18 Our heart H3820 is not turned H5472 back, H268 neither have our steps H838 declined H5186 from thy way; H734
The proud H2086 have had me greatly H3966 in derision: H3887 yet have I not declined H5186 from thy law. H8451
And them that are turned back H5472 from H310 the LORD; H3068 and those that have not sought H1245 the LORD, H3068 nor enquired H1875 for him.
Because David H1732 did H6213 that which was right H3477 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 and turned not aside H5493 from any thing that he commanded H6680 him all the days H3117 of his life, H2416 save only in the matter H1697 of Uriah H223 the Hittite. H2850
Because they turned back H5493 from him, H310 and would not consider H7919 any of his ways: H1870
As for such as turn aside H5186 unto their crooked ways, H6128 the LORD H3068 shall lead them forth H3212 with the workers H6466 of iniquity: H205 but peace H7965 shall be upon Israel. H3478
They are turned back H7725 to the iniquities H5771 of their forefathers, H7223 H1 which refused H3985 to hear H8085 my words; H1697 and they went H1980 after H310 other H312 gods H430 to serve H5647 them: the house H1004 of Israel H3478 and the house H1004 of Judah H3063 have broken H6565 my covenant H1285 which I made H3772 with their fathers. H1
Therefore, G5620 my G3450 beloved G27 brethren, G80 be ye G1096 stedfast, G1476 unmoveable, G277 always G3842 abounding G4052 in G1722 the work G2041 of the Lord, G2962 forasmuch as ye know G1492 that G3754 your G5216 labour G2873 is G2076 not G3756 in vain G2756 in G1722 the Lord. G2962
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 44
Commentary on Psalms 44 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 44
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 v. 22 is applied by the apostle, Rom. 8:36), 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,
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.
To the chief musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.
Psa 44:1-8
Some observe that most of the psalms that are entitled Maschil-psalms of instruction, are sorrowful psalms; for afflictions give instructions, and sorrow of spirit opens the ear to them. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest and teachest.
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,
Psa 44:9-16
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 they 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.
Psa 44:17-26
The people of God, being greatly afflicted and oppressed, here apply to him; whither else should they go?