Our Boast In God.

OUR BOAST IN GOD.

Psalm 44:1-8.

It is well if we base our appeals and cries for help to God not upon ourselves (our own good name, what we imagine we have achieved, and what we have done or not done); but rather upon His good name (PSALM 44:5; PSALM 44:8), what He has done in the past (cf. 1 Samuel 7:12), and upon the relationship which He has with us through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. John 19:30; 2 Corinthians 5:18). Then, and only then might we make our humble complaint (cf. Psalm 142:2) and bold appeal unto Him (cf. Hebrews 4:16).

PSALM 44:1. This verse teaches us not only of the faithful teaching of godly fathers (cf. Exodus 10:2), but also of the attentive listening of their sons (cf. Matthew 13:9; Revelation 3:22).

PSALM 44:2. It is all about what God has done (cf. Exodus 15:17; Psalm 80:8)!

PSALM 44:3. Not them, but Him (cf. Joshua 24:11-12). And all because He had a “favour unto them” (cf. Deuteronomy 4:37-38).

PSALM 44:4. Literally, “He that is King, O God.” The petition is for “deliverances for Jacob.” Deliverance for God’s ancient people, Israel; deliverance for the church; deliverance for individual Christians. Deliver us from evil, deliver us from hard testing; ‘save to the uttermost’ those who come unto thee through our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Hebrews 7:25).

PSALM 44:5. There is no self-reliance here: it is only “through thee” that we will push down our enemies. The image is of a bullock, pushing with his horns (cf. Deuteronomy 33:17) and trampling underfoot (Romans 16:20).

PSALM 44:6. An individual speaks here: “I will not trust” in anything or anyone but you to “save me.” I will not trust in my own righteousness, nor my own strength, but the righteousness of God through our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). My only weapon is ‘the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God’ (cf. Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).

PSALM 44:7. “Thou hast saved us,” and dost save us. Our hope is in the LORD (cf. Psalm 33:22; Titus 2:13).

“And hast put them to shame that hated us.” Through the shame of the Cross, Christ has put to shame all His enemies (cf. Colossians 2:15).

PSALM 44:8. So our “boast” is not in ourselves, but in our God (cf. Jeremiah 9:24). It is God who has planted the church in this world, and God who will sustain it. Our boast is that we are ‘in Christ Jesus, who is God over all, and who of God is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption: that according as it is written, let him that glories glory in the Lord’ (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

"Selah." Think on these things.