Psalm 44 (43):18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Therefore, as I mentioned earlier, I reiterate now: they encourage the hearts of their brethren under the guise of prayer, conveying the message: why lose hope for salvation? The Lord is our protector; should we have erred in any way, we have accepted our just consequences; we have faced trials with courage; we are guided by Him who remembers even the wayward; hence, we can confidently anticipate a favorable outcome. What, then, does it signify to say ‘we have not broken Thy covenant’? It signifies that we have not transgressed regarding that which has been entrusted to us but have preserved it with fidelity. It is truly grave to violate the law, which offers recompense, deters us from harboring grievances against others, and curbs wrongdoing, all while demonstrating ungratefulness to Him who grants us countless blessings.

Who among us is so strong that he will not waver in the face of adversity? It is only someone who has the Lord by his side, prepared to assist him. Even the prophet David experienced distress; although in his prosperous days, he proclaimed, "I will not be shaken forever" (Psalm 29:7). Who can remain unshaken amidst the suffering of this fallen world? Divine judgement spares no one: all are subject to the burdens of this life, as it has been declared to mankind, "Cursed is the ground for your sake" (Gen. 3:17). God stated, "Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth for you" (Gen. 3:18). Even Paul, a chosen instrument of the Lord, though liberated from the curse of the old law through the sufferings of Christ, experienced great anguish as a prisoner to sin's law. It was solely through Christ's aid that he found release from the law of his flesh and the looming shadow of death.

They proclaim, “These all things have come upon us,” which expresses that despite enduring various oppressions and trials, they have not forgotten You, nor have they turned away from You, nor have they revered foreign deities. Scripture frequently equates the act of forgetting God with idolatry, as seen in the Psalm: “They have changed His glory into the likeness of a bullock, and have forgotten the God who saves them” (Psalm 105:20). Likewise, in Deuteronomy, it is stated: “You have devoured the devil, and not God; and you have forsaken the God who gave birth to you, and have forgotten the God who nourishes you” (Deuteronomy 32:17, 18). Further in this same text, it states, “If we forget the name of our God, and if we lift up our hands to a strange god” (Deuteronomy 32:21). Here, the faithful assert that they have not honored foreign gods. They declare, “We forget Thee not,” reaffirming their loyalty to Your covenant. This means that not only have they refrained from worshipping strange gods, thereby not neglecting You, the true God, but they have also remained faithful to the covenant established with You at Mount Sinai. Their commitment to this covenant remains unwavering: “Our heart shall not turn back,” indicating that, in following You and adhering to Your covenant with all their hearts, they have neither retreated nor abandoned You. However, they lament that You have altered their paths, leading them away from Your mercy; Your protective hand has been withdrawn, leaving them to wander into treacherous ways.

This attitude starkly contrasts with that of the ancients, who spent their lives fervently sharing the works of God, equipping their children with knowledge of the Almighty through such storytelling (Chrysostom). Christ, our God, will bring ruin to the wicked while strengthening those who place their faith in Him. You have caused bitterness among people and have exiled me, the Jews, for their lack of faith. The mystery of the Holy Trinity consists of the Father as the Hand, the Son as Muscle, and the Holy Spirit as Enlightenment. The horns of the Cross of Christ carry the revered name of Jesus, feared by demons. Just as horned creatures were granted horns by nature in place of weapons, we have received the name of Jesus Christ for prayer (Theodoret). The demons, filled with hatred, are humiliated due to Christ. The entirety of human existence, marked as a day upon the earth, reflects the eternity found in the Heavenly Fatherland. God the Father has cast aside the Jews because of their disbelief in Christ. Scattered across the world, their unbelief leads to their disgrace, similar to the demons. The prophet vividly illustrates the sorrow of the Jews, portraying the people’s tragedies with poignant details. All they did to Christ has returned upon them; they reviled Him, and they too are reviled; they mocked Him, and they themselves become the object of mockery; they shook their heads at Him, and in turn, others shake their heads at them (Athanasius). Redirect your path away from the Jews due to their disbelief in Christ. This highlights the voices of the holy martyrs who suffered and gave their lives for His sake. The echo of Adam resonates here. Sleep signifies the forbearance of God. The righteous awaited Christ’s coming and salvation through the Cross and the Resurrection.