Psalm 44

Today being January the 1st, many people are wanting to put 2019 behind them and are placing high hopes and trust that 2020 will only be better and brighter.

Oddly enough, in the first four verses of this chapter, David takes the time to remember who God is, and also looks back at what He’s done for his ancestors. He acknowledges who God is in verse four by saying, “You are my King and my God.”

In taking the time to reflect on God, David can then confidently say, “Only by your power can we push back our enemies, only in your name can we trample our foes.” (Psalm 44:5 NLT)

“I put no trust in my bow,” (verse 6a NIV) “I do not count on my sword to save me.” (verse 6b NLT)

Just as David did, when we look back at what God has done, we can only come to the conclusion that it is only in His name and in His power, that we can do anything.

The verse that stood out to me was verse 22: “Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” This verse resonated with me because Paul spoke those same words in Romans 8:36. Paul was saying that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ, and that “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will He not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Before Jesus walked the earth, David was able to place his faith in God. After Jesus walked the earth, Paul was able to place his faith in God, and deem our present sufferings not even worth comparing to the future glory that will one day be revealed.

May our focus on 2020 not be placed on ourselves in what we will or what we will not do. Instead, may we be like David and Paul, and focus on what Christ has done and what He will continue to do.