Summer in the Psalms: Psalm 44
Overview
As we explore Psalms of Lament, the goal is to recognize God’s presence in our lament, while also knowing His goodness never wavers. Not as a way to dismiss the pain but to recognize His nearness in all seasons. We remember the good so that we can see God’s hand of blessing and favor in our lives. We remember the bad to know God’s presence in the midst of pain, defeat, and confusion. There has never been a moment in your lamenting that God has not been intimately with you in the pain. Psalm 44 recalls God’s deliverance in the past, but then Israel asks where He is as they face harsh realities. They ask, “Why are you sleeping?” “Why do you keep looking away?” ultimately, we encounter the writer asking to “Show how kind you are and come to our rescue”.
Read
Psalm 44 CEV
VS 1-3
“Our God, our ancestors told us
what wonders you worked and we listened carefully.
You chased off the nations
by causing them trouble
with your powerful arm.
Then you let our ancestors take
over their land.
Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory!
You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory.”
Vs. 9-12
“But now you have rejected us;
you don't lead us into battle,
and we look foolish.
You made us retreat,
and our enemies have taken everything we own.
You let us be slaughtered like sheep,
and you scattered us among the nations.
You sold your people for little or nothing, and you earned no profit.”
Vs 23-26
“Wake up! Do something, Lord!
Why are you sleeping?
Don't desert us forever.
Why do you keep looking away?
Don't forget our sufferings
and all our troubles.
We are flat on the ground,
holding on to the dust.
Do something! Help us!
Show how kind you are and come to our rescue.”
Discuss
Icebreakers
What was the earliest memory you can recall from childhood?
Why do you think recalling good memories is harder than bad ones?
Read Psalm 44 verses 1-3, 9-12.
Why does the Lord allow us to face difficulties and defeat, even when we are being faithful to Him?
How does remembering God’s hand in your life in the past help you face the future?
Read Psalm 44, verses 23-26
Out of desperation, this author cries for God’s action. Have you ever wondered why God wasn’t moving fast enough for your situation or where he was?
The end of this psalm does not conclude with a happy ending, nor does it conclude with a tragedy. How does this Psalm speak of who God is in times where we are in need of a rescue?
Call to Action
Where in your life are you asking for God’s rescue?
How can your testimony of His deliverance in the past encourage someone else at the table today?
