3. From Forsaken to Fortress
From Forsaken to Fortress
(PSALMS 44—47)
Before you begin …
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and wisdom as you go through this lesson.
• Read Psalms 44—47. This lesson references content in Be Worshipful. It will be helpful for you to have your Bible and a copy of the commentary available as you work through this lesson.
Getting Started
From the Commentary
The Jewish people sang praises to God after their great victories (Ex. 15; Judg. 5), but Psalm 44 was sung after a humiliating defeat (vv. 9–14, 22). The parallels between Psalms 44 and 60 suggest that Edom and the Arameans were the enemies involved. (See 2 Sam. 8; 10; 1 Chron. 18.) Although Israel finally won great victories over their enemies, there must have been some defeats along the way that greatly disturbed the people.… Perhaps this psalm was used at a national “day of prayer” with a worship leader speaking the “I/my” verses and the people the “we/our” verses. The four stanzas that make up this psalm reveal four different attitudes on the part of the people.
—Be Worshipful, pages 164–65
1. How does Psalm 44 differ in tone and content from the others you’ve studied so far? In what ways would this psalm be a good reminder for the Israelites during difficult times? During good times? Why is it important to remember times of defeat as well as times of triumph?
2. Choose one verse or phrase from Psalms 44—47 that stands out to you. This could be something you’re intrigued by, something that makes you uncomfortable, something that puzzles you, something that resonates with you, or just something you want to examine further. Write that here.
Going Deeper
From the Commentary
Whenever there was trouble in Israel, the first explanation was usually “Somebody has sinned.” Certainly this was true when Israel was defeated at Ai (Josh. 7), when there was a three-year famine in David’s time (2 Sam. 21), and when David numbered the people (2 Sam. 24). But as far as the psalmist knew, there was no sin to be confessed because the people were faithful to the Lord.
—Be Worshipful, pages 165–66
3. What does the uncertainty and confusion in this psalm tell us about the way God chose to work in the lives of the Israelites during this chapter in their story? How does the psalmist’s pleading shift in verses 23–26? What does this teach us about trusting God?
More to Consider: Read Romans 8:28. How does this verse apply to the events referred to in Psalm 44?
From the Commentary
Psalm 45 is a marriage song.… The wedding was obviously that of a king (vv. 1, 11, 14; and note the mention of throne, scepter, and majesty), and some have identified him with Solomon, who married an Egyptian princess (1 Kings 3:1; 9:24).… But it’s clear that one “greater than Solomon” (Matt. 12:42) is present in this beautiful psalm, and that one is Jesus Christ, the King of Kings. If this were merely a secular love song, why would it be given to the chief musician to be used in the worship of the Lord at His sanctuary? That would be blasphemy.
—Be Worshipful, page 167
4. What stands out to you about the descriptions in this psalm? Go through Psalm 45 and underline words or phrases that make it likely that this is a messianic psalm.
From the Commentary
Psalm 45:7b–17 describes the royal wedding, beginning with the preparation of the Bridegroom (vv. 7b–9). The anointing in verse 7b is not His anointing as King but as the honored guest at the wedding feast. It is the “oil of gladness” representing the eternal joy that belongs to the happy bride and Bridegroom (Isa. 61:3). The soldiers gambled for our Lord’s garments when He hung on the cross (John 19:23–24), but at the wedding feast, His garments will be fragrant and glorious.
—Be Worshipful, page 169
5. How does the description of the Bridegroom compare to our understanding of Jesus as the Bridegroom for His bride, the church? What is the “preparation of the bride” as described in Psalm 45:10–14? In what ways is the church today being prepared for the Bridegroom?
From the History Books
Martin Luther’s hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” was based on Psalm 46. Luther composed both the words and melody between 1527 and 1529, and the hymn became popular in the early days of the Reformation, likely helping to draw support for the cause. This hymn was translated into many languages and remains popular in the United States today; it is not only used in church services but also referenced in television shows and movies, both for its theological content and, occasionally, to express irony.
6. What is it about this hymn that would have drawn supporters to the reformers’ cause? What makes it relevant to today’s church? Why might some in popular culture reference this particular hymn in an ironic context? What does this say about the meaning and importance of the message?
From the Commentary
The word translated “refuge” in Psalm 46:1 means “a shelter, a rock of refuge,” while the word in verses 7 and 11 means “a stronghold, a high tower, a fortress.” Both words declare that God is a dependable refuge for His people when everything around them seems to be falling apart.
