Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Chapter 3: Psalms 39–59

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Psalm 44 with Augustine – A Prayer for Rescue At the time when the Church was suffering under the persecution of the Gentiles, Paul quoted from this psalm to encourage patience: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered (v. 22; Rom 8:36). Let us then hear in this psalm the voice of the martyrs; and see how good is the cause they plead. You have rejected and humbled us (v. 9). You have done this not before our own consciences, but in the sight of people. For there was a time when Christians were persecuted; when in every place they were outcasts, when in every place “Christian!” was an insult. Where then is my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob? (v. 4) Where is he who did all those works, which our ancestors have told us? (v. 1) Where is he who will do all those things which he revealed to us by his Spirit? Is he changed? No. Rise up and help us; rescue us because of your unfailing love (v. 26), that is to say, not for the sake of my good works, but because you have offered to do it, not because I am worthy for you to redeem me. For this very thing, that we had not forgotten you (v. 17); that our hearts had not turned back (v. 18); that we have not spread out our hands to a foreign god (v. 20); how could we have been able to achieve this, except with your help? How could we have strength for it, except through your appealing to us within, exhorting us, and not forsaking us? Whether we suffer hardship, or rejoice in prosperity, redeem us, not for our merits, but for your name’s sake.