The Martyr’s Psalm

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-12-2026

Psalm 44:1-26

 

Introduction:

A. Psalm 44 is one of the Maschil Psalms, a psalm of teaching and instruction. There are 13 Maschil Psalms in the Book of Psalms. In biblical numerology, 13 is associated with ill omens. Every psalm is for our admonition and instruction, but the Maschil Psalms are directed to the teaching of the suffering of the saints of God in all ages.

 

B. Psalm 44 has been referred to as the Martyr’s Psalm. Biblically defined, a martyr is a believer who bears witness to the truth of Jesus Christ and suffers death rather than deny Him. Though the word “martyr”, like “trinity” or “rapture”, is not found in the Bible, the root word for “martyr” is found 34 times in the New Testament.

 

C. In Acts chapter one, when speaking to His disciples (Acts 1:2), the Lord Jesus said that they would be “witnesses” (μάρτυς martus, a martyr). These men, with the exception of John the Beloved, would pay the ultimate price for their faithfulness to the truth.

 

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

D. That being said, I want to tie this psalm to Hebrews chapters 11-12. Hebrews chapter 11, “The Hall of Faith,” gives us a history of the price of faithfulness from the death of Abel to our day. With that in mind, let us look at the psalm.

 

1. Verses 1-3. The Martyr’s Record. God’s faithfulness in hardship was taught by our fathers.

 

Hebrews 11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

a. God has always been faithful. Throughout history, God has stood with His people.

 

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 

b. God continues to be faithful! Whatever we face, God will be there with us and for us.

 

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

c. From the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem, we can rest assured that God is in complete control of our lives and circumstances.

 

2. Verses 4-8. The Martyr’s Confidence. God’s faithfulness inspires confidence in His children.

 

a. There are times when our confidence is misplaced.

 

Psalms 118:8-9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. (9) It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

 

b. Confidence well placed.

 

Proverbs 3:25-26 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. (26) For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

 

c. Verse 8 says, “In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.” “Selah” means to pause and weigh something. Meditate upon that!

 

BUT! Verse 8 didn’t last long, did it?

 

3. Verses 9-16. The Martyr’s Suffering.

 

a. There will be times when God is silent, and we will seemingly be defeated. I can tell you, from personal experience, that life is hard and often unfair to all of us.

 

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (7) That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

b. A dear pastor friend of mine had this written in the front of his Bible: “A faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted.”

 

c. Throughout the Bible, we find the suffering of God’s children that often leads to a questioning of God. “Why” and “How long” are frequently found in the hearts and mouths of the best of us.

 

d. Hebrews 11:13 says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 

e. They did not die because of sin! They died for living a righteous life!

 

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

4. Verses 17-22. The Martyr’s Submission. Though not understanding, bows to the will of God in suffering.

 

a. The martyr’s faithfulness to God. Though not always understanding, they maintained their spiritual integrity.

 

Job 2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. (10) But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

 

b. The martyr’s following the lighted path of God.

 

Hebrews 12:1-3 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

 

c. Verse 22, The martyr’s suffering.

 

Psalms 44:22 Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

 

5. Verses 23-26. The Martyr’s Promise.

 

a. God does not sleep.

 

Psalms 121:4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

 

b. God has not forgotten.

 

Psalms 27:9-10 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.

 

b. God will be on time.

 

Psalms 27:9-10 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. (10) When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.