God Speaks
44 For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
1 O God, we have heard it with our own ears—
our ancestors have told us
of all you did in their day,
in days long ago:
2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power
and gave all the land to our ancestors.
You crushed their enemies
and set our ancestors free.
3 They did not conquer the land with their swords;
it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory.
It was your right hand and strong arm
and the blinding light from your face that helped them,
for you loved them.
4 You are my King and my God.
You command victories for Israel.
5 Only by your power can we push back our enemies;
only in your name can we trample our foes.
6 I do not trust in my bow;
I do not count on my sword to save me.
7 You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies;
you disgrace those who hate us.
8 O God, we give glory to you all day long
and constantly praise your name. Interlude
9 But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor.
You no longer lead our armies to battle.
10 You make us retreat from our enemies
and allow those who hate us to plunder our land.
11 You have butchered us like sheep
and scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold your precious people for a pittance,
making nothing on the sale.
13 You let our neighbors mock us.
We are an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
14 You have made us the butt of their jokes;
they shake their heads at us in scorn.
15 We can’t escape the constant humiliation;
shame is written across our faces.
16 All we hear are the taunts of our mockers.
All we see are our vengeful enemies.
17 All this has happened though we have not forgotten you.
We have not violated your covenant.
18 Our hearts have not deserted you.
We have not strayed from your path.
19 Yet you have crushed us in the jackal’s desert home.
You have covered us with darkness and death.
20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods,
21 God would surely have known it,
for he knows the secrets of every heart.
22 But for your sake we are killed every day;
we are being slaughtered like sheep.
23 Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Get up! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you look the other way?
Why do you ignore our suffering and oppression?
25 We collapse in the dust,
lying face down in the dirt.
26 Rise up! Help us!
Ransom us because of your unfailing love.
45 For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.” A psalm of the descendants of Korah.
1 Beautiful words stir my heart.
I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
2 You are the most handsome of all.
Gracious words stream from your lips.
God himself has blessed you forever.
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory,
defending truth, humility, and justice.
Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
The nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.
You rule with a scepter of justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your noble women.
At your right side stands the queen,
wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!
10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts.
The wealthy will beg your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious
in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
as they enter the king’s palace!
16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Psalm 44: Verses 1-8 recount how, in the past, God has guided, protected, and provided for His people and given them victory over their foes, both collectively and individually. Verses 9-16 tell how God now seems to have abandoned His people, even making them a laughingstock to their enemies. In verses 17-22, the psalmist claims that God’s people at that time had not forgotten God. They had not violated His covenant, nor had they had worshiped other gods. In verses 23-26, the psalmist pleads with the LORD to again rise up and come to the rescue of His people for His own name’s sake. The psalmist asks God to rise up and act in accordance with His unfailing love, ransoming His people.
Psalm 45 is a wedding psalm. Verse one is an introduction. Verses 2-9 are to or about the groom. He is the most handsome of bridegrooms. He is a mighty warrior who rides forth in victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. He performs awe-inspiring deeds! He will defeat all his enemies. He will rule as king forever. He will earn tremendous honor and wealth displayed in wonderous beauty of sight, sound, and scent. Verses 10-17 are to or about the bride. She has turned away from her family and her former way of life. She is adorned in beautiful robes. She leads a joyful and enthusiastic procession into the King’s palace!
Prayer: Dear LORD God, as one of Your chosen people, I humbly ask You to once again guide, protect, and provide for Your people and give us victory over our foes, both collectively and individually. It seems as if You have abandoned us and let our enemies triumph over us. Those who seek to do right and honor You have been ostracized and made the butt of jokes. Some are imprisoned, many have lost their jobs or been kept from the very necessities of life. In some places in the world, Your people are being killed every day. They are being slaughtered like sheep. Unlike the psalmist’s claims in Psalm 44, in my day and land God’s people have forgotten God. We have violated Your covenant. We have worshiped other gods. I plead with You, LORD, to again rise up and come to the rescue of You people for Your own name’s sake. I ask You, LORD God, to rise up and act in accordance with Your unfailing love. Thank You for Jesus coming to earth, displaying Your glory, and ransoming Your people through death on the cross. We need Your rescue again in this day and age. Come rescue Your people from the world systems, our own sinful natures, and Satan with all his forces and schemes. Come again to display Your unfailing love, mercy, and grace. Jesus, You are the most handsome bridegroom. You are the mighty warrior who rides forth in victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. You perform awe-inspiring deeds! You have defeated Your enemies. You will rule forever. You have earned tremendous honor displayed with wonderous beauty of sight, sound, and scent. The Church (the gathering together of all the redeemed saints of all times) is Your bride. She has turned away from her family and her former way of life. She is adorned in beautiful robes of righteousness. She leads a joyful and enthusiastic procession into the King’s palace! We will bring honor to Your name forever and ever. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will find and read a book on the history of the Church and learn about and praise God for how He has led and provided for His people in the past two millennia.
- I will look back over my life and make a list of the ways God has guided, protected, and provided for me.
- I will not rely on my own righteousness, but cry out to God claiming Christ’s love, mercy, and forgiveness, especially when I am feeling abandoned and oppressed.
- I will gather with others who are part of the Bride of Christ and praise and thank our Bridegroom, Jesus.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.