In the first eight verses David remembers that the Land of Canaan was given to the children of Israel by God's mighty acts and re-joices in His Sovereignty.
Verse 1. “We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old.” They made their mouths, as it were books, wherein the mighty deeds of the Lord might be read to his praise, to the drawing of their children's hearts unto Him.
John Mayer
Verse 3. (A sermon on Free Grace Exalted) (1) In putting a negative upon human power: – “They got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them …” (2) In manifesting Divine energy: – “But thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance …” (3) In its secret sources: … “because thou hadst a favour unto them.”
A negative is put upon their weapons and themselves as if to show us how ready men are to ascribe success to second causes. The divine “hand” actively fought for them, the divine “arm” powerfully sustained them, and the divine “smile” inspired them with dauntless courage. Who could not win with such triple help, though earth, death, and hell should rise in war against him? What mattered the tallness of the sons of Anak, or the terror of their chariots of iron; they were as nothing when Jehovah arose for the avenging of Israel.
C. H. Spurgeon
Verse 3. “… because thou hadst a favour unto them.” Free grace was the fundamental cause of all their joy and success. God loved them because He loved them. He chose them out of His love, and then loved them for His choice.
John Trapp
Verse 4. “Thou art my king, O God; command deliverance for Jacob.” If there were no creature in the world to help, stillwithall, you would not be at a loss in your time of need. He that sits on the throne can do it alone. He can perform all that ever you need without any means or instruments. His bare word is sufficient all-sufficient. There needs no more power to deliver you - to deliver His people anywhere – than the command of Him that sits on the throne. He that is our King can command life into that which sees as far from living as a dry bone.
David Clarkson
Verse 6. “For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.” I will not trust in my own sword or bow, but in the Sword of the Divine Warrior, and in the Bow of the Divine Archer, whose arrows are sharp in the heart of His enemies, as David says in his next psalm.
Christopher Wordsworth
Verse 6. “For I will ot trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.” This teaches us to relinquish all outward trusts. “My bow” may miss its aim, or may be broken, or may be snatched away. “My sword” may snap, or grow blunt, or slip from my hold. We may not trust in our abilities, or our experiences, or our shrewdness, or our wealth.
Hints to the Village Preacher
Verse 8. “In God we boast all the day long …” Would to God the doctrine of election were considered more, and people were more studious of the covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son. For my own part, I cannot see how true humbleness of mind can be attained without a knowledge of it; and though I will not say that every one who denies election is a bad man, yet I will say it is a very bad sign. Redemption is so ordered that no flesh should glory in the divine presence; and hence it is, that the pride of man opposes this doctrine (and refuses to boast in God all the day long), because acording to this doctrine and no other, “He that glories must glory only in the Lord.” It is the doctrine of election that mostly presses me to abound in good works. I am made willing to suffer all things for the elect's sake. This makes me preach with comfort, because I know salvation doth not depend on man's free will, but the Lord makes them willing in the day of His power, and can use even me to bring some of His elect home, when and where He pleases.
GeorgeWhitefield
Verse 8. “In God we boast all the day long …” Once we stand upon redemption's land of promise, see the King upon His throne, lay down the sword of Free Will and the bow of Human Ability at His feet, and acknowledge that if we have been brought into the Canaan of redemption at all, then it has been by Him, then we will "boast" in Him “all the day long.”
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 44 The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 84 – placed on line May 2010 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |