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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 Though thou hast slain us, we have continued to trust in thee: Our heart has not turned back; we have not secretly withdrawn our affections from thee, neither have our steps, either in our religious worship or in our conversation, declined from they way (Psa 44:18), the way which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."
If we are judged unworthy of gaining mercy for all these things mentioned, he is saying, nevertheless be faithful to yourself; Lord, on account of your name conferred on us, free us from the enemy.
See how they concluded the discourse: despite their countless good deeds, on what grounds did they appeal to be saved? On the mercy, the lovingkindness, the name of God. Do you see the humility and contrite heart? On what grounds do they appeal to be saved? Lovingkindness, mercy: as though bereft of good deeds, as though not having any claim on salvation, despite being in a position to take pride in so many troubles and dangers, they referred everything to God. Let us, too, living in the age of grace, imitate them and offer up glory to God, to whom be the glory for ages of ages.
"Arise, O Lord, help us" [Psalm 44:26]. And indeed, dearly beloved, He has arisen and helped us. For when he awoke (i.e. when He arose again, and became known to the Gentiles) on the cessation of persecutions, even those who had cleaved to the earth were raised up from the earth, and on performing penance, have been restored to Christ's body, feeble and imperfect though they were: so that in them was fulfilled the text, "Your eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect; and in Your book shall they all be written."
"Arise, O Lord, help us, and redeem us for Your Name's sake;" that is to say, freely; for Your Name's sake, not for the sake of my merits: because You have vouchsafed to do it, not because I am worthy that You should do it unto me. For this very thing, that "we have not forgotten You;" that "our heart has not gone back;" that we "have not stretched out our hands to any strange god;" how should we have been able to achieve, except with Your help? How should we have strength for it, except through Your appealing to us within, exhorting us, and not forsaking us? Whether then we suffer in tribulations, or rejoice in prosperities, redeem Thou us, not for our merits, but for Your Name's sake.
Now, all this the grace of the Spirit foretold, teaching those who would experience those troubles to bear nobly what befell them and request relief from them from the God of all. Those remarkable people did exactly that: with their words they appeased God, led by him they routed the enemy, and they recovered their former freedom for their fellow citizens.
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SUMMARY
Psalms 44:26 serves as the climactic and desperate plea within a communal lament, imploring God to intervene on behalf of His suffering people. Following a remembrance of God's past faithfulness and a detailed account of their inexplicable present distress, the psalmist calls upon the Lord to "Arise" from apparent inaction and "redeem" them from their plight. Crucially, this impassioned appeal is grounded not in any perceived merit or righteousness of the people, but solely "for thy mercies' sake," emphasizing God's steadfast love and covenant faithfulness as the ultimate basis for their hope and deliverance.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Psalms 44:26, as the culmination of a communal lament, employs several potent literary devices to convey its urgent message. The most prominent is Anthropomorphism, vividly seen in the imperative "Arise." This portrays God in human terms, as if He is sleeping or inactive and needs to be awakened to the dire plight of His people (Psalm 7:6). This device powerfully conveys the psalmist's acute sense of desperation and the perceived absence of God's active intervention, making the plea more vivid and emotionally charged. The entire psalm itself is a form of Lament, characterized by a direct address to God, a detailed description of suffering, a unique protest of innocence, and an impassioned plea for help, often concluding with an expression of hope or a vow of praise. The specific structure of the psalm, moving from historical remembrance to present suffering and culminating in this desperate cry, builds a strong Rhetorical Argument for divine intervention. The psalmist is not merely complaining but presenting a compelling case to God, appealing to His character and covenant faithfulness as the overriding reason for Him to act. Finally, the phrase "for thy mercies' sake" serves as a powerful Theological Basis, grounding the human plea not in human worthiness but in the divine attribute of chêçêd, emphasizing God's unmerited favor and steadfast love as the ultimate source of salvation and deliverance.