Dear OBC Family,

Does sorrow provoke you to draw near to the Lord, or does suffering tempt your heart to forsake Him? This Sunday we turn again to a lament in the Psalms of the Sons of Korah as the people of God are experiencing great suffering at the hands of their enemies. I invite you to read Psalm 44 in preparation for worship. As you read, pay attention to the faith of the psalmist and his urgent cry for help and redemption. May God’s Word instruct our hearts and direct our eyes to Christ!

I look forward to worshiping our Lord with you this Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Ben

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Discussion & Response Questions for Psalm 44

What is the lament of the Psalmist?

How does the Psalmist describe God’s character and work?

Consider the example of the fathers (vv. 1-3) and the faith of their sons (vv. 4-8). What does it look like to imitate this faithfulness?

Look for voice changes in the psalm. Where do you see singular or plural personal pronouns, and how might this psalm have been performed?

How does the Psalmist understand the suffering that Israel is experiencing?

When you experience suffering, how does Scripture guide you to interpret the cause or purpose of your suffering? What presumptuous conclusions must we guard against?

Consider how Psalm 44:22 is used by the apostle Paul in Romans 8. How does Paul use Psalm 44 as he speaks about the sufferings of the church?

How does Christ ultimately answer the prayer of the psalmist?

How should we respond to this text?