A nation gone astray.

Ps 44

1 We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.

2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish.

3 It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.

4 You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.

5 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.

6 I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;

7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.

8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. "Selah"

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.

10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.

11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.

12 You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.

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

14 You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.

15 My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame

16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17 All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant.

18 Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.

19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.

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

21 would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart?

22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself ! Do not reject us forever.

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

25 We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground.

26 Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love

This Psalm teaches that God has established His government over the world from before the world began.  It was communicated to His elect from one generation to another that God has always acted to oppose evil and gain victory before we enjoy blessing and peace.  This is what the Psalmist describes as Gods wonders that are performed in our salvation. A salvation that is in God so that it cannot change. 

We see that from the beginning the saints have been caught in this great struggle between God and Satan. So these national battles are much bigger than mens planning and their use of weapons. Men like to describe history on a man centered level. But Gods prophets see the spiritual reasons..they are looking on a much bigger purpose. Just as Gods law demands death to law breakers so real peace demands the death of anyone who opposes God. There is no institution that is autonomous. David teaches that our spiritual sacrifices that are a sweet smelling aroma to God are given as a confession that we will not enjoy peace unto the curse has worked to eliminate all destruction. These curses are the back bone of the "decrees of victory"

This is a national prayer that is prayed in a high priestly role. When God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah He removed His people from the city..this is showing that God acts to oppose the societies with the most flagrant violations of His law by destroying their society of destruction. But His saints represent His name and they enjoy being in the army in which their presence in the battle is a metaphor for having the character of never turning away from God to worship other gods. This is a prayer from a saint who is in exile asking God to bring the nation back to temple worship for the sake of all the suffering saints, forgetting the sins of the wicked that brought them into exile. 

This word "Rise up" is also used in the Revelation. It is a metaphor for the burnt offering sacrifice in which the smoke rose up to heaven and was presented before the throne by the angels as a sweet smelling aroma.This sacrifice is compared to the new testament prayers that ascend to heaven. These ot sacrifices and prayers are also expressed in a collection of tears as a result of the suffering of saints. The response to these prayers and sacrifices are Gods judgements that He brings upon the nations  who oppose Him. You see this circular process in the Revelation. A nation becomes degenerate and the saints begin to cry out then God responds from heaven with judgement.  

In my use of this Psalm for 25 yrs Ive learned to speak it loudly and with passion. I cannot describe the effect it has upon me. It is beyond description.