You have made us retreat from the foe, and those who hate us have plundered us. You have made us retreatThis phrase begins with an acknowledgment of divine sovereignty, even in moments of defeat. The Hebrew root for "retreat" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which means to turn back or return. Historically, Israel's military successes and failures were often seen as direct reflections of their covenant relationship with God. This retreat signifies not just a physical withdrawal but a spiritual one, where the people are called to introspection and repentance. It is a humbling reminder that victory is not guaranteed by might but by divine favor. before the foe
The term "foe" here is significant, as it represents not just a physical enemy but also spiritual adversaries. In the Hebrew context, "אֹיֵב" (oyev) is used, which can denote any form of opposition. This phrase suggests that the enemies are not merely human but could also symbolize the forces of evil that oppose God's people. Historically, Israel faced numerous foes, from the Canaanites to the Babylonians, each serving as instruments of divine discipline when the nation strayed from God's commandments. and those who hate us
The phrase "those who hate us" emphasizes the personal and communal nature of the enmity faced by the Israelites. The Hebrew word "שָׂנֵא" (sane) implies intense dislike or hostility. This hatred is not just political but also spiritual, as the people of God often faced opposition because of their unique identity and covenant with Yahweh. This enmity can be seen throughout biblical history, where Israel's distinctiveness often led to persecution and conflict. have plundered us
The act of plundering, from the Hebrew "בָּזַז" (bazaz), means to seize or take by force. This phrase captures the tangible consequences of Israel's spiritual and military defeats. Plundering was a common practice in ancient warfare, where victors would take spoils from the defeated. In a spiritual sense, this plundering represents the loss of blessings and protection that come from disobedience to God. It serves as a call to return to faithfulness, trusting that restoration and protection come from aligning with God's will. Persons / Places / Events 1. The Sons of KorahThe authors of Psalm 44, a group of Levitical singers and musicians who served in the temple. They are known for their deep and reflective psalms that often express communal lament and trust in God. 2. IsraelThe nation of God's chosen people, often facing battles and challenges from surrounding nations. In this context, they are experiencing defeat and humiliation. 3. Enemies/FoesThe adversaries of Israel, representing both physical nations and spiritual opposition. They are depicted as those who hate and plunder God's people. 4. GodThe central figure in the psalm, whose actions or perceived inactions are the focus of the lament. The psalmist attributes the retreat and plundering to God's allowance. 5. Historical BattlesWhile not specified, the psalm reflects a time of military defeat for Israel, which could relate to various historical contexts where Israel faced overwhelming opposition. Teaching Points Understanding Divine SovereigntyRecognize that God is sovereign even in times of defeat. The psalmist attributes the retreat to God's allowance, prompting us to trust His greater plan. Reflecting on National and Personal SinConsider how personal and communal sin can lead to spiritual defeat. This calls for repentance and a return to God’s ways. The Role of Lament in FaithEmbrace lament as a valid expression of faith. The psalmist’s honest cry to God models how we can bring our struggles and questions before Him. Hope in God’s DeliveranceDespite current circumstances, maintain hope in God’s ultimate deliverance. The psalm reflects a tension between present defeat and past victories, encouraging us to remember God’s faithfulness. Spiritual Warfare AwarenessBe aware of spiritual battles and the reality of opposition. Equip yourself with the armor of God as described in Ephesians 6 to stand firm against spiritual foes. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the concept of divine sovereignty in Psalm 44:10 challenge or comfort you in your current life situation? 2. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually defeated. How did you respond, and what can you learn from Psalm 44 about handling such experiences? 3. In what ways can communal or national sin impact our personal lives, and how can we intercede for our communities based on the lessons from this psalm? 4. How does the practice of lament, as seen in Psalm 44, deepen your relationship with God and your understanding of His character? 5. Compare the spiritual battles described in Psalm 44 with those in Ephesians 6. How can you apply the armor of God to your life to withstand spiritual opposition? Connections to Other Scriptures Deuteronomy 28This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, including military defeat as a consequence of turning away from God. Judges 2Describes a cycle of Israel's disobedience, oppression by enemies, crying out to God, and eventual deliverance, illustrating the pattern of retreat and plundering due to sin. Romans 8Offers a New Testament perspective on suffering and victory, emphasizing that despite trials, believers are more than conquerors through Christ. People Jacob, Korah, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Adversaries, Adversary, Attacker, Backward, Cause, Causest, Enemies, Enemy, Foe, Goods, Gotten, Hast, Hate, Hating, Makest, Plunder, Plundered, Spoil, Spoiled, Themselves, TurnDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 44:9-12 5290 defeat Psalm 44:9-16 7520 dispersion, the Psalm 44:9-19 5836 disgrace Psalm 44:9-26 5243 byword
6115 blame Library Second Sunday after Easter
Text: First Peter 2, 20-25. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed …
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. IISermon at the Opening Services of the General Convention, October 2, 1889
"We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst their days, in the times of old."--PSALM xliv. I. Brethren: I shall take it for granted that there is a visible Church; that it was founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, and has His promise that the gates of hell shall never prevail against it. We believe that ours is a pure branch of the apostolic Church; that it has a threefold ministry; that its two sacraments--Baptism and the Supper of the Lord--are of perpetual …
H.B. Whipple—Five Sermons The Story of God's Mighty Acts
Now, my dear friends, this morning I intend to recall to your minds some of the wondrous things which God has done in the olden time. My aim and object will be to excite your minds to seek after the like; that looking back upon what God has done, you may be induced to look forward with the eye of expectation, hoping that he will again stretch forth his potent hand and his holy arm, and repeat those mighty acts he performed in ancient days. First, I shall speak of the marvellous stories which our …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 5: 1859 Name Date No.
