Psalm 44 begins with a look to the past.
O God, we have heard with our ears,
our fathers have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days,
in the days of old…
The psalmists had heard the ancient stories of God driving out the Canaanites with his own hand and planting the Israelites in the land he had promised to Abraham. They had heard all about the plagues on Egypt and the Exodus of their forefathers. They had been taught that past victories didn’t come by iron sword or human strength, but by the LORD’s right hand and the light of his face.
O God, we have heard with our ears…
It’s a great blessing to have heard all about what the LORD has done and taught and provided in times past. But every single person, ancient and modern, has a monumental step they must take if they are to be a man or woman of faith—from “I have heard” (44:1-3) to “You are my King, O God” (44:4).
Much of what we’ll do together throughout this Lord’s day, the best day of the week, revolves around looking to the past. We want everyone—young and old—to be able to say, “O God, we have heard with our ears all about the deeds you performed in the days of old.” But all the knowledge of the past I can possibly accumulate will do me very little good if I fail to make the move from “I have heard” to “You are my King, O God.”
In God we have boasted continually,
and we will give thanks to your name forever. (44:8)
From “I have heard” to “God is my King” to “I will give thanks.” What a blessing.
Happy Lord’s day.