Ps 44:1-26. In a time of great national distress, probably in David's reign, the Psalmist recounts God's gracious dealings in former times, and the confidence they had learned to repose in Him. After a vivid picture of their calamities, he humbly expostulates against God's apparent forgetfulness, reminding Him of their faithfulness and mourning their heavy sorrows. Ps 44:1-26. In a time of great national distress, probably in David's reign, the Psalmist recounts God's gracious dealings in former times, and the confidence they had learned to repose in Him. After a vivid picture of their calamities, he humbly expostulates against God's apparent forgetfulness, reminding Him of their faithfulness and mourning their heavy sorrows.
1-3. This period is that of the settlement of Canaan (Jos 24:12; Jud 6:3).
have told -- or, |related| (compare Ex 10:2).
2. plantedst them -- that is, |our fathers,| who are also, from the parallel construction of the last clause, to be regarded as the object of |cast them out,| which means -- literally, |send| them out, or, |extend them.| Heathen and people denote the nations who were driven out to make room for the Israelites.
4. Thou art my King -- literally, |he who is my King,| sustaining the same covenant relation as to the |fathers.|
5. The figure drawn from the habits of the ox.
6-8. God is not only our sole help, but only worthy of praise.
7. put ... to shame -- (compare Ps 6:10), disgraced.
8. thy name -- as in Ps 5:11.
9. But -- contrasting, cast off as abhorrent (Ps 43:2).
goest not forth -- literally, |will not go| (2Sa 5:23). In several consecutive verses the leading verb is future, and the following one past (in Hebrew), thus denoting the causes and effects. Thus (Ps 44:10-12), when defeated, spoiling follows; when delivered as sheep, dispersion follows, &c.
11. The Babylonian captivity not necessarily meant. There were others (compare 1Ki 8:46).
13, 14. (Compare De 28:37; Ps 79:4).
15. shame of ... face -- blushes in disgrace.
16. Its cause, the taunts and presence of malignant enemies (Ps 8:2).
17-19. They had not apostatized totally -- were still God's people.
18. declined -- turned aside from God's law.
19. sore broken -- crushed.
place of dragons -- desolate, barren, rocky wilderness (Ps 63:10; Isa 13:22),
shadow of death -- (Compare Ps 23:4).
20, 21. A solemn appeal to God to witness their constancy.
stretched out ... hands -- gesture of worship (Ex 9:29; Ps 88:9).
22. Their protracted sufferings as God's people attests the constancy. Paul (Ro 8:36) uses this to describe Christian steadfastness in persecution.
23-26. This style of addressing God, as indifferent, is frequent (Ps 3:7; 9:19; 13:1, &c.). However low their condition, God is appealed to, on the ground, and for the honor, of His mercy.