We read Psalm 44 today as we continue to follow the Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan! Here are the first verses:
1 We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have
told us [what] work You did in their days, in the days of old.
2 You drove out the nations with Your hand and it
was Your power that gave [Israel] a home by rooting out the [heathen] peoples,
but [Israel] You spread out.
3 For they got not the land [of Canaan] in possession
by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but Your right hand
and Your arm and the light of Your countenance [did it], because You were
favorable toward and did delight in them.
4 You are my King, O God; command victories and deliverance
for Jacob (Israel).
5 Through You shall we push down our enemies; through
Your name shall we tread them under who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in and lean on my bow,
neither shall my sword save me.
7 But You have saved us from our foes and have put them
to shame who hate us.
8 In God we have made our boast all the day long, and
we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah [pause, and calmly
think of that]!
What we see here is a people who are reminding themselves of all that their God had done for them to this point, so that they could continue to have strong faith that HE would do what they needed Him to do! THIS is what David was doing in 1 Samuel 30 when it says that he "encouraged himself in the Lord". Many times we look to others to encourage us or to give us a 'word' from the Lord so that we can continue to stand strong. This is NOT the most effective way! We should ALL be encouraging one another always, BUT, if we cannot encourage ourselves with God's Word, then we will never be in faith, anyway! SO, practice doing what the psalmist here was doing! Rehearse YOUR past victories in HIM! Remind yourself of every time the God of the Bible came through for YOU! Stir up YOUR joy, which IS strength, and then be speaking the Word of God into every situation you are dealing with ! Others can come into agreement with you, but YOU are responsible for hiding God's Word in your own heart! Let's "GO" with Hillsong! 