Lent 2 + Midweek

Text: Psalm 44

The past two Psalms we’ve mediated upon, Psalm 51 and Psalm 6, are individual Psalms of Lament. However, tonight, we shift to a congregational or communal Psalm of Lament—one prayed by a church or possibly a nation.

Psalm 44 is prayed by the people of Israel. The reason for their lament is due to their bewilderment with God; they have been dealt a crushing defeat and carried off into captivity.

The first verse reveals why Israel is bewildered with God; they prayed,

            O God, we have heard with our ears,

                        our fathers have told us,

             what deeds you performed in their days,

                        in the days of old…

The stories of God’s care and providence for them were well-known among the people. They were the story of Salvation, repeatedly told throughout generations as they gathered to hear and learn about God's wondrous deeds.

 The first portion of the Psalm says…

            “You with your own hand drove out the nations…but them you set free.” (Psalm 44:1,2b) It was not human might but the hand of God that removed Israel’s enemies.

            “For not by their own sword did they win the land,

                        nor did their own arm save them,

             but your right hand and your arm.” (Psalm 44:3)

God is described in human terms; His hand and arm care for them.

And this is why the first section ends with Israel saying,

But you have saved us from our foes

                        and have put to shame those who hate us.

            In God we have boasted continually,

                        and we will give thanks to your name forever. (Psalm 44:7-8)

What great words and testaments to God’s providence and care! Even as trial and tribulation came, they did not boast in themselves; instead, they boasted and glorified their heavenly Father.

But how quickly does the tone of this Psalm change? No longer are they praising their God for His wonderful deeds of salvation, but now all of their uses of “YOU” are accusative.

“You have rejected us…”

“You made us turn back…”

“You have made us like sheep for the slaughter…”

“You have sold your people for a trifle…”

“You have made us the taunt of our neighbors…”

“You have made us a byword among the nations…”

It’s all in the negative. All of the accusations cast blame on God rather than man. You can hear Adam and Eve in the background here, can’t you? As they had partook of the forbidden fruit, God addressed them and asked,

“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Genesis 3:11-13)

Nothing is ever our fault, is it? Whether our lives are a mess, the nation, or even the church, it’s not our fault.

In fact, we are rejected because of Christ. This is why we often feel like sheep being scattered or how we’ve become the target of our neighbors' taunts.

How is it fair that we, as Christians, suffer for the name of Jesus?

As the middle portion of the Psalm closes,

            All day long my disgrace is before me,

                        and shame has covered my face

at the sound of the taunter and reviler,

                        at the sight of the enemy and the avenger. (Psalm 44:15-16)

A key to understanding the Psalms is how Jesus is the thread woven and unites all of Scripture. Meaning He is present, even in these Psalms of Lament, and as we hear these words of shame, taunting, and revilers, the image of Christ upon His cross should appear in our minds as it is written,

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. (Matthew 27:29-44)

Do you see the connection between our Psalm of meditation and Jesus? It’s easy to feel pity for ourselves and forget how Christ Jesus was rejected and reviled for us. 

Now, this doesn't mean there aren’t times when we, as a gathered people, may feel abandoned and helpless as the world attacks our faith in Christ, or doubts creep into our faith, and we find ourselves wavering. But in these times, we are to learn to be all the more persistent in our prayers and petitions for help.

Psalm 44 gives us a voice to these pleas as we pray with Israel,          

Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?

                        Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever!

And know that you are in good company if you should call out to God and plead with Him to awaken Himself. This is the prayer of Jesus’ disciples as He had fallen asleep, and a great storm arose, tossing them to and fro in the waters. As they came to believe they would perish, they called out to the sleeping Jesus, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” (Matthew 8:25b)

And how does He respond? By asking, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26a)

Why are you afraid, dear children of God?

As the Apostle Paul writes,

If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

             “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

                        we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)

And this is the truth: nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Sure, there will be tribulations and instances when following Jesus brings distress, or you might even feel abandoned. 

But look to His cross and see all He has done for you. He died for your doubt. He slept in your tomb. And He was aroused from your death for you.

So, when the times arrive, and we feel abandoned, turn, pray, and give voice to our faith in the God of heaven and earth; see how He not only arose and came to your help but came to redeem you for the sake of His steadfast love. (Psalm 44:26) +INJ+

Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI