Psalms 44: Wake Up! Rise Up to Help Us

The title says this is For the Chief Musician, By the sons of Korah, a contemplative psalm. The people remember what their fathers told them: God gave them the land, not by their own sword, but by his right hand and the light of his face. They boast in God all day long. But now they feel rejected and defeated, scattered among the nations, even though they have not forgotten God or been false to his covenant. They cry, Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness' sake.

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Read Psalms 44

World English Bible · 26 verses

¹ For the Chief Musician. By the sons of Korah. A contemplative psalm. We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days, in the days of old.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ God, you are my King. Command victories for Jacob!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ Through you, we will push down our adversaries. Through your name, we will tread down those who rise up against us.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ For I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don’t go out with our armies.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take plunder for themselves.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ at the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ All this has come on us, yet we haven’t forgotten you. We haven’t been false to your covenant.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread out our hands to a strange god,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ won’t God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don’t reject us forever.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body clings to the earth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Psalms 44 · Preschool

God Helped Long Ago

Name Date

Color the family. Our families can thank God all day long!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“In God we have made our boast all day long. We will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.”

Psalms 44:8 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: God's people thanked Him all day long. Moms, dads, and grandparents tell children about the great things God has done! Let's tell one good thing God has done and say, Thank You, God!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 44 · Grade 4

When God Seems Asleep

Name Date

Read and Think

Psalm 44's title says it is For the Chief Musician, By the sons of Korah, a contemplative psalm. It begins with history. We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us what work you did in their days. Israel did not get the land by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face. The people say, I will not trust in my bow, neither will my sword save me. In God we have made our boast all day long.

Then the mood changes. But now you rejected us. The people have lost battles, been scattered among the nations, and become a joke to their neighbors. Yet they say, All this has come on us, yet we haven't forgotten you. We haven't been false to your covenant. They don't understand why they suffer. So they cry, Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness' sake.

Show What You Know

What did the fathers tell the people?
What did the people say they would not trust?
What happened to the people later?
What had the people not been false to?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

helpGodfathershand

We have heard with our ears, God; our have told us what work you did in their days.
Israel did not get the land by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right , your arm, and the light of your face.
In we have made our boast all day long.
Rise up to us.

Think About It

The people remembered what God did for their families. What stories of God's help has your family told you?
The people felt God was asleep, but they kept praying. Why is it good to keep praying when you don't understand?

Memory Verse

“For they didn’t get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them.”

Psalms 44:3 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the stories of Your help. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What did they ask God to do?
What is a community lament?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 44 · Grade 5

Faithful in the Dark

Name Date

Read and Think

Psalm 44's title says it is For the Chief Musician, By the sons of Korah, a contemplative psalm. It is a community lament, a prayer by God's whole people when they feel abandoned. It begins by remembering the past: our fathers have told us what work you did in their days. God planted Israel in the land. They didn't get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them. God, you are my King. I will not trust in my bow. In God we have made our boast all day long.

Then comes a painful but now. The people have been defeated in battle, plundered, scattered among the nations, and mocked by their neighbors. All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face. What makes this psalm unusual is that the people do not say they suffered for disobeying. All this has come on us, yet we haven't forgotten you. We haven't been false to your covenant. They ask whether God would not search it out if they had spread out their hands to a strange god. For he knows the secrets of the heart.

Then they say, Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. In the New Testament, Paul quotes this verse and then declares that nothing can separate believers from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:36-39). The psalm ends with bold prayer: Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don't reject us forever. Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness' sake.

Show What You Know

What is a community lament?
What makes this psalm unusual?
In the New Testament, what does Paul say after quoting verse 22?
On what basis do the people ask God to redeem them?

Crossword

Across

And the ____ of your face.
We will give thanks to your ____ forever.

Down

Our ____ have told us what work you did in their days.
You are my ____.
You drove out the nations with your ____.

Think About It

The people stayed faithful even when they did not understand their suffering. How can you stay faithful in hard times?
In the New Testament, Paul says nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:38-39). How does that help when God seems far away?

Memory Verse

“Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness’ sake.”

Psalms 44:26 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the stories of Your help. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

God seemed asleep to them. How can you pray honestly when God seems quiet?
The people said their victories came from God's favor, not their sword. How can you give God credit for your successes?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Psalms 44: Wake Up! Rise Up to Help Us

Read Psalms 44

Worksheets

God Helped Long Ago

Prayer

Take It Home

Remember God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

God Is Our King

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Remember God

Prayer

Take It Home

Rise Up to Help Us

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Our Fathers Have Told Us

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Remember God

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

When God Seems Asleep

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Faithful in the Dark

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options