NAME DATE No. A Abelard, Rev. Peter 1079-1142 544 Adams, Mrs. Sarah (Flower) 1805-1848 222 Addison, Joseph 1672-1719 237, 252, 317 Ainger, Arthur Campbell 1841-1919 483 Alexander, Mrs. Cecil Frances (Humphreys) 1823-1895 87, 138, 156, 159, 179, 268, 283, 349, 358, 525, 553 Alford, Dean Henry 1810-1871 270, 344, 421, 531, 541 Allen, Rev. James 1734-1804 157 Anonymous 37, 173, 197, 209, 257, 284, 347, 355, 356, 377, 398 Armstrong, Bishop John 1813-1856 454 Auber, Miss Harriet 1773-1862 199 cNAME DATE …
Various—The Hymnal of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA Letter xv. To Turribius, Bishop of Asturia , Upon the Errors of the Priscillianists.
To Turribius, Bishop of Asturia [137] , upon the errors of the Priscillianists. Leo, bishop, to Turribius, bishop, greeting. I. Introductory. Your laudable zeal for the truth of the catholic Faith, and the painstaking devotion you expend in the exercise of your pastoral office upon the Lord's flock is proved by your letter, brother, which your deacon has handed to us, in which you have taken care to bring to our knowledge the nature of the disease which has burst forth in your district from the …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Mystery
Of the Woman dwelling in the Wilderness. The woman delivered of a child, when the dragon was overcome, from thenceforth dwelt in the wilderness, by which is figured the state of the Church, liberated from Pagan tyranny, to the time of the seventh trumpet, and the second Advent of Christ, by the type, not of a latent, invisible, but, as it were, an intermediate condition, like that of the lsraelitish Church journeying in the wilderness, from its departure from Egypt, to its entrance into the land …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of Alexander the Great to the Accession of Herod
The political connection of the Grecian world, and, with it, the conflict with Hellenism, may be said to have connected with the victorious progress of Alexander the Great through the then known world (333 b.c.). [6326] It was not only that his destruction of the Persian empire put an end to the easy and peaceful allegiance which Judæa had owned to it for about two centuries, but that the establishment of such a vast Hellenic empire. as was the aim of Alexander, introduced a new element into …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah Epistle Lxvii. To Quiricus, Bishop, &C.
To Quiricus, Bishop, &c. Gregory to Quiricus, Bishop, and the other catholic bishops in Hiberia [183] . Since to charity nothing is afar off, let those who are divided in place be joined by letter. The bearer of these presents, coming to the Church of the blessed Peter, Prince of the apostles, asserted that he had received letters for us from your Fraternity, and had lost them, with other things also, in the city of Jerusalem. In them, as he says, you were desirous of enquiring with regard to priests …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Under the Shepherd's Care.
A NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS. "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 25. "Ye were as sheep going astray." This is evidently addressed to believers. We were like sheep, blindly, willfully following an unwise leader. Not only were we following ourselves, but we in our turn have led others astray. This is true of all of us: "All we like sheep have gone astray;" all equally foolish, "we have turned every one to his own way." Our first …
J. Hudson Taylor—A Ribband of Blue Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple …
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers Triumph Over Death and the Grave
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin: and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. T he Christian soldier may with the greatest propriety, be said to war a good warfare (I Timothy 1:18) . He is engaged in a good cause. He fights under the eye of the Captain of his salvation. Though he be weak in himself, and though his enemies are many and mighty, he may do that which in other soldiers …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2 The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Calvin -- Enduring Persecution for Christ
John Calvin was born in 1509, at Noyon, France. He has been called the greatest of Protestant commentators and theologians, and the inspirer of the Puritan exodus. He often preached every day for weeks in succession. He possest two of the greatest elements in successful pulpit oratory, self-reliance and authority. It was said of him, as it was afterward said of Webster, that "every word weighed a pound." His style was simple, direct, and convincing. He made men think. His splendid contributions to …
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 44:10 NIVPsalm 44:10 NLTPsalm 44:10 ESVPsalm 44:10 NASBPsalm 44:10 KJV
Psalm 44:10 Commentaries
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