Monday, July 9, 2018

Year 8, Day 190: Psalm 44


Theological Commentary: Click Here



The first half of this psalm seems to be in line with the other maskils of Korah that we’ve read thus far.  It is through the Lord that we accomplish anything.  The psalmist truly knows where the source of life, power, and protection resides.  It isn’t us, it is God.  He is the one who does wonderful things through us.  That much is clear.



However, when we get to the second half of this psalm it takes on a much more ominous tone.  The psalmist has seen his people fail.  He has seen them fall in battle.  He has seen them live under the persecution of others.  He has seen them seemingly rejected by God.



What’s worse is that the psalmist can’t understand why.  From his perspective, the people aren’t falling away.  They aren’t rejecting God.  They aren’t turning to other gods.  They haven’t broken the covenant.  Had any of these things happened, the psalmist would accept the fate and acknowledge their worthiness to receive such a fate.



This can tell us at least two things.  Not being in the context, it is impossible to know which is correct.  It is possible that the people are being faithful.  If this is correct, then God simply hasn’t decided to move against the evil in the world around His people.  God could be giving the other people time to grow, mature, repent, or hang themselves and deserve true judgment.



More likely, however, I think the psalmist is a bit blind.  How many of us can honestly say that we’ve kept God’s commandments?  How many of us can say that we don’t chase other gods in our life?  Can we really believe that we are innocent in every way?



Not being there, I really don’t know what is going on.  But this psalm reminds me that I have a firm belief about repentance.  When things go poorly in my life, my first instinct should be to look within.  What is going on within my life that isn’t worthy of God?  When I find such a thing, I should focus my life upon repenting over that and asking for God’s forgiveness.  In such humbleness will God’s presence truly be found.



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