mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 44.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xlv" n="xlv" next="Ps.xlvi" prev="Ps.xliv" progress="36.59%" title="Chapter XLIV">
<h2 id="Ps.xlv-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xlv-p0.2">PSALM XLIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xlv-p1">We are not told either who was the penmen of this
psalm or when and upon what occasion it was penned, upon a
melancholy occasion, we are sure, not so much to the penman himself
(then we could have found occasions enough for it in the history of
David and his afflictions), but to the church of God in general;
and therefore, if we suppose it penned by David, yet we must
attribute it purely to the Spirit of prophecy, and must conclude
that the Spirit (whatever he himself had) had in view the captivity
of Babylon, or the sufferings of the Jewish church under Antiochus,
or rather the afflicted state of the Christian church in its early
days (to which <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.22" parsed="|Ps|44|22|0|0" passage="Ps 44:22">ver. 22</scripRef> is
applied by the apostle, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.36" parsed="|Rom|8|36|0|0" passage="Ro 8:36">Rom. viii.
36</scripRef>), and indeed in all its days on earth, for it is its
determined lot that it must enter into the kingdom of heaven
through many tribulations. And, if we have any gospel-psalms
pointing at the privileges and comforts of Christians, why should
we not have one pointing at their trials and exercises? It is a
psalm calculated for a day of fasting and humiliation upon occasion
of some public calamity, either pressing or threatening. In it the
church is taught, I. To own with thankfulness, to the glory of God,
the great things God has done for their fathers, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.1-Ps.44.8" parsed="|Ps|44|1|44|8" passage="Ps 44:1-8">ver. 1-8</scripRef>. II. To exhibit a memorial of their
present calamitous estate, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.9-Ps.44.16" parsed="|Ps|44|9|44|16" passage="Ps 44:9-16">ver.
9-16</scripRef>. III. To file a protestation of their integrity and
adherence to God notwithstanding, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.17-Ps.44.22" parsed="|Ps|44|17|44|22" passage="Ps 44:17-22">ver. 17-22</scripRef>. IV. To lodge a petition at the
throne of grace for succour and relief, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.22-Ps.44.26" parsed="|Ps|44|22|44|26" passage="Ps 44:22-26">ver. 22-26</scripRef>. In singing this psalm we ought
to give God the praise of what he has formerly done for his people,
to represent our own grievances, or sympathize with those parts of
the church that are in distress, to engage ourselves, whatever
happens, to cleave to God and duty, and then cheerfully to wait the
event.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xlv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44" parsed="|Ps|44|0|0|0" passage="Ps 44" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xlv-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.1-Ps.44.8" parsed="|Ps|44|1|44|8" passage="Ps 44:1-8" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.44.1-Ps.44.8">
<h4 id="Ps.xlv-p1.9">Grateful Acknowledgment of Past Mercies;
Consecration to God.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xlv-p1.10">
<p id="Ps.xlv-p2">To the chief musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlv-p3">1 We have heard with our ears, O God, our
fathers have told us, <i>what</i> work thou didst in their days, in
the times of old.   2 <i>How</i> thou didst drive out the
heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; <i>how</i> thou didst
afflict the people, and cast them out.   3 For they got not
the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own
arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of
thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.   4
Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.   5
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will
we tread them under that rise up against us.   6 For I will
not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.   7 But
thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame
that hated us.   8 In God we boast all the day long, and
praise thy name for ever. Selah.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p4">Some observe that most of the psalms that
are entitled <i>Maschil—psalms of instruction,</i> are sorrowful
psalms; for afflictions give instructions, and sorrow of spirit
opens the ear to them. <i>Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest
and teachest.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p5">In these verses the church, though now
trampled upon, calls to remembrance the days of her triumph, of her
triumph in God and over her enemies. This is very largely mentioned
here, 1. As an aggravation of the present distress. The yoke of
servitude cannot but lie very heavily on the necks of those that
used to wear the crown of victory; and the tokens of God's
displeasure must needs be most grievous to those that have been
long accustomed to the tokens of his favour. 2. As an encouragement
to hope that God would yet turn again their captivity and return in
mercy to them; accordingly he mixes prayers and comfortable
expectations with his record of former mercies. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p6">I. Their commemoration of the great things
God had formerly done for them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p7">1. In general (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.1" parsed="|Ps|44|1|0|0" passage="Ps 44:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>): <i>Our fathers have told us what
work thou didst in their days.</i> Observe, (1.) The many
operations of providence are here spoken of as one work—"They have
told us the <i>work</i> which thou didst;" for there is a wonderful
harmony and uniformity in all that God does, and the many wheels
make but one wheel (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.10.13" parsed="|Ezek|10|13|0|0" passage="Eze 10:13">Ezek. x.
