Hope in Defeat (Ps 44)

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• The picture (of Ps 44): Israel apparently faithful to God but still defeated.
• The problem: defeat
  • Ps 44:
    • 9 Rejected, humiliated, abandoned
    • 10 Military defeat
    • 11 Given to enemies, scattered
    • 12 Sold
    • 13 Become objects of reproach, mockery, ridicule
    • 14 Become a laughingstock
    • 15 Disgraced, shamed
    • 19 Crushed them, covered them with darkness
    • 22 Slain all day long, counted as sheep to be slaughtered (pp Rm 8.36)
    • 23 YHWH appears to be sleeping, rejected them
    • 24 YHWH appears to have hid Himself from them and forgot their affliction and oppression
    • 25 Sunk down to the dust, bodies on the ground
  • Loss of job (Joseph @ Potiphar’s house, in his case he also lost his “freedom”)
  • Loss of home (the first Church dispersed, refugees, Ac 6?)
  • Betrayal by family or friends (Ps 41.9)
  • Cessation of Divine presence and help (Ps 44.9--, Jesus Mt 27.46, Ps 22.1)
• The perplexity: you don’t deserve it
  • Ps 44:
    • 17 Have not forgotten YHWH not betrayed the covenant
    • 18 Hearts have not turned from Him, their steps have not strayed
    • 20-21 Have not forgotten YHWH or turned to any foreign god
  • Don’t deserve it: Have been being faithful to God, clear conscience, shouldn’t be being disciplined (Ps 44.17-21)
    • Ethan the Ezrahite, same sentiment: Ps 89.38-49
  • Can’t see any use for the defeat (Ps 44.12)
  • “Why have You forsaken Me?” (Mt 27.46, Mk 15.34, Ps 22.1)
• The persistence: still appealing to God to help, not abandoning faith in Him
  • Ps 44.26
  • Jacob: I won’t release You until You bless me
  • Job: though He slay me...
  • “Though the fig tree should not blossom”, Hab 3.17-19
  • Jesus, “Into Your hands I commit My spirit.” Lk 23.46, Ps 31.5
• The promises:
  • Never leave or forsake, Heb 13.5
  • No temptation too hard, 1 Cor 10.13
  • Everything working together for good (to become more like hrist), Rm 8.28-29
  • Adequate wisdom available, Jas 1.1-4
  • A guaranteed blessed end:
    • Glorification
    • Approval: “well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master”
    • Guaranteed inheritance
    • Joyous fellowship, Heb 12?
    • Adequate wisdom available, Jas 1.1-4
• Conclusion:
  • Night wing landing in the storm
  • Sometimes, despite all the grief, disappointment, fear, or confusion you are feeling about present dire circumstances, you cling to what you know and “keep on keeping on” toward what you know will be a good ending
  • Your good ending to the present dire circumstances may be in this life, or it may be, like Jesus’ experience, when you slip out of the bonds of this flesh and find yourself in glory, face-to-face with Jesus Himself, and you feel yourself breathing a huge sigh of relief, and a thrill of satisfaction that through that, you were faithful.