondly, it underscores the legitimacy of lament and questioning God in the midst of intense, inexplicable suffering. The psalmist's raw, honest cry is not necessarily a sign of lost faith, but a desperate and faithful plea for understanding and intervention, echoing the cries of other biblical figures like Job (Job 3:1) and Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:2). Finally, the verse emphasizes the reality of innocent suffering, challenging the simplistic retribution theology that often linked suffering directly to sin. The psalmist's assertion of faithfulness despite "affliction and oppression" raises profound questions about God's justice and faithfulness to His covenant, even when His actions seem contrary to His promises. This tension between God's past faithfulness and present perceived absence is central to the psalm's theological depth.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalm 44:24 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its profound emotional and theological weight. Anthropomorphism is central, as God is depicted with human attributes: "hiding His face" and "forgetting." This allows the psalmist to express the human experience of perceived divine withdrawal and indifference in relatable terms, making the divine accessible to human lament. The verse is framed as a rhetorical question, "Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?", which is not seeking information but expressing deep anguish, confusion, and a desperate plea, highlighting the psalmist's bewildered protest against God's apparent inaction. Furthermore, parallelism is evident in the pairing of "affliction" and "oppression," two terms that reinforce and intensify the description of the people's suffering, creating a cumulative effect that emphasizes the severity and multifaceted nature of their plight. The entire verse functions as a powerful lament, a recognized form of prayer in the Psalter that honestly articulates pain, confusion, and complaint to God within the context of an enduring, albeit strained, faith.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 44:24 profoundly engages with the theological problem of innocent suffering and divine hiddenness. It challenges the simplistic notion that suffering is always a direct result of sin, as the psalmist asserts the nation's faithfulness even amidst their distress. This verse invites believers to grapple with the mystery of God's ways when His presence seems withdrawn and His promises appear unfulfilled. It affirms the legitimacy of expressing raw, honest questions and even complaints to God, demonstrating that faith is robust enough to endure seasons of perceived divine silence without collapsing into despair. The psalmist's cry is not an abandonment of faith but a desperate yearning for God to act consistently with His character and covenant faithfulness, acknowledging the tension between divine sovereignty and human experience of suffering.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 44:24 offers a profound permission slip for the struggling soul. In a world that often pressures believers to maintain a facade of unwavering certainty and perpetual joy, this verse reminds us that it is not only permissible but often necessary to bring our deepest confusions, our most agonizing questions, and our rawest pain directly to God. When life delivers blows that seem inexplicable, when we feel abandoned or forgotten by the very God we serve, the psalmist's lament provides a template for honest engagement. It teaches us that faith is not the absence of doubt or questioning, but the courageous act of bringing those doubts and questions into the presence of the One who can handle them. Our cries of "Wherefore?" are not signs of weakness, but expressions of a desperate, persistent hope that God will eventually reveal His face and remember our plight, just as He has done throughout history. This verse encourages us to persevere in prayer, even when the heavens seem silent, trusting that God's ultimate faithfulness transcends our immediate understanding and that His purposes are often revealed in hindsight.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Is it appropriate for believers to question God, as the psalmist does here?
Answer: Absolutely. Psalms 44:24, along with numerous other biblical passages, demonstrates that it is not only appropriate but often a vital part of a genuine faith journey to question God in times of deep suffering or confusion. The psalmist's "Wherefore?" is a cry of anguish and bewilderment, not a rejection of God. It reflects a profound trust that God is big enough to handle our rawest emotions and most difficult questions. Figures like Job (Job 3:1-26) and Habakkuk (Habakkuk 1:2-4) also voiced their complaints and questions to God, and their honesty was not condemned but became part of inspired Scripture. Such questioning, when rooted in a desire for understanding and a continued turning towards God, can deepen faith rather than diminish it, inviting God into our pain rather than pushing Him away. It is a testament to the relational nature of faith, where even in protest, the believer remains engaged with God.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The anguished cry of Psalms 44:24, "Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?", finds its most profound and unsettling echo in the ultimate suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross. While the psalmist laments innocent suffering, Jesus, the perfect and sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, experienced the ultimate divine hiddenness and abandonment. This was not for His own sin, but as the propitiation for ours. His cry, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46), directly quotes Psalm 22:1, a psalm of lament that mirrors the sentiments of Psalm 44. In that horrific moment, the Father truly "hid His face" from the Son as Jesus bore the full weight of humanity's sin, becoming "sin for us" (2 Corinthians 5:21). The "affliction and oppression" of humanity, the very consequences of sin and the burden of a broken world, were laid upon Him, culminating in His death. Yet, through this ultimate act of divine hiddenness and suffering, God accomplished the greatest redemption. Jesus' resurrection (Romans 4:25) and ascension (Acts 1:9-11) reveal that God did not forget His people; rather, through the Son's suffering, He provided the definitive answer to human affliction and oppression, offering eternal life and reconciliation to all who believe (John 3:16). Thus, the lament of Psalm 44:24, while expressing a real human experience of perceived abandonment, ultimately points to the cross where God's face was hidden so that it might be forever revealed in the resurrected Christ, who now intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25).