PSALM 44

1 To the Chief Musician. A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. We have heard with our ears, O God, Our fathers have told us, The deeds You did in their days, In days of old: 2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out. 3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them. 4 You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob. … 8 In God we boast all day long, And praise Your name forever. Selah 9 But You have cast [us] off and put us to shame, And You do not go out with our armies. … 22 Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 23 Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast [us] off forever. 24 Why do You hide Your face, [And] forget our affliction and our oppression? 25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; Our body clings to the ground. 26 Arise for our help, And redeem us for Your mercies’ sake.

PSALM 44:1-4, 8-9, 22-26

REDEEM US FOR YOUR MERCIES’ SAKE

Have you ever been unfriended on Facebook or unfollowed on another social media platform? Someone you thought was a friend sends a quiet but unmistakable signal that they’d rather not hear from you. The first thing you do is try and figure out how you have offended them? What did I do? What did I say? Is it me? 

The Psalmist in this Psalm laments that it feels like God isn’t present anymore. They’ve lost a battle. God should have gone out with them. He didn’t. They search for sin. Why aren’t we friends anymore? They feel like they’re an animal that has been taken out to where the jackals and other scavengers are and the leg is broken… It’s not a good situation to be in.

For me, the interesting part is verse 22. “For YOUR Sake.” Does this mean that there is purpose in the suffering that these people are facing? Purpose Like Job?… Like Joseph?… Like Jesus? This passage probably sounds familiar because I quoted from Romans 8 yesterday on the blog post, but here it is again. Paul writes from his situation in Romans 8:36-39: As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (37) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, (39) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.“

Then see how it ends, “And redeem us for your mercies’ sake.”

• And He would Redeem them (And Us)
  • It was for their sake that:
    • God the father would Step back from his Son (Matthew 27:46)
    • He would be Sacked and even his clothes would be gambled for by enemy soldiers (Luke 23:34)
    • He was led like a lamb to the Slaughter (Isaiah 53:7, Acts 8:32). 
    • His disciples were Scattered (Matthew 26:31)
    • He was Sold for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16)
    • He was Scorned by Soldiers (Luke 23:35-39)
    • He was Shamed when he who knew no sin became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. (This last bit comes from a message that was I heard and took notes for, I did not write the name of the pastor and so am not able to give full credit to the author, only to confess it is not original with me).

PRAYER

Father, Thank you for your incredible mercy and grace! Thank you that you love us in spite of ourselves. Your grace and mercy know no bounds. We are grateful for your kindness to us that even in our suffering there is purpose. We rejoice in you today. Help us to trust you in all things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.