Occasional Sermon – Faithful Yet Needing Redemption

Peter Barnes | Psalm 44

SERMON  NOTES
FAITHFUL  YET  NEEDING  REDEMPTION
Psalm  44:1-26;  Rom.8:31-39

– the  last  Psalm  that  Ambrose  of  Milan  worked  on.  It  is  a  strange  Psalm,  like  Job  applied  to  Israel  as  a  whole.

1.  Past  blessings  and  present  trust.

– 44:1-8;  God’s  blessings  and  victories  in  the  past.

– Spurgeon:  ‘No  longer  are  we  to  hear  Miriam’s  timbrel  but  rather  Rachel’s  weeping’  –  on  verses  8-9.

2.  Why  has  God  chastened  His  people?

– 44:9-16;  it  is  not  because  of  their  unfaithfulness.

– yet  notice  how  God  is  actively  bringing  about  the  defeat of  His  people.  See  Ex.33:14-15  for  His presence.

3.  Our  faithfulness  and  God’s  forgetfulness.

– 44:17-21

(a)  suffering  is  a  part  of  faithfulness  –  44:22;  Rom.8:35-37.

(b)  God  can  seem  to  withdraw  Himself  for  a  time  –  44:23-24

– Elijah  in  reverse!  (see  1 Kings 18:27);  note  Mark 4:38;  finish  as  the  Psalmist  did  with  44:25-26.