Arise and Redeem Us! (4)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 44.3, 4
For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them.
You are my King, O God;
Command victories for Jacob.

Sing Psalm 44.3, 4, 23-36
(Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
Not by their sword did they drive out the nations; not by their arm did they settle the land.
Your saving mercy and light triumphed for them: victories for us, our King, please now command.
Refrain vv. 23-26
Rise up, awake, O Lord! Hide not Your face from us,
see our affliction, our suffering and pain!
See how our soul is sunk down with oppression;
Rise up and help and redeem us we pray!

Read Psalm 44.3-8

Preparation
1. What specifically did the psalmists remember about God’s work in the past?

2. How did they use that to encourage them in their present struggle?

Meditation
What makes it so important that we recall the mighty works of God in the past is that God does not change. His love for us does not change. His power over all our enemies does not change. His willingness to rush to our aid does not change. And because He does not change, no one and nothing can thwart His will.

The more we remember that God is the God of past victories (v. 3), the more we will call upon Him to bring us victories in the present (vv. 4-8). Remembering God’s mighty works, our supplications become more ambitious (v. 4). We become bolder and more strategic in facing our trials and struggles (v. 5). And we are reinforced in our faith in the Lord and His means of giving us victories day by day (vv. 6, 7). Thus ready to take on the challenges of our walk with and work for the Lord, we go in praise and boasting in Him and His great faithfulness (v. 8).

The sons of Korah understood how to lead their nation back from the brink of disaster: Remind them of God’s great works, then provide them a way to – Psalm 44 – return to Him in prayer and worship, so that the old victories of their faithful God would be new every morning, whatever they had to face.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
Just knowing about all the victorious accomplishments of God in the past gives us courage to believe that He still is God, He still is King, and He still commands victories for His people.

And aren’t these verses a lot like the victorious salvation that God provides us through Jesus? For we did not gain possession of heaven by our own sword (v. 3), nor did our own strength or goodness save us (v. 3), but it was God’s Right Hand Jesus, and His underserved favor toward us that commanded this victory over sin! (vv. 3, 4) Our sin.

Indeed, “because He does not change, no one and nothing can thwart His will.” And His will was, and is, to save: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him…But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Jn. 3.16; Heb. 7.25; Rom. 5.8). Our salvation.

“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn. 5.4, 5).

The Lord is our victory!

Reflection
1. In what sense or senses has Jesus given us victory over sin?

2. How should the victory of Jesus prepare us for dealing with temptation? With any sin in our lives?

3. How can believers encourage one another to focus on and hope in the victory of Jesus?

You are the same even now, Lord, he is saying, ruling in similar fashion, overpowering in a similar fashion, exercising the same force, your nature undergoing no change. For you simply a word suffices for salvation: give the nod, and the people will enjoy it. Theodoret of Cyr (393-466), Commentary on the Psalms 44.3

Closing Prayer: Psalm 43.5-8
What struggles with the enemy of your soul do you anticipate in the day ahead? Commit your way to the Lord, and call on Him to give you the victory over whatever comes your way.

Psalm 44.5-8, 23-26
(Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
Through You shall we all our enemies vanquish; them will we trample in Your mighty Name.
We will not trust in our strength or our wisdom; Jesus will save us; we’ll boast of His fame!
Refrain vv. 23-26
Rise up, awake, O Lord! Hide not Your face from us,
See our affliction, our suffering and pain!
See how our soul is sunk down with oppression;
Rise up and help and redeem us we pray!

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to our summary of last week’s study by clicking here.

Praying the Psalms
In this series, we are examining twelve psalms, learning their content, drawing on their wisdom, and praying and singing them to the Lord. For a fuller explanation of how to pray the psalms, order a copy of our book, God’s Prayer Program. It’s free by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.