—Be Worshipful, page 171
7. Why would the image of “refuge” have been important to the Israelites during the time of David? Why is that image important to the church today? What sorts of trouble do Christians experience today? What is the message in this psalm to those who are in trouble?
From the Commentary
“Be still” (v. 10) literally means “Take your hands off! Relax!” We like to be “hands-on” people and manage our own lives, but God is God, and we are but His servants. Because Hezekiah and his leaders allowed God to be God, He delivered them from their enemies. That was the way King Hezekiah had prayed: “Now therefore, O LORD our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the LORD God, You alone” (2 Kings 19:19 NKJV). The Lord calls Himself “the God of Jacob,” and we remember how often Jacob got into trouble because he got his hands on circumstances and tried to play God. There is a time to obey God and act, but until then, we had better take our hands off and allow Him to work in His own time and His own way.
—Be Worshipful, page 173
8. What does it mean to “Be still” today? Why is it difficult to trust God to manage our lives? What does allowing “God to be God” look like in practical terms? Why does God allow us to get into “tight places” in life? What do these experiences teach us about God?
From the Commentary
The promise of Psalm 46:10 is fulfilled in Psalm 47, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (NASB). Five times the people are commanded to “sing praises” to the Lord, who “reigns over the nations” (v. 8 NASB). If Psalm 47 was written to celebrate the defeat of Sennacherib (see Ps. 46), then it describes the people of Israel proclaiming to the surrounding Gentile nations the glorious victory of their God, a victory won without their having to fight a battle!
—Be Worshipful, page 174
9. In what ways is God exalted in Psalm 47? How is this a fulfillment of Psalm 46:10? What is the theme of Psalm 47? How is this theme appropriate to the culture of the Israelites? How does it apply today?
From the Commentary
To know God is to know One who is awesome in all that He is, says, and does (65:8; 76:7, 12). Jerusalem’s deliverance from Sennacherib proved once more that the God of Israel was greater than all gods and deserved all the praise His people could bring to Him. He gave them victory over the nations in Canaan and gave them the land for their inheritance.
—Be Worshipful, page 174
10. What does Psalm 47 teach us about God’s character? Why did the Israelites praise God with such enthusiasm? What are ways churches today praise God? Why is it important to offer praises to God?
Looking Inward
Take a moment to reflect on all that you’ve explored thus far in this study of Psalms 44—47. Review your notes and answers and think about how each of these things matters in your life today.
Tips for Small Groups: To get the most out of this section, form pairs or trios and have group members take turns answering these questions. Be honest and as open as you can in this discussion, but most of all, be encouraging and supportive of others. Be sensitive to those who are going through particularly difficult times and don’t press for people to speak if they’re uncomfortable doing so.
11. When have you felt like the psalmist in Psalm 44? What are the specific events that led you to wonder if God had forsaken you? Where was God during that season? How did God use that time to grow your faith? If you’re still in one of those seasons, how can you trust that God is near?
12. How does the Bridegroom/bride analogy in Psalm 45 affect the way you view your relationship with Jesus? In what ways are you being prepared as part of the church for the wedding? Where do you see room for spiritual growth and improvement in your specific role in the church?
13. What does it mean to you that God is “a mighty fortress”? When has God been your refuge in a time of trouble? Psalm 46:2 says, “We will not fear,” but is this a realistic claim? When have you experienced fear in difficult times? How has God come through in those times?
Going Forward
14. Think of one or two things that you have learned that you’d like to work on in the coming week. Remember that this is all about quality, not quantity. It’s better to work on one specific area of life and do it well than to work on many and do poorly (or to be so overwhelmed that you simply don’t try).
Do you need to learn to trust God when He seems to have forsaken you? Be specific. Go back through Psalms 44—47 and put a star next to the phrase or verse that is most encouraging to you. Consider memorizing this verse.
Real-Life Application Ideas: Ask your church to sing the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” in an upcoming service. Or, if that’s not feasible, simply get a CD with a rendition of the hymn and play it for your small group. Rather than turning the song into a study, simply enjoy the message and practice your own praise as it is sung.
Seeking Help
15. Write a prayer below (or simply pray one in silence), inviting God to work on your mind and heart in those areas you’ve previously noted. Be honest about your desires and fears.
Notes for Small Groups:
• Look for ways to put into practice the things you wrote in the Going Forward section. Talk with other group members about your ideas and commit to being accountable to one another.
• During the coming week, ask the Holy Spirit to continue to reveal truth to you from what you’ve read and studied.
• Before you start the next lesson, read Psalms 65—68. For more in-depth lesson preparation, read the related commentary in Be Worshipful.