13</scripRef>), many works make but one work. (2.) It is a debt
which every age owes to posterity to keep an account of God's works
of wonder, and to transmit the knowledge of them to the next
generation. Those that went before us told us what God did in their
days, we are bound to tell those that come after us what he has
done in our days, and let them do the like justice to those that
shall succeed them; thus shall <i>one generation praise his works
to another</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.145.4" parsed="|Ps|145|4|0|0" passage="Ps 145:4">Ps. cxlv.
4</scripRef>), the <i>fathers to the children shall make known his
truth,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.38.19" parsed="|Isa|38|19|0|0" passage="Isa 38:19">Isa. xxxviii.
19</scripRef>. (3.) We must not only make mention of the work God
has done in our own days, but must also acquaint ourselves and our
children with what he did in the times of old, long before our own
days; and of this we have in the scripture a sure word of history,
as sure as the word of prophecy. (4.) Children must diligently
attend to what their parents tell them of the wonderful works of
God, and keep it in remembrance, as that which will be of great use
to them. (5.) Former experiences of God's power and goodness are
strong supports to faith and powerful pleas in prayer under present
calamities. See how Gideon insists upon it (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Judg.6.13" parsed="|Judg|6|13|0|0" passage="Jdg 6:13">Judg. vi. 13</scripRef>): <i>Where are all his miracles
which our fathers told us of?</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p8">2. In particular, their fathers had told
them,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p9">(1.) How wonderfully God planted Israel in
Canaan at first, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.2-Ps.44.3" parsed="|Ps|44|2|44|3" passage="Ps 44:2,3"><i>v.</i> 2,
3</scripRef>. He drove out the natives, to make room for Israel,
afflicted them, and cast them out, gave them as dust to Israel's
sword and as driven stubble to their bow. The many complete
victories which Israel obtained over the Canaanites, under the
command of Joshua, were not to be attributed to themselves, nor
could they challenge the glory of them. [1.] They were not owing to
their own merit, but to God's favour and free grace: It was
<i>through the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a
favour to them. Not for thy righteousness, or the uprightness of
thy heart, doth God drive them out from before thee</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.9.5-Deut.9.6" parsed="|Deut|9|5|9|6" passage="De 9:5,6">Deut. ix. 5, 6</scripRef>), but because God
would <i>perform the oath which he swore unto their fathers,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.7.8" parsed="|Deut|7|8|0|0" passage="De 7:8">Deut. vii. 8</scripRef>. The less praise
this allows us the more comfort it administers to us, that we may
see all our successes and enlargements coming to us from the favour
of God and the light of his countenance. [2.] They were not owing
to their own might, but to God's power engaged for them, without
which all their own efforts and endeavours would have been
fruitless. It was not by their own sword that they got the land in
possession, though they had great numbers of mighty men; nor did
their own arm save them from being driven back by the Canaanites
and put to shame; but it was God's <i>right hand</i> and his
<i>arm.</i> He fought for Israel, else they would have fought in
vain; it was through him that they did valiantly and victoriously.
