Psalms 44

The Introduction

e.g.: An 80 year old couple were having problems remembering things, so they decided to go to their doctor to get checked out to make sure nothing was wrong with them. When they arrived at the doctor’s, they explained to the doctor about the problems they were having with their memory. After checking the couple out, the doctor tells them that they were physically okay but might want to start writing things down and make notes to help them remember things. The couple thanked the doctor and left. Later that night while watching TV, the old man got up from his chair and his wife asks, “Where are you going?” He replies, “To the kitchen.” She asks, “Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?” He replies, “Sure.” She then asks him, “Don’t you think you should write it down so you can remember it?” He says, “No, I can remember that.” She then says, “Well I also would like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down cause I know you’ll forget that.” He says, “I can remember that, you want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries.” She replies, “Well I also would like whip cream on top. I know you will forget that so you better write it down.” With irritation in his voice, he says, “I don’t need to write that down I can remember that.” He then fumes into the kitchen. After about 20 minutes he returns from the kitchen and hands her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stares at the plate for a moment and says, “I knew you were going to mess it up – You forgot my toast.”

Sometimes we are better at forgetting than remembering
There are other times when we remember things we should forget

Body
A. The distant past (1-3)

1.    Remember What God Has Done – 1-3
A.    Creation
B.    Salvation (Raksha)
1 Peter 1:19-20 – 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish  and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
C.    Protection
Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
D.    Inspiration
i.    The Scriptures
ii.    The Holy Spirit

B. The nearer past (4-8) – The Problems of the Present (44:9-22)

2.    Remember What God Is Doing – 4-22
A.    Preservation
1 Peter 1:5 – Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
B.    Transformation
God is in the process of changing us into the image of His Son
He is changing our minds to be more in line with His thinking
C.    Intercession
i.    Prayer: Ephesians 6:18, 1 Timothy 2:1
ii.    Christ interceding: Hebrews 7:25
D.    Preparation: John 14:2-3
Disaster during faithfulness

But read verses 17-22 carefully. “All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant” (44:17). “Our hearts have not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path” (44:18). Let these words sink down into our ears and hearts: disaster had struck Israel and sin was not the reason for the calamity. The people had not turned away from the laws of the Lord nor had their hearts left the Lord. Though the people had not broken their covenant with the Lord, they were being crushed and covered in darkness.
Too often we do not allow for ourselves that disaster can strike our lives though we have not committed sin. We especially do not allow room for this possibility in other people’s lives. Consider the strain of the words written in this psalm. The people of Israel are being destroyed by their enemies. They are being plundered and scorned by their enemies.
III. Prayer for the Future

3.    Remember What God Will Do – 23-26
A.    Vindication
i.    Some day all our enemies will be judged:     Revelation 20:11-15
B.    Acquisition
He will rapture us – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
He is preparing a reunion feast for us – Revelation 19:7-9

C.    Purification
i.    We will become like Christ – 1 John 3:2-3
ii.    We will not have the presence of sin..
D.    Creation
Speaking of the New Jerusalem – Revelation 21:27
.    2 Peter 3:13
A. Continue turning to God for help

B. Trust in God’s unfailing love

Final Thoughts:

Sometimes there is no explanation for the suffering of the faithful.
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.
In all the things we suffer, we are made to be more than conquerors. We can and will be victorious and conquer all strife when we continue to place our lives in God’s hands. We will endure and will see that the present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory we will have in the Lord.