Leading the Family in Tough Times
06/15/2008 Filed in: A Season of Psalms
Leading the Family in Tough Times (Psalm 44)
A father can lead in tough times by boasting about God.
[1] We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. [2] With your hand you drove our the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. [3] It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. [4] You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. [5] Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. [6] I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; [7] but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. [8] In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
A father can lead in tough times by being honest about God.
[9] But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. [10] You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. [11] You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. [12] You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale. [13] You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. [14] You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us. [15] My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame [16] at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
A father can lead in tough times by being faithful to God.
[17] All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant. [18] Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. [19] But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness. [20] If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, [21] would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? [22] Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
A father can lead in tough times by trusting in God.
[23] Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. [24] Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? [25] We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. [26] Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.
A father can lead in tough times by boasting about God.
[1] We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago. [2] With your hand you drove our the nations and planted our fathers; you crushed the peoples and made our fathers flourish. [3] It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. [4] You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. [5] Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. [6] I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; [7] but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. [8] In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.
A father can lead in tough times by being honest about God.
[9] But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. [10] You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. [11] You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations. [12] You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale. [13] You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us. [14] You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us. [15] My disgrace is before me all day long, and my face is covered with shame [16] at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.
A father can lead in tough times by being faithful to God.
[17] All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant. [18] Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path. [19] But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness. [20] If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, [21] would not God have discovered it, since he knows the secrets of the heart? [22] Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.
A father can lead in tough times by trusting in God.
[23] Awake, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever. [24] Why do you hide your face and forget our misery and oppression? [25] We are brought down to the dust; our bodies cling to the ground. [26] Rise up and help us; redeem us because of your unfailing love.