By employing 3 historical centers in Psalm 44, the psalmist tries to understand and deal with a national tragedy.
I. Focus on Past History: The Shock of This National Tragedy (44:1-
II. Focus on Current History: The Inscrutability of This National Tragedy (44:9-22).
III. Focus on Future History; A Prayer for an End to This National Tragedy (44:23-26).
Psalm 44:1 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.
We know that by hearing the Word of God, many people are saved.
Hearing about the miracles then, is very important to believing.
1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Psalm 44:5 Through Thee will we push down our enemies: through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
The Chaldee paraphrase renders it, "through the Word".
Psalm 44:9 But Thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.
But now thy countenance and course is quite changed to us.
"And put us to shame":
Made us ashamed of our boasting, and trust in Thee, which we have oft professed to the face of our enemies.
Psalm 44:11 Thou hast given us like sheep [appointed] for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.
To be butchered, and then eaten as sheep are.
And therefore, are called "the flock of slaughter" (Zech. 11:4).
Psalm 44:19 Though Thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.
The wilderness is the habitation of dragons.
And this is the name of the place where the church is said to be in the times of the Papacy.
And where she is fed and preserved for a time, and times, and half a time (Rev. 12:6).
"And covered us with the shadow of death":
As the former phrase denotes the cruelty of the enemies of Christ's church and people.
Psalm 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;
As antichrist, and the antichristian party did in those times (Dan. 11:36).
Psalm 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for He knoweth the
Whether the heart is turned back, or there is any inclination to apostatize from God.
Psalm 44:22 Yea, for Thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Psalm 44:23 Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast [us] not off for ever.
Psalm 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth."
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