Psalm 44
Psalm 44 is the 44th psalm from the Book of Psalms,[1][2][3][4][5] composed by sons of Korah and is classified in the series of lamentations of the people.
Structure
Usually, the Psalm is organized as follows:[6][7][8]
- V. 2-9: Healing Historical Review.
- from 10-23: describing the current disaster.
- V. 24-27: Final request for termination of the disaster through the intervention of God.
As a central message of the psalm Hermann Gunkel noted the contrast between past and present events.[9]
In Jewish traditions, its viewed as suffering in the face of the golden past, all the more shows the plight of the current situation.
Uses
Judaism
- Verse 9 is found in the repetition of the Amidah during Rosh Hashanah.[10][11]
- Parts of verses 14 and 23 form a verse found in the long Tachanun recited on Mondays and Thursdays.[12]
- Verse 27 is the sixth verse of Hoshia Et Amecha in Pesukei Dezimra.[13]
Literary form
Psalm 44 is a Psalm of communal lament, indicating that the suffering, in this case from being defeated by enemies, is communal.[14]
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.[15] The term "Maskil" means "artistic song" and its inclusion in the superscript of this Psalm indicates that it was originally written with artistic skill.[16]
References
- ↑ Commentaires sur les psaumes, d’Hilaire de Poitiers, (Paris, Éditions du Cerf, 2008), collection sources chrétiennes n°515,
- ↑ Commentaires of the Psalmes, by saint Johnn Chrysostome
- ↑ Discourse of the Psalmes, by Saint Augustin, vol.2,(Sagesses chrétiennes)
- ↑ Commentairy (jusqu’au psaume 54), by saint Thomas Aquinas, (Éditions du Cerf, 1273)
- ↑ Jean Calvin, Commentaire des psalmes, 1557
- ↑ So von Gianfranco Ravasi: Il libro dei Salmi. Bd. I, (Bologna 1981), p. 782.
- ↑ Erich Zenger: Die Psalmen I. Psalm 1–50 Echter-Verlag, (Würzburg 1993), p271,
- ↑ Peter Craigie: Psalms 1–50., (Waco 1983), p332.
- ↑ Hermann Gunkel: Die Psalmen, (61986), S. 186.
- ↑ The Complete Artscroll Machzor for Rosh Hashanah page 351
- ↑ D’après le Complete Artscroll Siddur, compilation des prières juives.
- ↑ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 133
- ↑ The Complete Artscroll Siddur, page 64
- ↑ Michael D. Coogan, A Brief Introduction to the Old Testament (New York: Oxford, 2009), 370
- ↑ Miller, P.D., Harper Collins Study Bible, 2006, 734-735
- ↑ Miller, 758
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