Fathers

Psalms 44

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We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old. You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad. For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob! Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us. In God we have made our boast all day long, we will give thanks to your name forever. But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies. You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves. You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations. You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale. You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us. You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples. All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face, at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger. All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant. Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path, though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god, won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart. Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever. Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression? For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth. Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 44:1

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"O God, we have heard with our ears; our fathers have told us the work that You did in their days, and in the days of old" [Psalm 44:1]. Wondering wherefore, in these days, He has seemingly forsaken those whom it was His will to exercise in sufferings, they recall the past events which they have heard of from their fathers; as if they said, It is not of these things that we suffer, that our fathers told us! For in that other Psalm also, He said this, "Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and Thou delivered them. …

Exposition on Psalm 44 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Above, the Psalmist showed his desire for God; here, however, he proceeds to pray against the affliction of the whole people. The title: "Unto the end, a Psalm for the sons of Korah, unto understanding." The sons of Korah are the sons of the Passion of Christ; and these are properly the martyrs, because they imitate Christ. 1 Pet. 2: "Christ suffered for us," etc. And therefore it properly suits the martyrs. It is true that all good things, temporal and spiritual, are given by God. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