In the Days of Disaster


Psalm 44



I. God Takes Care of His Own


A. The Bible and the church it directs are intensely historical; telling the story of grace defines the culture of the saved. “To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. 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.” (Psalm 44:1) Believers share testimonies. See Deuteronomy 6.

B. Grace drove the pagans from the Holy Land and gave it to the Chosen People; hell is as deep as heaven is high. “How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.” (Psalm 44:2-3) “He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents.” (Psalm 78:55)

C. Grace and success are always gifts from God; believers have evidence for praise. “Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.” (Psalm 44:4-8) “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6)

D. The prophets continually instructed believers to teach the history of grace. “Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation.” (Joel 1:3)

II. National Disaster Comes


A. Sometimes God steps back and enemies prevail without any apparent advantage to the church. “But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies. Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves. Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen. Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.” (Psalm 44:9-12) “How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up?” (Deuteronomy 32:30)

B. Even the holy people experience disaster. “Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us. Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.” (Psalm 44:13-16)


III. Apostasy and Idolatry Are Not the Only Causes


A. Disaster sometimes comes when the people are faithful. “All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way; Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.” (Psalm 44:17-19) Victory must wait for God’s time.

B. Sometimes the only interpretive parallel is sacrificial sheep. “If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Psalm 44:20-22)

C. Martyrs have always been the seed of the church; following in the way of the cross brings nations to their knees before the Lord of Grace. “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Romans 8:36) “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”(Hebrews 11:35-38)


IV. Disaster Tests Loyalty

A. Faithful people draw close to God in the face of disaster; it propels them toward their only comfort. “Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.” (Psalm 44:23)

B. Disaster reminds people that all things serve God’s purpose; if God had wanted peace and prosperity, it would have prevailed. “Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?,” (Psalm 44:24) “But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)

C. The way out of disaster is only through God’s gracious providence. “For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake.” (Psalm 44:25-26)