Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 44-6-14-20
This Psalm is a lament to God for seemingly not being there for His people. If we are truthful, all of us have had times when we feel as if God has forgotten us or rejected us. I am so glad that God hears the laments and cries of our heart and does not only hear us when everything is going good.
In verses 1-8 we have a review of the history of God with His people as He fights for them when they entered the land after 40 years in the wilderness. We need to remember the history of God’s goodness and the victory of God’s fighting for us. I have seen the Lord direct, guide, fight and bring victory in my life over the 40 years of ministry. I have also lived through many days of sadness, depression and lament as it seemed the Lord had forsaken me. Psalms 44:6-8, 6 For not in my bow do I trust,
nor can my sword save me. 7 But you have saved us from our foes
and have put to shame those who hate us. 8 In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah(ESV) Through all of the history of my life, I know that any victory came because the Lord fought for me not because of my strength or skill.
From verses 9-16 we hear of the embarrassment and disgrace that came when Israel’s enemies defeated them. So many times there is a reason for our defeat. We may have forgotten God, or sinned against Him. We may have trusted in our own strength or followed our own paths instead of God’s way. However, in verses 17-22 we find that this was not the case. The nation was bewildered because they were innocent of turning away from God. Their heart had not “turned back”; their steps had not “departed from Your way”; they had not spread the hands to a foreign god. The description turns to some very well known words in verse 22, “Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” This verse is repeated in the New Testament in Romans 8:36, and is followed by some the greatest words of assurance and strength. Romans 8:37-39, 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things, present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.(ESV) We must never forget that no matter how hard it is nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The last 4 verses are a prayer pleading for the Lord to awake, come to their defense, and rise up and be their help. We can trust in His redemption because of the steadfast love of the Lord.(vs. 26)
Father, in my deepest depression and despair, help me to remember all the times You have been there for me. I know that I will go through times when the enemy defeats and mocks me. Help me to trust in Your redemption, never forgetting that nothing can separate me from Your love. In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor Rob