For the Faithful

3.26.2011

Psalm 44:17 17 All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant. NIV

I’m glad Psalm 44 is included in the Bible. It starts out with a wonderful statement: I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; 7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. 8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever. (Ps 44:6-8) That’s the right perspective.

But in verse 17 there seems to be some misunderstanding: All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten You or been false to Your covenant. Ummm, that’s exactly what happened – they were indeed forgetful and false; that’s why God punished them so severely and sent them into exile! The writers of this song, the sons of Korah, seemed to have forgotten the Book of the Judges.

Or maybe, just maybe the song was written for the faithful and sung in longing for the Lord to reestablish His power and authority over the whole nation. Maybe this is the song of the remnant who never gave up on God like their fellow countrymen did. Maybe this is one of the prayers of the Redeemed, like that in Revelation, which asks, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Re 6:10) Somebody has to continue to hold up the torch of faith.

In God’s judgment, not everyone is killed nor is everyone safe because John writes again in Revelation 13: If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity he will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword he will be killed. (13:10) We are only ever safe as we worship and trust the Lord; our death on earth however, whenever, it comes, is not the death of our relationship with God – it is only the entrance through which we pass as we enter eternity. The only ones who fear death are the ones who don’t trust the Lord.

Today, I am witnessing the death of my country. I am watching my own land go to hell in a hand-basket. But that doesn’t call me to whine about it; it calls me to seek God and trust Him in the midst of it. God is in control and He will save those who are His no matter wherever they happen to be and whatever happens to them – their only requirement is unshakable faith in a God who irrevocably saves…