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalms 44:26 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of prayer, divine sovereignty, and the unwavering character of God. It teaches that even in the deepest valleys of suffering and perceived divine silence, believers are called to boldly and persistently appeal to God. The core theological insight is that God's actions are fundamentally rooted in His chêçêd—His steadfast love and covenant faithfulness—rather than human merit or performance. This means that hope for deliverance is never extinguished, even when circumstances suggest otherwise, because it rests on the immutable character of God. The verse underscores the tension between God's omnipotence and the reality of human suffering, prompting a wrestling with faith that acknowledges God's power while lamenting His apparent inaction. It affirms that God's mercy is the ultimate ground for redemption, a truth that echoes throughout salvation history and provides an enduring foundation for trust.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalms 44:26 offers a timeless and profound model for prayer in times of profound distress and perceived divine absence. It encourages believers to articulate their suffering honestly and passionately before God, even to the point of questioning His apparent inaction, as the psalmist courageously does in the preceding verses. The verse powerfully reminds us that our pleas for help and deliverance are not to be based on our own perceived goodness, deservingness, or accomplishments, but entirely on the boundless, unwavering mercy and steadfast love of God. In a world fraught with injustice, suffering, and moments when God seems distant or silent, this verse invites us to cling tenaciously to His character, trusting that His chêçêd is the ultimate guarantee of our hope. It empowers us to cry out for Him to "Arise" and act decisively, knowing that His compassion is infinite and His power is supreme, even when His timing or methods are beyond our immediate comprehension. This psalm validates the raw honesty of lament while redirecting our focus to the unshakeable foundation of God's merciful nature, fostering both vulnerability and profound trust.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does the psalmist ask God to "Arise" if God is always active and sovereign?
Answer: The psalmist's plea for God to "Arise" (קוּם, qûwm') is an anthropomorphism, a powerful figure of speech that attributes human characteristics or actions to God. It does not imply that God is literally asleep or inactive, but rather expresses the human perception of His apparent silence or delay in intervention during times of severe suffering. In the context of a lament, it is a desperate, impassioned cry for God to visibly demonstrate His power and presence, to "wake up" to their plight and act decisively on their behalf. It reflects the psalmist's earnest desire for God's manifest intervention, acknowledging His sovereignty while wrestling with the painful reality of their present distress. This kind of vivid language is common in the Psalms, as seen in Psalm 7:6, where the psalmist calls for God to "Arise in Your anger; lift Yourself up against the fury of my enemies."
How does the psalmist's claim of innocence in Psalm 44 (vv. 17-22) relate to the plea for "mercy" in verse 26?
Answer: This presents a unique and significant tension within Psalm 44, setting it apart from many other laments where sin is explicitly confessed. The psalmist explicitly denies that their suffering is due to apostasy or forgetting God's covenant (vv. 17-22). Despite this strong claim of innocence, the final plea in verse 26 is not based on their righteousness or perceived blamelessness, but entirely "for thy mercies' sake" (לְמַעַן חַסְדֶּךָ, lema'an chêçêd). This demonstrates a profound theological understanding: even if they believe they are innocent of specific covenant breaking, they recognize that ultimate deliverance and salvation are never earned by human merit. Instead, they flow solely from God's inherent character of steadfast love and covenant faithfulness (chêçêd). It highlights that God's grace is the ultimate and unmerited foundation for His saving acts, irrespective of human claims or perceived worthiness, underscoring His sovereign benevolence.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalms 44:26, with its desperate plea for God to "Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake," finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament longing for divine intervention and redemption based on God's chêçêd is perfectly answered in the New Covenant. God did decisively "Arise" in the incarnation, when the Son of God took on human flesh, entering into the very suffering and brokenness of humanity. His ultimate "arising" from the dead, the glorious resurrection, was the decisive act of God's power, demonstrating His victory over sin, death, and evil, thereby fulfilling the ancient cry for help (Romans 8:34). Furthermore, Christ is the ultimate "Redeemer," whose sacrificial death on the cross paid the ransom for our sins, liberating us from the bondage of sin and death (Ephesians 1:7 and Colossians 1:13-14). This redemption is entirely "for thy mercies' sake," not based on our merit or good deeds, but on God's boundless love and grace, perfectly manifested in sending His Son (Romans 5:8). Thus, the psalmist's ancient cry for help and redemption, rooted in God's mercy, points forward to the definitive and complete salvation offered through Jesus, who now intercedes for us eternally as our great High Priest (Hebrews 7:25).