Augustine of Hippo

"For they gat not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Your right hand, and Your arm, and the light of Your countenance" [Psalm 44:3]. Your "right hand" is Your Power: Your "arm" is Your Son Himself. And "the light of Your countenance." What means this, but that You were present with them, in miracles of such a sort that Your presence was perceived. For when God's presence with us appears by any miracle, do we see His face with our own eyes? No. …

Exposition on Psalm 44 ↗

Ambrose of Milan

Our ancestors, as heirs and next of kin of the patriarchs, were planted in the promised land. They did not gain this by any merits of their own. It was not Moses who led them in, for fear they should attribute it to the Law and not to grace. For the Law examines our merits; but grace looks to faith. How excellently the apostle has followed the faith of his ancestors when he says, "he that plants is nothing, he that waters is nothing. …

Commentary On Twelve Psalms 44:12 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

"For not by their own sword did they possess the land." Here is set forth the cause of the benefit. And first he excludes the supposed cause; second he sets forth the true cause. The supposed cause could be the strength of the people, that they had driven them out; and therefore, removing this, he says, "Not by their own sword," etc. There is a twofold strength of man: one from experience with arms, and this he excludes: "Not by their own sword did they possess the land." Jth. 7: "The children of Israel do not trust," etc. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