# Psalm 44 đź“–: Why Do You Sleep, Lord
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[[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 43]] | [[Psalm 45]]
> [!info] Table of Contents
> [[#đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)]]
> [[#đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary]]
> [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]]
> [[#🧠Chapter Summary]]
> [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]]
> [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]]
> [[#đź’¬ Discussion Questions]]
> [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]]
> [[#đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference]]
> [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]]
> [[#đź“‚ Internal Notes]]
## đź“ś Scripture Text (NET)
(The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005)
## For the music director, by the Korahites; a well-written song.
[[#Verse 01.]]Â O God, we have clearly heard;
our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
in ancient times.
[[#Verse 02.]] You, by your power, defeated nations and settled our fathers on their land;
you crushed the people living there and enabled our ancestors to occupy it.
[[#Verse 03.]] For they did not conquer the land by their swords,
and they did not prevail by their strength,
but rather by your power, strength, and good favor,
for you were partial to them.
[[#Verse 04.]] You are my king, O God.
Decree Jacob’s deliverance.
[[#Verse 05.]] By your power we will drive back our enemies;
by your strength we will trample down our foes.
[[#Verse 06.]]Â For I do not trust in my bow,
and I do not prevail by my sword.
[[#Verse 07.]] For you deliver us from our enemies;
you humiliate those who hate us.
[[#Verse 08.]]Â In God we boast all day long,
and we will continually give thanks to your name. (Selah)
[[#Verse 09.]] But you rejected and embarrassed us.
You did not go into battle with our armies.
[[#Verse 10.]] You made us retreat from the enemy.
Those who hate us take whatever they want from us.
[[#Verse 11.]] You handed us over like sheep to be eaten;
you scattered us among the nations.
[[#Verse 12.]] You sold your people for a pittance;
you did not ask a high price for them.
[[#Verse 13.]] You made us an object of disdain to our neighbors;
those who live on our borders taunt and insult us.
[[#Verse 14.]] You made us an object of ridicule among the nations;
foreigners treat us with contempt.
[[#Verse 15.]]Â All day long I feel humiliated
and am overwhelmed with shame,
[[#Verse 16.]]Â before the vindictive enemy
who ridicules and insults me.
[[#Verse 17.]]Â All this has happened to us, even though we have not rejected you
or violated your covenant with us.
[[#Verse 18.]]Â We have not been unfaithful,
nor have we disobeyed your commands.
[[#Verse 19.]]Â Yet you have battered us, leaving us a heap of ruins overrun by wild dogs;
you have covered us with darkness.
[[#Verse 20.]]Â If we had rejected our God,
and spread out our hands in prayer to another god,
[[#Verse 21.]]Â would not God discover it,
for he knows a person’s secret thoughts?
[[#Verse 22.]] Yet because of you we are killed all day long;
we are treated like sheep at the slaughtering block.
[[#Verse 23.]]Â Rouse yourself! Why do you sleep, O Lord?
Wake up! Do not reject us forever.
[[#Verse 24.]]Â Why do you look the other way,
and ignore the way we are oppressed and mistreated?
[[#Verse 25.]]Â For we lie in the dirt,
with our bellies pressed to the ground.
[[#Verse 26.]]Â Rise up and help us.
Rescue us because of your loyal love.
## đź“– Verse-by-Verse Commentary
###### Overall.
###### Verse 01.
###### Verse 02.
###### Verse 03.
###### Verse 04.
###### Verse 05.
###### Verse 06.
###### Verse 07.
###### Verse 08.
###### Verse 09.
###### Verse 10.
###### Verse 11.
###### Verse 12.
###### Verse 13.
###### Verse 14.
###### Verse 15.
###### Verse 16.
###### Verse 17.
###### Verse 18.
###### Verse 19.
###### Verse 20.
###### Verse 21.
###### Verse 22.
###### Verse 23.
###### Verse 24.
###### Verse 25.
###### Verse 26.
## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights
1. Psalm 44 is a community lament, a prayer for the whole nation in a time of defeat.
2. It is a *maskil* of the sons of Korah.
3. The psalm recalls the conquest of Canaan under Joshua (44:1-3).
4. Unlike many laments, this psalm does not confess sin but protests that the nation has stayed faithful (44:17-21).
5. Paul quotes 44:22 in Romans 8:36 to describe the suffering of believers.
6. The cry "Wake up! Why do You sleep?" (44:23) is bold language, since Psalm 121:4 says God never sleeps.
7. The disciples' cry to a sleeping Jesus in the storm (Mark 4:38) echoes the mood of 44:23.
8. The phrase "a byword among the nations" (44:14) means Israel had become a saying used to mock others.
9. The exact historical setting is unknown, and suggestions range from the time of David to the exile.
10. The psalm ends with an appeal to God's *hesed*, His loyal covenant love (44:26).
## 🧠Chapter Summary
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter
Christ is the Lord who does not sleep on His suffering people. Paul quotes 44:22 to show that nothing, not even suffering "like sheep for slaughter," can separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:36-39).
## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application
> [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way.
## đź’¬ Discussion Questions
1. The people remember how God won their battles in the past (44:1-3). Why is it important to tell the stories of what God has done?
2. The psalmist says they suffered even though they had not forgotten God (44:17-18). How do you respond when hardship comes even when you are walking faithfully?
3. He cries out, "Wake up! Why do You sleep, O Lord?" (44:23). What does this teach you about bringing honest prayers to God?
## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember
- đź“– verse 3: Israel did not take the land by its own sword but by God's power and favor.
- đź“– verse 22: For Your sake we are killed all day long, treated like sheep for slaughter.
- đź“– verse 26: Rise up and help us, and rescue us because of Your loyal love.
## đź”— Related Passages/Cross Reference
- đź”— [[Romans 08#Verse 35.|Romans 8:35-39]] - Nothing can separate us from God's love.
- đź”— [[Joshua 24#Verse 12.|Joshua 24:12-13]] - Not by your sword or bow.
- đź”— [[Mark 04#Verse 37.|Mark 4:37-39]] - Jesus calms the storm.
- đź”— [[Psalm 121#Verse 03.|Psalm 121:3-4]] - The One who guards Israel never sleeps.
- đź”— [[1 Peter 04#Verse 12.|1 Peter 4:12-13]] - Do not be surprised at fiery trials.
## 🙏 Devotional Reflection
đź“ť SOAP: [[Psalm 44- SOAP|He is Always There]]
## đź“‚ Internal Notes