Psalms 44:8

44:1-8 Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong supports to faith, and powerful pleas in prayer under present calamities. The many victories Israel obtained, were not by their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace. The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords, that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought for Israel, else they had fought in vain. This is applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not by any human policy or power. Christ, by his Spirit, went forth conquering and to conquer; and he that planted a church for himself in the world, will support it by the same power and goodness. They trusted and triumphed in and through him. Let him that glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of his name, let them give unto him the glory due unto it.

In God we boast all the day long,.... Or, as the Targum, "in the word of the Lord", in Christ, who is God over all, and who of God is made to his church and people wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; so that there is always matter of glorying and boasting in him; and praise thy name for ever and ever; in this world, as long as life continues; and in the other world to all eternity; both for the works of providence and of grace; for deliverances commanded, and for salvation from all enemies wrought out. Selah; of this word See Gill on Psalm 3:2.

8 . Of God have we made our boast all day long, And unto thy name will we give thanks for ever. God has been the object of their praises in the past, and to Him they are resolved to give thanks ( Psalm 42:5 ) continually. A musical interlude marks the conclusion of the first main division of the Psalm.

In God we boast all the day long - That is, continually or constantly. It is not a momentary or temporary expression of our feelings, but it is our habitual and constant employment. We have no other ground of reliance, and we express that reliance constantly. The word rendered "boast" here rather more literally means praise: "In God we praise all the day long." The idea is, that he was their only ground of confidence. They ascribed all their former successes to him; they had no other reliance now. And praise thy name for ever - We do it now; we shall never cease to do it. Selah - On the meaning of this word, see the notes at Psalm 3:2.

(Heb.: 44:5-9) Out of the retrospective glance at the past, so rich in mercy springs up ( Psalm 44:5 ) the confident prayer concerning the present, based upon the fact of the theocratic relationship which began in the time of the deliverance wrought under Moses ( Deuteronomy 33:5 ). In the substantival clause אתּה הוּא מלכּי, הוּא is neither logical copula nor predicate (as in Psalm 102:28 ; Deuteronomy 32:39 , there equivalent to אתּה הוּא אשׁר, cf. 1 Chronicles 21:17 ), but an expressive resumption of the subject, as in Isaiah 43:25 ; Jeremiah 49:12 ; Nehemiah 9:6 ., Ezra 5:11 , and in the frequently recurring expression יהוה הוא האלהים; it is therefore to be rendered: Thou-He who (such an one) is my King. May He therefore, by virtue of His duty as king which He has voluntarily taken upon Himself, and of the kingly authority and power indwelling in Him, command the salvation of Jacob, full and entire ( Psalm 18:51 ; Psalm 53:7 ). צוּה as in Psalm 42:9 . Jacob is used for Israel just as Elohim is used instead of Jahve. If Elohim, Jacob's King, now turns graciously to His people, they will again be victorious and invincible, as Psalm 44:6 affirms. נגּח with reference to קרן as a figure and emblem of strength, as in Psalm 89:25 and frequently; קמינוּ equivalent to קמים עלינוּ. But only in the strength of God (בּך as in Psalm 18:30 ); for not in my bow do I trust, etc., Psalm 44:7 .

This teaching Israel has gathered from the history of the former times; there is no bidding defiance with the bow and sword and all the carnal weapons of attack, but Thou, etc., Psalm 44:8 . This "Thou" in הושׁעתּנוּ is the emphatic word; the preterites describe facts of experience belonging to history. It is not Israel's own might that gives them the supremacy, but God's gracious might in Israel's weakness. Elohim is, therefore, Israel's glory or pride: "In Elohim do we praise," i.e., we glory or make our boast in Him; cf. הלּל על, Psalm 10:3 . The music here joins in after the manner of a hymn. The Psalm here soars aloft to the more joyous height of praise, from which it now falls abruptly into bitter complaint.

[Bible] 43:19. And our heart hath not turned back: neither hast thou turned aside our steps from thy way. 43:20. For thou hast humbled us in the place of affliction: and the shadow of death hath covered us. 43:21. If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread forth our hands to a strange god: 43:22. Shall not God search out these things: for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Because for thy sake we are killed all the day long: we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. 43:23. Arise, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, and cast us not off to the end. 43:24. Why turnest thou thy face away? and forgettest our want and our trouble? 43:25. For our soul is humbled down to the dust: our belly cleaveth to the earth. 43:26. Arise, O Lord, help us and redeem us for thy name's sake. Psalms Chapter 44 Eructavit cor meum. The excellence of Christ's kingdom, and the endowments of his church. 44:1. Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved. For them that shall be changed... i.e., for souls happily changed, by being converted to God.-Ibid. The Beloved... Viz., Our Lord Jesus Christ. 44:2. My heart hath uttered a good word: I speak my works to the king: My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly. 44:3. Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever. 44:4. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty. 44:5. With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully. 44:6. Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king's enemies. 44:7. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness. 44:8. Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

.e. by their arms or valour. ## The light of thy countenance, i.e. thy favour, as the next words explain it; thy gracious and glorious presence, which went along with us. ## Psalms 44:4 My King; Jacob’s or Israel’s King, in a peculiar manner. The whole people speak like one man, as being united together in one body. ## Command, i.e. effectually procure by thy commanding word. ## Psalms 44:5 Push down, Heb. smite with the horn, i.e. subdue and destroy. The phrase is taken from Deu_33:17, and is borrowed from horned beasts. Compare 1Ki_22:11. ## Through thy name, i.e. by the help of thy power. Psalms 44:6 But I will trust in thee only, as the next verse implies; and therefore do not frustrate my hope and confidence fixed upon thee. Psalms 44:7 No text from Poole on this verse. Psalms 44:8 In God we boast, as in a most sure rock, and our only refuge. ## Psalms 44:9 Thou hast cast us off; but now thy countenance and course is quite changed to us. ## 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. ## Goest not forth with our armies, to lead them, and fight for them, as this phrase signifies, Jud_4:14 1Sa_8:20. He seems to allude to God’s marching with and before the Israelites in the wilderness, and afterwards, as occasion was offered. Compare Psa_68:7. ## Psalms 44:10 Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy, by withdrawing thy help and our courage, according to thy threatenings, Lev_26:36. ## Spoil for themselves, i.e.