If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
The psalmist rehearses God's faithfulness to the fathers, then lodges a sharp complaint: He no longer goes forth with us as He once did. The structure is plain: mercies remembered, present affliction lamented, covenant loyalty maintained despite suffering, and a final prayer that God not forget the dishonor done to His worship.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 44:1-26
An appeal is now made to the omniscience of God; he is himself called in to bear witness that Israel had not set up another God. If we have forgotten the name of our God. This would be the first step in apostasy; men first forget the true, and then adore the false. Or stretched out our hands to a strange god.
We have not forgotten You or cast off worship of You, though we suffer what seems unbearable. We have not harbored hard thoughts against You or turned our hearts from Your way, even when covered with the shadow of death and broken among fierce men. Though You have slain us, we continue to trust.
AI summary
Commenting on Psalm 44:17-26