Psalm 44

Psalm 44 is the 44th psalm from the Book of Psalms, composed by sons of Korah.

Uses

Judaism

• Verse 9 is found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah.^[1]
• Parts of verses 14 and 23 form a verse found in the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.^[2]
• Verse 27 is the sixth verse of Hoshia Et Amecha in Pesukei Dezimra.^[3]

Literary form

Psalm 44 is a Psalm of communal lament, indicating that the suffering, in this case from being defeated by enemies, is communal.^[4]

This Psalm reflects each of five key elements of a lament, or complaint, Psalm:

• Address: Verse 1

"We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us, what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old" (44:1) In this case, the Psalmist is speaking directly to God.

• Complaint: verses 9-16, 17-19

In these verses, the Psalmist laments that God has been slow to act and has a responsibility to save these people from their enemies.

• Statement of trust in the reliability of God as known by the Psalmist or community: verses 4-8

The Psalmist recites a history of God's saving acts, which includes reference to God commanding victories for Jacob.

• Petition for God's active intervention: verses 23-26

These petitions can be quite specific. In verse 26, the Psalmist gives a direct command to God to "Rise up, come to our help."

• Vow of Thanksgiving: verse 8

This particular Psalm includes a brief vow of thanksgiving in verse 8, when the Psalmist writes "In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever" (44:8)

A note about superscripts

Its superscript reads "To the Leader. Of the Korahites. A Maskil". It is addressed to the leader of the Korahites, who were likely a group of people who played a role in the music or worship of the temple.^[5] The term "Maskil" means "artistic song" and its inclusion in the superscript of this Psalm indicates that it was originally written with artistic skill.^[6]

References