It was God that planted Israel in that good land, as the careful
husbandman plants a tree, from which he promises himself fruit. See
<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.8" parsed="|Ps|80|8|0|0" passage="Ps 80:8">Ps. lxxx. 8</scripRef>. This is
applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, by
the preaching of the gospel. Paganism was wonderfully driven out,
as the Canaanites, not all at once, but by little and little, not
by any human policy or power (for God chose to do it by the weak
and foolish things of the world), but by the wisdom and power of
God—Christ by his Spirit went forth conquering and to conquer; and
the remembrance of that is a great support and comfort to those
that groan under the yoke of antichristian tyranny, for to the
state of the church under the power of the New-Testament Babylon,
some think (and particularly the learned Amyraldus), the complaints
in the latter part of this psalm may very fitly be accommodated. He
that by his power and goodness planted a church for himself in the
world will certainly support it by the same power and goodness; and
the <i>gates of hell shall not prevail against it.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p10">(2.) How frequently he had given them
success against their enemies that attempted to disturb them in the
possession of that good land (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.7" parsed="|Ps|44|7|0|0" passage="Ps 44:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>): <i>Thou hast,</i> many a time, <i>saved us from our
enemies,</i> and hast put to flight, and so put to shame, <i>those
that hated us,</i> witness the successes of the judges against the
nations that oppressed Israel. Many a time have the persecutors of
the Christian church, and those that hate it, been put to shame by
the power of truth, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.6.10" parsed="|Acts|6|10|0|0" passage="Ac 6:10">Acts vi.
10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p11">II. The good use they make of this record,
and had formerly made of it, in consideration of the great things
God had done for their fathers of old.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p12">1. They had taken God for their sovereign
Lord, had sworn allegiance to him, and put themselves under his
protection (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.4" parsed="|Ps|44|4|0|0" passage="Ps 44:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>):
<i>Thou art my King, O God!</i> He speaks in the name of the
church, as (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.12" parsed="|Ps|74|12|0|0" passage="Ps 74:12">Ps. lxxiv. 12</scripRef>),
<i>Thou art my King of old.</i> God, as a king, has made laws for
his church, provided for the peace and good order of it, judged for
it, pleaded its cause, fought its battles, and protected it; it is
his kingdom in the world, and ought to be subject to him, and to
pay him tribute. Or the psalmist speaks for himself here: "Lord,
<i>Thou art my King;</i> whither shall I go with my petitions, but
to thee? The favour I ask is not for myself, but for thy church."
Note, It is every one's duty to improve his personal interest at
the throne of grace for the public welfare and prosperity of the
people of God; as Moses, "<i>If I have found grace in thy
sight,</i> guide thy people," <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.33.13" parsed="|Exod|33|13|0|0" passage="Ex 33:13">Exod.
xxxiii. 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p13">2. They had always applied to him by prayer
for deliverance when at any time they were in distress: <i>Command
deliverances for Jacob.</i> Observe, (1.) The enlargedness of their
desire. They pray for deliverances, not one, but many, as many as
they had need of, how many soever they were, a series of
deliverances, a deliverance from every danger. (2.) The strength of
their faith in the power of God. They do not say, <i>Work
deliverances,</i> but <i>Command them,</i> which denotes his doing
it easily and instantly—<i>Speak and it is done</i> (such was the
faith of the centurion, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.8.8" parsed="|Matt|8|8|0|0" passage="Mt 8:8">Matt. viii.
8</scripRef>, <i>Speak the word only, and my servant shall be
healed</i>); it denotes also his doing it effectually: "Command it,
as one having authority, whose command will be obeyed." <i>Where
the word of a king is there is power,</i> much more the word of the
King of kings.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p14">3. They had trusted and triumphed in him.
