How do we deal with situations when we believe that we have not sinned yet God seems far away? Let’s look at Psalm 44.
How did Israel inherit the land from the perverted nations before them?
We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old. You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad. For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. (Ps 44:1-3 WEB)
Do we trust in military might or God to fight our battles?
It’s you, God! You who are my king, the one who orders salvation for Jacob. We’ve pushed our foes away by your help; we’ve trampled our enemies by your name. No, I won’t trust in my bow; my sword won’t save me because it’s you who saved us from our foes, you who put those who hate us to shame. So we glory in God at all times and give thanks to your name forever. Selah (Ps 44:4-8 CEB)
Under what circumstances does God reject us, defeat us in battle, make us look foolish?
But now you have rejected us; you don't lead us into battle, and we look foolish. You made us retreat, and our enemies have taken everything we own. You let us be slaughtered like sheep, and you scattered us among the nations. You sold your people for little or nothing, and you earned no profit. (Ps 44:9-12 CEV)
How do we feel when we are in disgrace and shame?
You have made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those around us. You have made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples. 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. (Ps 44:13-16 ESV)
Like Job, did the Psalmist proclaim his innocence from sins worthy of punishment?
All this has happened to us, but we have not forgotten You or betrayed Your covenant. Our hearts have not turned back; our steps have not strayed from Your path. But You have crushed us in a haunt of jackals and have covered us with deepest darkness. If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god, wouldn’t God have found this out, since He knows the secrets of the heart? Because of You we are slain all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. (Ps 44:17-22 HCSB)
Have we ever prayed urgently for God to save us from affliction or oppression?
Wake up! Why are you asleep, Lord? Get up! Don’t cast us off forever! Why are you hiding your face? Why are you ignoring our affliction and oppression? For we have collapsed in the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. Arise! Deliver us! Redeem us according to your gracious love! (Ps 44:23-26 ISV)
Did the souls under the altar that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held, ask a similar question?
And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Rev 6:10 KJV)
How do we deal with situations when we believe that we have not sinned yet God seems far away? You decide!
