Numbers 8; Psalm 44; Song of Solomon 6; Hebrews 6

Psalm 44 – condensed

¹ We have heard with our ears, O God;
our fathers have told us
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.

² With your hand you drove out the nations
and planted our fathers;
you crushed the peoples
and made our fathers flourish.

³ It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.

⁵ Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.

⁷ you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.

⁸ In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever.
Selah

⁹ But now you have rejected and humbled us;
you no longer go out with our armies.

¹⁰ You made us retreat before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered us.

¹¹ You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
and have scattered us among the nations.

…..

²³ Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.

²⁴ Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?

²⁵ We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.

²⁶ Rise up and help us;
redeem us because of your unfailing love.

When I read Psalm 44 I see a similar pattern to many of the Psalms. Basically, the author is first saying how God through history has been on the side of His people and he has done mighty things. BUT NOW, it seems like God has fallen asleep and forgotten His people. Nothing is going right. Certainly God must be asleep or just not paying attention. The Psalmist says “Rise up and help us”.   WAKE UP!!! CAN’T YOU SEE THINGS ARE FALLING APART HERE? RISE UP!

Then the Psalm ends with ” redeem us because of your unfailing love”.

It is very tempting to think that when things are going wrong God must surely be asleep at the wheel. While in my mind I may know better than to think that, in my heart it surely feels that way. So sometimes when I pray I might start out with what I know in my head, what my ears have heard, but once I get going what is in my heart starts to come out. Before I know it I’m telling God “wake up!!! can’t you see what’s happening?? why don’t you fix this???”

In these times, Lord, let me rest in your “unfailing love”. Let me feel that love deep down in my heart. Unfailing. Love.

suegraff

Advertisement