DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 44 the Psalmist remembers God's mercies to Israel in the Exodus and pleads for present help for himself and the nation. Commentators are divided on the authorship and occasion of the Psalm. But it fits well with the Babylonian Captivity. Some attribute it to another period because verses 17, 18, and 20 declare that Israel is a faithful nation; but it was for sin, not righteousness, that Israel went into captivity. Nevertheless, this can be seen as the voice of the remnant which remained faithful throughout the captivity and who, therefore, had the best claim to be called "Israel," God's people. Today's painting reflects one of the key themes of the Psalm, martyrdom.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 60. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 44 - #1. Psalm 44 - #2. Psalm 44 - #3. ]

     The Psalmist begins by stating what their ancestors had told them about God's amazing works in days of old -- how he drove out the heathen and gave Israel their lands, and how it was God's arm and God's favor which saved them, not their own power (1-3). The Psalmist therefore asks God to send deliverance to the nation. He acknowledges that, if God helps them, they will be able to conquer their enemies. But their bow will not save them, nor will their sword save them. It was God who had saved them and put their enemies to shame. So it is in God that they boast all the day long and praise his name forever (4-8). But, says the Psalmist, if God casts them off, their armies will turn back and be slaughtered. He says that they are now living in this kind of defeat, where they are like sheep for the slaughter. God has sold them for nothing and made them a reproach, a scorn, a derision, a byword, and a "shaking of the head" to the people around them (9-14). He said that his confusion was continual, and shame covered his face because or those who reproach and blaspheme God. Yet, in spite of all of this, he and his companions have not forgotten God; and they have adhered to their covenant. Their hearts have turned back to God. They did not forsake his way even though they were broken and covered with the shadow of death (15-19). He pronounces a curse upon himself and the others if they forget God or worship a strange god. He knows that God will search it out, because he knows the secrets of the heart. They are martyred constantly for his sake. So he asks why the Lord sleeps, why he casts them off, why he hides his face from them, and why he forgets their affliction and oppression. Their soul is bowed down; their belly clings to the earth. They ask God to arise to help and to redeem them for his mercies' sake (20-26).

We have heard with our ears, O God,
our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
² How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand,
and plantedst them;
how 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.

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 appointed for meat;
and hast scattered us among the heathen.
¹² Thou sellest thy people for nought,
and dost not increase thy wealth 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 is 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.
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 us not off for ever.
²⁴ Wherefore hidest thou thy face,
and 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,

¹ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil. [Transposed From Psalm 45:1] *