Psalms 44

(2 Chronicles 11:14) The Lord saved them by a great deliverance. Sometimes Christ is said to command deliverance (Psalm 44:4), sometimes to create deliverance (Isaiah 65:18). Christ as a King commands deliverance, and as a God creates it.

Hypocrites may embrace the true religion in prosperity, and court this queen while she has a jewel hung at her ear. But he is the good Christian, who will keep close to God in a time of suffering (Psalm 44:17). All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten you.

10. The evil tongue is the tongue given to boasting (James 3:5). The tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. There is a holy boasting (Psalm 44:8). In God we boast all the day; when we triumph in his power and mercy. But it is a sinful boasting, when men display thei…

If it be asked how this could be: the answer is, that Abraham knew that God was King of kings, and had the world, and kingdoms of the world in his hand and disposition: and therefore assured himself, that he could bring to pass what he had promised, and make good his word, notwi…

Yet their faith seeing him to be very near them; God is our refuge and strength: true, he can save (says sense) but that is a foul flying in the woods, and over-Sea-hop, far off: Not far off (says Faith) a very present help in trouble: or a help easily, or [illegible] exceedingl…

He has not lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel. Stretching out the hand (Psalm 44:20). If we have stretched our hands to a strange God.

Then for his power, power has a twofold notion, of authority and might. He has authority enough, the sovereign dominion of God is a great prop to our faith, all things in the world are at his disposal to use them for his own glory (Psalm 44:4). Command deliverances for Jacob; an…

But let us think with ourselves, after the example of Paul, that we must glory in the cross which we bear, not for our own sins, but for Christ's sake. If we consider only in ourselves the sufferings which we endure, they are not only grievous but intolerable: but when we may sa…

So David, (Psalm 22) when he speaks of Christ in this sort: I am a [reconstructed: worm] and no man, does he else declare but his exceeding debasing and [illegible] which in his passion he suffered? Also (Psalm 44) he writes of the afflictions of Christians, saying we are counte…

A wicked man finds his heart rising against God when he smites him; but a gracious heart cleaves the closer to him: he can love, as well as justifie an afflicting God. All this is come upon us: yet have we not forgotten you, neither have we dealt falsly in your Covenant. our hea…

Blessed be the name of the Lord.] The name of God in Scripture is taken; first for God himself. The name of a thing it is put for the thing named (Psalm 44:5). Through you will we push down our enemies, through your name we will tread them down that rise up against us.

(That is,) That he sees and acknowledges you. Of this speaks David also in Psalm 44, saying: that all saints shall do nothing but praise God in heaven, for looking upon them in their depth, and has made them thankful, loving and praising in the same. Likewise also does here the…

1. Glorifying God, and making his praise glorious: thus histories of the Lord's dealing with his people of old, and thus the cases of others, in our singing of them, serve to that end — that he did such works, that such a case was once sung to him, and such a saint was so dealt…

To be under the apple-tree, implies her to be near him, and actually delighting herself in him, as being abundantly refreshed under his shadow, as was cleared, (Chapter 2:3). Her raising up of Christ, imports these three things, 1. A duty on her part (to say so) putting him to s…

It is not possible to conceal from him the prostitution of an unchaste and impudent idolatry. And therefore says the Psalmist (Psalm 44:20-21), "If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched forth our hands to a false God: shall not God search out this? for he knows the…

I shall rest in two or three, that in the mouth of three witnesses this great truth may be established. He knows the secrets of the heart, Psalm 44. 21. in the original it is [⟨ in non-Latin alphabet ⟩] the hidden things of the heart; those which are most veiled and masked from…

It is the duty of a king to defend his subjects, and provide for their welfare: so God being King, will see, that it be well with those that are under his government. It concerns you much to get an interest to be under this King, than to mention it in prayer: (Psalm 44:4) You ar…

Psalm 20:1: The name of the God of Jacob defend you! That is, God himself. So, Psalm 44:5: Through your name will we tread them under, that rise up against us; that is, by you. And to believe in the name of Christ, is to believe in Christ himself.

As when Herod Agrippa died, they put on sackcloth, and lay upon the earth weeping. The same allusion is Psalm 44:25. Our soul is bowed down to the dust, our belly cleaves to the earth. Suitably to which allusion, the Septuagint renders it [in non-Latin alphabet], to the pavement.

This is the original of all other comforts, Psalm 30:7. By your favor you have made my mountain to stand strong, and Psalm 44:3. Their own arm did not save them, but the light of your countenance, because you had a favor to them.

It goes near to the hearts of worldlings to part with them, and therefore by this means they think to discourage the people of God. And many times God permits it, that their lives, liberties, and estates shall be much in their power (Psalm 44:10): "They that hate us, spoil for t…

God may give honor, and greatness, and a worldly estate in judgment, as beasts fatted for destruction may be put into large pastures; but he does not teach his statutes in judgment, it is a favor though he uses a sharper discipline in teaching. (Psalm 44:12) Blessed is the man w…

What can he give in exchange for his soul? Money cannot purchase the grace of the Redeemer (1 Peter 1:18): you are not redeemed with corruptible things; and (Psalm 44:6-8): The redemption of the soul is precious. Men would if they could, give a thousand worlds for the pardon of…

So Jeremiah 13:26. I will discover your skirts, that your shame may appear. So when God visits his people for scandalous and enormous offences: (Psalm 44:9) You have cast us off, and put us to shame. The reason of that expression is this; A man in misery is a laughingstock to ot…

Among all his corrections, God has not a rod severe enough to drive away a gracious and loving soul from himself. (Psalm 44:17): All this has come upon us: yet have we not forgotten you, nor dealt falsely in your covenant. God is the same, and his ways are the same, though his d…

But fancy and imagination — these childish things which yet have strong hold of, and strong holds in us — must be cast off, before our thoughts will become obedient to Christ, as the Apostle tells us (2 Corinthians 10:5). And therefore (mount up with the lark) begin with God; th…

And know he is away though heaven were in the heart, and can discern when the ordinances are empty. 3. It engages all we are, hands, knees, body (Exodus 20:5; Psalm 44:20; 1 Corinthians 6:19), self to be for God, and to live wholly in him, not in ourselves. 4. We are not to beli…

To give God oral praise, and dishonour him in our lives, is to commit a barbarism in religion, and is to be like those Jews who bowed the knee to Christ, and then did spit upon him, Mark 15. 19. 10 Then we are rightly thankful, when we do propagate God's praises to posterity, we…

Christian: But what have you met with? said Christian. The Two Men: Why, we were almost in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but that by good hap we looked before us, and saw the danger before we came to it (Psalm 44:19; Psalm 107:19). Christian: But what have you seen? said Ch…

Am I sincerely resolved to follow Christ and holiness at all seasons, however the aspects of the times may be upon religion? Or do I bear myself so warily and covertly as to shun all hazards for religion — having a secret reserve in my heart to launch out no further than I may r…

2. In the act of suffering: Christ on the Cross prays, and converts the Thief: Paul, with an iron chain upon his body, preaches Christ before Agrippa and his enemies, and preaching Christ was the crime: Paul and Silas with bloody soldiers must sing Psalms in the stocks. 3. Indef…

4. When God seems to sleep, in regard that his work and the wheels of his providence are at a stand, prayer awakens God, and puts him on action (Psalm 7:6). Arise O Lord in your anger, lift up yourself because of the rage of my enemies; awake for the judgment you have commanded…

And then if God does breathe in his gifts, he depends not upon them for the acting his work, but upon God's blessing in the use of his gifts; though he have never so much skill and strength, he looks at it as a dead work, unless God breathe in him; and he looks not at his gifts…