mattbraunlin
Member
Psalm 44: Do We Deserve It?
Psalm 44 is one of those remarkable Psalms in which God makes it explicitly clear that we are permitted to protest. That there are indeed times when we have both the privelege and the right to bring our complaints against Him.
With this blurb I would like to explore a simple question with a complex answer: Do we in the west have that privelege right now? Is our situation even serious enough for our complaints to hold any water at all? I'm not sure myself.
Psalm 44 is a rather grandiose Psalm, written in the 1st-Person plural to represent God's people (within the context, Israel of course). It is a thorough and powerfully stated petition, and can be roughly divided into three parts.
Verses 1-8 are a summing up of Israel's relationship with God. The writer defends Israel's integrity, making a claim of innocence to God on her behalf.
Verses 9-22 are surely one of the boldest accusations brought against God in the entire Bible. The Psalmist publicly declares God responsible for abandoning Israel. Injustice, violence, humiliation and hypocrisy are brought directly against the Almighty.
Finally, we see an equally bold call to action. In verses 23-26, the Psalmist more or less demands that God cease ignoring the plight of his people, and act on their behalf.
This is surely a legitimate complaint within its context. Israel was the epicentre of suffering of the ancient world, and God is so often frustratingly silent when we would have him speak.
But one complaint is not equal to another. And while America and my beloved Canada have definitely seen better days, there is no way we as nations are currently worthy of Israel's great complaint against the God we all serve.
Not yet.
We are not yet worthy of expressing Psalm 44 sincerely. It is a history lesson, and it is not currently repeating itself.
We are better represented by Isaiah and Jeremiah. By God pleading through the prophets to turn back to him, before it is too late. To see through the lies of this world, of paganism and sex and decadence and return to the straight and narrow Way.
However, all individual believers are microcosms of Israel. You are a part of the collective story of history, but God is also telling your story. And I am not fit to judge whether you are fit to send such great complaints to highest heaven for our Lord to hear.
If it helps at all, I look back at my own life and see times when I could have voiced those complaints. Times of anguish and pain which were truly monumental. But not anymore. My current situation is difficult, but I am not worthy of Psalm 44. By many standards of my countrymen and the rest of the world, I'm living the good life.
I long for justice for God's people. I see the orphan, the homeless addict, the slave, the prostitute, the prisoner, and I see the need for justice. I see the victims of an atheist oligarchy which is depriving the people of the peace and hope of knowing their Saviour. It makes me sick.
I am certain that the Lord has not finished with the west. Unlike far too many within the Church, I see tremendous potential for a great rebellion and revival. Our enemy is not Babylon or Rome, but a flabby bunch of corrupt diplomats and influencers and movie stars. If the Church can be roused again to tangible action, and find the courage to be what she is always meant to be, they don't stand a chance.
We can prevent our right to complain against God.
Psalm 44 is one of those remarkable Psalms in which God makes it explicitly clear that we are permitted to protest. That there are indeed times when we have both the privelege and the right to bring our complaints against Him.
With this blurb I would like to explore a simple question with a complex answer: Do we in the west have that privelege right now? Is our situation even serious enough for our complaints to hold any water at all? I'm not sure myself.
Psalm 44 is a rather grandiose Psalm, written in the 1st-Person plural to represent God's people (within the context, Israel of course). It is a thorough and powerfully stated petition, and can be roughly divided into three parts.
Verses 1-8 are a summing up of Israel's relationship with God. The writer defends Israel's integrity, making a claim of innocence to God on her behalf.
Verses 9-22 are surely one of the boldest accusations brought against God in the entire Bible. The Psalmist publicly declares God responsible for abandoning Israel. Injustice, violence, humiliation and hypocrisy are brought directly against the Almighty.
Finally, we see an equally bold call to action. In verses 23-26, the Psalmist more or less demands that God cease ignoring the plight of his people, and act on their behalf.
This is surely a legitimate complaint within its context. Israel was the epicentre of suffering of the ancient world, and God is so often frustratingly silent when we would have him speak.
But one complaint is not equal to another. And while America and my beloved Canada have definitely seen better days, there is no way we as nations are currently worthy of Israel's great complaint against the God we all serve.
Not yet.
We are not yet worthy of expressing Psalm 44 sincerely. It is a history lesson, and it is not currently repeating itself.
We are better represented by Isaiah and Jeremiah. By God pleading through the prophets to turn back to him, before it is too late. To see through the lies of this world, of paganism and sex and decadence and return to the straight and narrow Way.
However, all individual believers are microcosms of Israel. You are a part of the collective story of history, but God is also telling your story. And I am not fit to judge whether you are fit to send such great complaints to highest heaven for our Lord to hear.
If it helps at all, I look back at my own life and see times when I could have voiced those complaints. Times of anguish and pain which were truly monumental. But not anymore. My current situation is difficult, but I am not worthy of Psalm 44. By many standards of my countrymen and the rest of the world, I'm living the good life.
I long for justice for God's people. I see the orphan, the homeless addict, the slave, the prostitute, the prisoner, and I see the need for justice. I see the victims of an atheist oligarchy which is depriving the people of the peace and hope of knowing their Saviour. It makes me sick.
I am certain that the Lord has not finished with the west. Unlike far too many within the Church, I see tremendous potential for a great rebellion and revival. Our enemy is not Babylon or Rome, but a flabby bunch of corrupt diplomats and influencers and movie stars. If the Church can be roused again to tangible action, and find the courage to be what she is always meant to be, they don't stand a chance.
We can prevent our right to complain against God.