As they owned it was not their own sword and bow that had saved
them (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.3" parsed="|Ps|44|3|0|0" passage="Ps 44:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), so
neither did they trust to their own sword or bow to save them for
the future (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.6" parsed="|Ps|44|6|0|0" passage="Ps 44:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>):
"<i>I will not trust in my bow,</i> nor in any of my military
preparations, as if those would stand me in stead without God. No;
<i>through thee will we push down our enemies</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.5" parsed="|Ps|44|5|0|0" passage="Ps 44:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>); we will attempt it in
thy strength, relying only upon that, and not upon the number or
valour of our forces; and, having thee on our side, we will not
doubt of success in the attempt. <i>Through thy name</i> (by virtue
of thy wisdom directing us, thy power strengthening us and working
for us, and thy promise securing success to us) we shall, we
<i>will, tread those under that rise up against us.</i>"</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p15">4. They had made him their joy and praise
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.8" parsed="|Ps|44|8|0|0" passage="Ps 44:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): "<i>In God we
have boasted;</i> in him we do and will boast, every day, and all
the day long." When their enemies boasted of their strength and
successes, as Sennacherib and Rabshakeh hectored Hezekiah, they
owned they had nothing to boast of, in answer thereunto, but their
relation to God and their interest in him; and, if he were for
them, they could set all the world at defiance. <i>Let him that
glories glory in the Lord,</i> and let that for ever exclude all
other boasting. Let those that trust in God make their boast in
him, for they know whom they have trusted; let them <i>boast in him
all the day long,</i> for it is a subject that can never be
exhausted. But let them withal <i>praise his name for ever;</i> if
they have the comfort of his name, let them give unto him the glory
due to it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xlv-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.9-Ps.44.16" parsed="|Ps|44|9|44|16" passage="Ps 44:9-16" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.44.9-Ps.44.16">
<h4 id="Ps.xlv-p15.3">Afflicted Condition of
Israel.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlv-p16">9 But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame;
and goest not forth with our armies.   10 Thou makest us to
turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for
themselves.   11 Thou hast given us like sheep
<i>appointed</i> for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
  12 Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase
<i>thy wealth</i> by their price.   13 Thou makest us a
reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are
round about us.   14 Thou makest us a byword among the
heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.   15 My
confusion <i>is</i> continually before me, and the shame of my face
hath covered me,   16 For the voice of him that reproacheth
and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p17">The people of God here complain to him of
the low and afflicted condition that they were now in, under the
prevailing power of their enemies and oppressors, which was the
more grievous to them because <i>they</i> were now trampled upon,
who had always been used, in their struggles with their neighbours,
to win the day and get the upper hand, and because those were now
their oppressors whom they had many a time triumphed over and made
tributaries, and especially because they had boasted in their God
with great assurance that he would still protect and prosper them,
which made the distress they were in, and the disgrace they were
under, the more shameful. Let us see what the complaint is.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p18">I. That they wanted the usual tokens of
God's favour to them and presence with them (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.9" parsed="|Ps|44|9|0|0" passage="Ps 44:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast cast off;</i> thou
seemest to have cast us off and our cause, and to have cast off thy
wonted care of us and concern for us, and so hast put us to shame,
for we boasted of the constancy and perpetuity of thy favour. Our
armies go forth as usual, but they are put to flight; we gain no
ground, but lose what we have gained, for thou goest not forth with
them, for, if thou didst, which way soever they turned they would
prosper; but it is quite contrary." Note, God's people, when they
are cast down, are tempted to think themselves cast off and
forsaken of God; but it is a mistake. <i>Hath God cast away his
people? God forbid,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.1" parsed="|Rom|11|1|0|0" passage="Ro 11:1">Rom. xi.
1</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p19">II. That they were put to the worst before
their enemies in the field of battle (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.10" parsed="|Ps|44|10|0|0" passage="Ps 44:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>Thou makest us to turn back
from the enemy,</i> as Joshua complained when they met with a
repulse at Ai (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.7.8" parsed="|Josh|7|8|0|0" passage="Jos 7:8">Josh. vii.
8</scripRef>): "We are dispirited, and have lost the ancient valour
of Israelites; we flee, we fall, before those that used to flee and
fall before us; and then those that hate us have the plunder of our
camp and of our country; they spoil for themselves, and reckon all
their own that they can lay their hands on. Attempts to shake off
the Babylonish yoke have been ineffectual, and we have rather lost
ground by them."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p20">III. That they were doomed to the sword and
to captivity (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.11" parsed="|Ps|44|11|0|0" passage="Ps 44:11"><i>v.</i>
11</scripRef>): "<i>Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for
meat.</i> They make no more scruple of killing an Israelite than of
killing a sheep; nay, like the butcher, they make a trade of it,
they take a pleasure in it as a hungry man in his meat; and we are
led with as much ease, and as little resistance, as a lamb to the
slaughter; many are slain, and the rest scattered among the
heathen, continually insulted by their malice or in danger of being
infected by their iniquities." They looked upon themselves as
bought and sold, and charged it upon God, <i>Thou sellest thy
people,</i> when they should have charged it upon their own sin.
