October 23
________________________________________
YOU ARE MY KING, O GOD
O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have told us
The work that You did in their days, in the days of old.
2 You with Your own hand drove out the nations; then You planted them;
You afflicted the peoples, then You spread them abroad.
3 For by their own sword they did not possess the land,
And their own arm did not save them,
But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence,
For You favored them. 4 You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob.
5 Through You we will push back our adversaries;
Through Your name we will trample down those who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow, nor will my sword save me. – Psalm 44:1-6
________________________________________
As with Psalm 42, this psalm is titled To the Choirmaster. A Contemplation Of the sons of Korah. These sons of Korah were Levites, from the family of Kohath. By David’s time it seems they served in the musical aspect of the temple worship (2 Chronicles 20:19). Psalm 44 speaks of the nation of Israel in a season of great defeat, calling out to God for rescue. Some have thought it to be a psalm of the exile period or even afterwards in the days of the Maccabees. Yet there is reason enough to keep this psalm in the days of Israel’s monarchy.
The psalmist recalls all that God has done for his people as was told to him by his ancestors. He is reminiscing God’s hand in the deliverance of their families and nation. In verse 3, the author gives credit to God for it is in His hands that their forefathers were redeemed. He declares that only God has the power to give them victory as He has given Jacob such triumph over the enemies. How many Christians pay tribute to God for all that they were delivered from? It is sad to watch how many people have forgotten to give God all the glory. Instead, many of us would take credit for what only God can do. In verse 2, the psalmist declares that it was also God who afflicted the people and spread them abroad. You may be thinking how God can bring afflictions to His own people. We will never understand God’s ways, but He always has a good purpose for what He allow to happen. In verse 3, the author acknowledges that it was also God who gave them favor. God is sovereign and He is the greatest of all kings.
________________________________________
REFLECTION
• How should you treat and pay tribute to King Jesus? Why do we forget to do this?