One of the things that I have enjoyed about these chats on the Book of Psalms is
taking the time to research the history or background to each Psalm. In all the
years that I’ve read and memorized the Psalms, I never took the time to do look
at this aspect of the Psalms. Today we begin looking at a new Psalm. Interestingly, when it comes to Psalm 44, scholars
do not agree as to when this psalm was written. Some, like Charles Spurgeon,
think it was in the days of David and that he is the most likely writer. Others
have assigned it to the days of the Maccabees.
But is also possible that it was written during the Assyrian invasion. The
background of the psalm is most certainly one of great national disaster and
humiliation. It finds its place alongside others which clearly belong to the
days of King Hezekiah. The next Psalm seems to be Hezekiah's wedding song. Then
come three Psalms (46, 47, 48) which deal specifically with the Assyrian
invasion. We cannot say exactly when the psalm was written, but it appears that
the circumstances fit best in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah.
There are several initial items of interest about this psalm. It is ascribed to
"the sons of Korah." Korah was a Levite, the grandson of Kohath
(founder of one of the three great Levitical families), and the great-grandson
of Levi. Kohath perished for raising insurrection against the leadership of
Moses and Aaron, but his sons escaped the outpouring of divine wrath and their
descendants became outstanding leaders in the worship of Israel. Heman, one of
David's three principal musicians, was a descendant of Korah (1 Chronicles
6:31-33); and Heman's sons were leaders of fourteen of the twenty-four courses
of temple musicians (1 Chronicles 25:4). The name of Korah in the title strikes
at once a note of grace.
We note too that this is a "Maschil" psalm, one especially written to impart instruction. Not only do we need grace, but we
need guidance. The psalm has not only a superscription which appears at the
beginning. It also has a subscription which tells us that it was assigned to
"the chief Musician." In other words, it was intended for public
worship. If ever there was a man who needed a note of grace, guidance, and
gladness struck for him, it was King Hezekiah in the days when the dreaded
Assyrian army was rampaging throughout his land. The Jewish people sang praises
to God after their great victories (Ex. 15; Judges 5), but this psalm was sung
after a humiliating defeat (vv. 9-14, 22). Although Israel finally won great
victories over their enemies, there must have been some defeats along the way
that greatly disturbed the people. After all, Jehovah was their King (v. 4) and
had enabled Israel to conquer the land; so why would He desert His people as
they sought to protect their inheritance?
Preeminently this psalm shows us how to pray for our country. Hezekiah's country was in dire
peril. The enemy was all-victorious but in his country's hour of desperate
need, Hezekiah prayed. We can be certain he prayed again and again as he saw
the foe advancing and God, for some reason, remaining strangely silent and aloof.
Perhaps this psalm was used at a national "day of prayer" with a
worship leader speaking the "I and my" verses and the people sang
the "we and our" verses.
As we look at our own country in its hour of increasing need, let us keep this
psalm in mind. It is a useful intercessory psalm for a country in growing
peril. A nation, in its hour of need, has only one true hope and that is the prayers
of those who know how to lay hold of God and His promises. (Romans 8:31-39)
God bless!