<i>For your iniquities have you sold yourselves,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.50.1" parsed="|Isa|50|1|0|0" passage="Isa 50:1">Isa. l. 1</scripRef>. However, thus far was
right that they looked above the instruments of their trouble and
kept their eye upon God, as well knowing that their worst enemies
had no power against them <i>but what was given them from
above;</i> they own it was God that <i>delivered them into the hand
of the ungodly,</i> as that which is sold is delivered to the
buyer. <i>Thou sellest them for nought, and dost not increase in
their price</i> (so it may be read); "thou dost not sell them by
auction, to those that will bid most for them, but in haste, to
those that will bid first for them; any one shall have them that
will." Or, as we read it, <i>Thou dost not increase thy wealth by
their price,</i> intimating that they could have suffered this
contentedly if they had been sure that it would redound to the
glory of God and that his interest might be some way served by
their sufferings; but it was quite contrary: Israel's disgrace
turned to God's dishonour, so that he was so far from being a
gainer in his glory by the sale of them that it should seem he was
greatly a loser by it; see <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.52.5 Bible:Ezek.36.20" parsed="|Isa|52|5|0|0;|Ezek|36|20|0|0" passage="Isa 52:5,Eze 36:20">Isa. lii. 5; Ezek. xxxvi.
20</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p21">IV. That they were loaded with contempt,
and all possible ignominy was put upon them. In this also they
acknowledge God: "<i>Thou makest us a reproach;</i> thou bringest
those calamities upon us which occasion the reproach, and thou
permittest their virulent tongues to smite us." They complain, 1.
That they were ridiculed and bantered, and were looked upon as the
most contemptible people under the sun; their troubles were turned
to their reproach, and upon the account of them they were derided.
2. That their neighbours, those about them, from whom they could
not withdraw, were most abusive to them, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.13" parsed="|Ps|44|13|0|0" passage="Ps 44:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. 3. That the heathen, the people
that were strangers to the commonwealth of Israel and aliens to the
covenants of promise, made them a by-word, and shook the head at
them, as triumphing in their fall, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.14" parsed="|Ps|44|14|0|0" passage="Ps 44:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>. 4. That the reproach was
constant and incessant (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.15" parsed="|Ps|44|15|0|0" passage="Ps 44:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>): <i>My confusion is continually before me.</i> The
church in general, the psalmist in particular, were continually
teased and vexed with the insults of the enemy. Concerning those
that are going down every one cries, "Down with them." 5. That it
was very grievous, and in a manner overwhelmed him: <i>The shame of
my face has covered me.</i> He blushed for sin, or rather for the
dishonour done to God, and then it was a holy blushing. 6. That it
reflected upon God himself; the reproach which the enemy and the
avenger cast upon them was downright blasphemy against God,
<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.16" parsed="|Ps|44|16|0|0" passage="Ps 44:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>, and <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.19.3" parsed="|2Kgs|19|3|0|0" passage="2Ki 19:3">2 Kings xix. 3</scripRef>. There was therefore
strong reason to believe that God would appear for them. As there
is no trouble more grievous to a generous and ingenuous mind than
reproach and calumny, so there is none more grievous to a holy
gracious soul than blasphemy and dishonour done to God.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.xlv-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.17-Ps.44.26" parsed="|Ps|44|17|44|26" passage="Ps 44:17-26" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.44.17-Ps.44.26">
<h4 id="Ps.xlv-p21.7">Israel's Appeal to God.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xlv-p22">17 All this is come upon us; yet have we not
forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.
  18 Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps
declined from thy way;   19 Though thou hast sore broken us in
the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
  20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched
out our hands to a strange god;   21 Shall not God search this
out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.   22 Yea, for
thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep
for the slaughter.   23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord?
arise, cast <i>us</i> not off for ever.   24 Wherefore hidest
thou thy face, <i>and</i> forgettest our affliction and our
oppression?   25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our
belly cleaveth unto the earth.   26 Arise for our help, and
redeem us for thy mercies' sake.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p23">The people of God, being greatly afflicted
and oppressed, here apply to him; whither else should they go?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p24">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:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p25">1. That, though they suffered these hard
things, yet they kept close to God and to their duty (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p25.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.17" parsed="|Ps|44|17|0|0" passage="Ps 44:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): "<i>All this has come
upon us,</i> and it is as bad perhaps as bad can be, <i>yet have we
not forgotten thee,</i> 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 <i>dealt falsely in thy
covenant,</i> 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 <i>sorely broken in the place of
dragons,</i> among men as fierce, and furious, and cruel, as
dragons. We have been <i>covered with the shadow of death,</i> 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
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p25.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.19" parsed="|Ps|44|19|0|0" passage="Ps 44:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), 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: <i>Our heart has not turned back;</i> we have not
secretly withdrawn our affections from thee, neither have our
steps, either in our religious worship or in our conversation,
<i>declined from thy way</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p25.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.18" parsed="|Ps|44|18|0|0" passage="Ps 44:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>), 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
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p25.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.20-Ps.44.21" parsed="|Ps|44|20|44|21" passage="Ps 44:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20, 21</scripRef>):
"<i>If we have forgotten the name of our God,</i> under pretence
that he had forgotten us, or in our distress have <i>stretched out
our hands to a strange god,</i> as more likely to help us, <i>shall
not God search this out?</i> 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, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p25.5" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.8.12" parsed="|Ezek|8|12|0|0" passage="Eze 8:12">Ezek. viii. 12</scripRef>. But heart-sins and
secret sins are known to God, and must be reckoned for; for <i>he
knows the secrets of the heart,</i> and therefore is a infallible
judge of the words and actions.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p26">2. That they suffered these hard things
because they kept close to God and to their duty (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.22" parsed="|Ps|44|22|0|0" passage="Ps 44:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>): "It is <i>for thy sake
that we are killed all the day long,</i> 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, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.36" parsed="|Rom|8|36|0|0" passage="Ro 8:36">Rom. viii.
36</scripRef>. 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 <i>sheep appointed for the
slaughter.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xlv-p27">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:
<i>Awake, arise,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.23" parsed="|Ps|44|23|0|0" passage="Ps 44:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>. <i>Arise for our help; redeem us</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.26" parsed="|Ps|44|26|0|0" passage="Ps 44:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>); come speedily and
powerfully to our relief, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.2" parsed="|Ps|80|2|0|0" passage="Ps 80:2">Ps. lxxx.
2</scripRef>. <i>Stir up thy strength, and come and save us.</i>
They had complained (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.12" parsed="|Ps|44|12|0|0" passage="Ps 44:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>) that God had sold them; here they pray (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.26" parsed="|Ps|44|26|0|0" passage="Ps 44:26"><i>v.</i> 26</scripRef>) 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, <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.6" osisRef="Bible:Hos.6.1" parsed="|Hos|6|1|0|0" passage="Ho 6:1">Hos. vi. 1</scripRef>. They had complained
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.9" parsed="|Ps|44|9|0|0" passage="Ps 44:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), <i>Thou hast
cast us off;</i> but here they pray (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.23" parsed="|Ps|44|23|0|0" passage="Ps 44:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>), "<i>Cast us not off
forever;</i> let us not be finally forsaken of God." 2. The
expostulations are very moving: <i>Why sleepest thou?</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.9" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.23" parsed="|Ps|44|23|0|0" passage="Ps 44:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. 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 <scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.65" parsed="|Ps|78|65|0|0" passage="Ps 78:65">Ps. lxxviii. 65</scripRef>, <i>Then the Lord awaked as
one out of sleep</i>); but it was applicable to Christ in the
letter (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.11" osisRef="Bible:Matt.8.24" parsed="|Matt|8|24|0|0" passage="Mt 8:24">Matt. viii. 24</scripRef>); he
was asleep when his disciples were in a storm, and they awoke him,
saying, <i>Lord, save us, we perish. "Wherefore hidest thou thy
face,</i> 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
(<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.25" parsed="|Ps|44|25|0|0" passage="Ps 44:25"><i>v.</i> 25</scripRef>): "<i>Our
soul is bowed down to the dust</i> under prevailing grief and fear.
We have become as creeping things, the most despicable animals:
<i>Our belly cleaves unto the earth;</i> 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: "<i>O redeem
us for they mercies' sake;</i> we depend upon the goodness of thy
nature, which is the glory of thy name (<scripRef id="Ps.xlv-p27.13" osisRef="Bible:Exod.34.6" parsed="|Exod|34|6|0|0" passage="Ex 34:6">Exod. xxxiv. 6</scripRef>), and upon those sure mercies
of David which are conveyed by the covenant to all his spiritual
seed."</p>
</div></div2>