Bible Study Lesson: Psalm 44 – "A Prayer When God Is Silent"

Introduction

Psalm 44 is a communal lament that expresses a deep sense of distress and confusion when God seems silent despite past deliverances. It reflects the collective grief and questioning of the Israelites during a time of national calamity. This psalm is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith and trust in God, even when He seems distant or unresponsive.

Context and Background

Authorship and Background:

Author: Traditionally attributed to the sons of Korah.

Historical Context: Likely written during a time of national disaster or military defeat, possibly during the Babylonian exile or another period of oppression.

To the choirmaster. A Maskil of the Sons of Korah:

Indicates that this psalm was intended for public worship and teaching, led by the choirmaster.

Outline and Explanation

Verses 1-8: Recollection of God’s Past Deliverances

1 O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old:

Key Hebrew Word: "אָזִנִינוּ" (azaninu) – we have heard.

Historical Recollection: The psalmist recalls the stories of God’s past deliverances as told by their ancestors.

Reference Scripture: Exodus 10:2 – "That you may tell in the hearing of your son and your grandson how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, that you may know that I am the Lord."

2 You with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;

God’s Mighty Acts: Acknowledgement of God’s power in delivering Israel and establishing them in the promised land.

Reference Scripture: Joshua 24:12 – "I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow."

3 For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them.

Divine Favor: Recognition that it was God’s favor and power, not human strength, that brought victory.Reference Scripture: Psalm 33:16-17 – "No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength."

4 You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob!

Declaration of Faith: A plea for God’s continued salvation and kingship.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 74:12 – "But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth."

5 Through you we push down our foes; through your name we tread down those who rise up against us.

Victory Through God: Affirmation that victories come through God’s power.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 60:12 – "With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."

6 For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me.

Dependence on God: Acknowledgment that trust is placed in God, not in weapons.

Reference Scripture: Hosea 1:7 – "Yet I will show love to Judah; and I will save them—not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen, but I, the Lord their God, will save them."

7 But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.

Past Deliverance: Recalling God’s past acts of salvation.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 9:3 – "My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you."

8 In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah

Continuous Praise: Commitment to praise God’s name perpetually.

Reference Scripture: Jeremiah 9:24 – "But let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight."

Verses 9-16: Present Distress and Divine Silence

9 But you have rejected us and disgraced us and have not gone out with our armies.

Key Hebrew Word: "נָטַשׁ" (natash) – rejected.

Feeling of Rejection: The psalmist laments that God seems to have abandoned them.

Reference Scripture: Judges 2:14 – "In his anger against Israel the Lord gave them into the hands of raiders who plundered them."

10 You have made us turn back from the foe, and those who hate us have gotten spoil.

Defeat: The people experience defeat and plundering by their enemies.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 89:41 – "All who pass by have plundered him; he has become the scorn of his neighbors."

11 You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations.

Scattering: The imagery of sheep led to slaughter highlights their vulnerability.

Reference Scripture: Ezekiel 34:5 – "So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals."

12 You have sold your people for a trifle, demanding no high price for them.

Undervaluing: The people feel they are worth little in God’s sight.

Reference Scripture: Deuteronomy 32:30 – "How could one man chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up?"

13 You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us.

Mockery: The people are mocked and scorned by their neighbors.

Reference Scripture: Lamentations 3:14 – "I became the laughingstock of all my people; they mock me in song all day long."

14 You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.

Infamy: The people’s suffering has become proverbial.

Reference Scripture: Jeremiah 24:9 – "I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, a curse and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish them."

15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face

Continual Shame: The feeling of disgrace is unrelenting.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 69:7 – "For I endure scorn for your sake, and shame covers my face."

16 At the sound of the taunter and reviler, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

Oppression: The presence of enemies and their taunts exacerbates the distress.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 74:10 – "How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?"

Verses 17-22: Assertion of Faithfulness Despite Suffering

17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you, and we have not been false to your covenant.

Key Hebrew Word: "שָׁכַח" (shakach) – forgotten.

Faithfulness: Despite suffering, the people assert their faithfulness to God.

Reference Scripture: Job 23:11-12 – "My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread."

18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from your way;

Steadfast Heart: Commitment to remain faithful to God’s path.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 119:102 – "I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me."

19 Yet you have broken us in the place of jackals and covered us with the shadow of death.

Desolation: Despite their faithfulness, they experience desolation and death.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 23:4 – "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,

Loyalty to God: Asserts that they have not turned to idolatry.

Reference Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:14 – "Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you."

21 Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

God’s Omniscience: Recognition that God knows the truth of their loyalty.

Reference Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7 – "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.'"

22 Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

Martyrdom: Their suffering is seen as being for God’s sake.

Reference Scripture: Romans 8:36 – "As it is written: 'For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.'"

Verses 23-26: Plea for God’s Intervention

23 Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!

Key Hebrew Word: "עוּר" (ur) – awake.

Urgent Plea: The psalmist urgently calls for God to wake and act.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 35:23 – "Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord."

24 Why do you hide your face? Why do you forget our affliction and oppression?

Feeling Forsaken: Expresses the feeling of being forgotten by God.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 13:1 – "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?"

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust; our belly clings to the ground.

Deep Humiliation: Describes their utter humiliation and defeat.

Reference Scripture: Lamentations 3:20 – "I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me."

26 Rise up; come to our help! Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love!

Plea for Redemption: A final urgent plea for God’s intervention based on His steadfast love.

Reference Scripture: Psalm 25:6 – "Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old."

Real-World Applications

Maintaining Faith When God is Silent:

Example: During times of unanswered prayers, such as chronic illness or prolonged unemployment, maintain faith in God’s presence and purpose.

Application: Develop a habit of persistent prayer and reflection on God’s past faithfulness. Join a prayer group or support network to find strength in communal faith during times of divine silence.

Recollecting God’s Past Faithfulness:

Example: When facing current challenges, reflect on past instances where God has provided and delivered.Application: Keep a journal of God’s past interventions and blessings. Share these testimonies with others to encourage and strengthen communal faith.

Expressing Honest Lament:

Example: In times of national or community crisis, such as natural disasters or social injustices, express your grief and confusion to God.

Application: Write or pray laments that honestly convey your emotions to God. Engage in community prayers that acknowledge collective suffering and seek God’s intervention.

Seeking God’s Deliverance:

Example: During personal or communal distress, actively seek God’s deliverance while affirming His steadfast love.

Application: Regularly pray for God’s intervention in areas of distress. Participate in communal worship and intercessory prayer, trusting in God’s power to redeem and restore.

Conclusion

Psalm 44 is a profound expression of communal lament and a testament to the importance of maintaining faith in God’s presence and purpose, even when He seems silent. The psalmist’s honest expression of grief and unwavering faith in God’s steadfast love provide a powerful model for how we can navigate our own seasons of divine silence. As we reflect on this psalm, let us find strength in God’s past faithfulness and hold fast to His promises.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You with our unanswered questions and silent prayers, seeking Your presence and intervention. Remind us of Your past faithfulness and help us to trust in Your steadfast love. Strengthen our faith as we wait on You and guide us to express our grief and hope honestly. Redeem us, O Lord, for the sake of Your steadfast love. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.