Psalm Devotional
The Agony of Victory
Written by Anthony Selvaggio. This devotional was first published in the August 2006 issue of The Reformed Presbyterian Witness.
Vinko Bogataj was a Slovene ski jumper. In the middle of his third run during the World Ski Flying Championship in 1970, he attempted to slow down but lost his balance and careened over the side of the ski ramp in a spectacular crash. This infamous crash was repeated during the beginning of every episode of ABC’s Wide World of Sports as an example of “the agony of defeat.”
In Psalm 44, the Israelites felt a bit like Vinko Bogataj. Although they had an illustrious history of victory, they now found themselves experiencing the agony of defeat.
The Thrill of Victory (vv. 1-8)
The first 8 verses of this psalm recount the mighty historical deeds of God in delivering Israel from its enemies. The theology of Israel in these verses is impeccable, in that they attribute their past success to God and to Him alone. This spirit is exemplified in verse 8 where Israel declares, “In God we make our boast all day long.” Israel had known the thrill of victory.
The Agony of Defeat (vv. 9-22)
The tenor of this psalm takes a drastic turn beginning with the “But” of verse 9. Verses 9-22 set forth a complaint against God. Just as Israel attributed their victory to God, they now also attribute their defeat to Him. Using the second-person singular pronoun “you,” Israel charges God with rejecting them, humbling them, and failing to go out with their armies (v. 9); making them retreat (v. 10); giving them up and scattering them (v. 11); making them a reproach (v. 13); and making them a byword among the nations (v. 14). Israel has been both defeated and demoralized.
However, the defeat itself is not the most painful thing for Israel. The most painful element is that it occurred even though they had, in their mind, kept their covenant obligations (vv. 17-21). In their mind, they had kept their end of the bargain, but God was not living up to His. They felt as though their faithfulness to God had brought them only suffering, “Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered” (v. 22). Israel was experiencing the agony of defeat.
The Agony of Victory (vv. 23-26)
In the final verses of the psalm, Israel cries out to God, asking Him to awaken (v. 23). Even in the throes of defeat they still realize that God’s unfailing love is their only hope for redemption (v. 26). However, the psalm ends with no hint of a resolution. Israel remains in its suffering.
Perhaps this psalm ends this way to teach us something about the nature of God’s redemptive plan. The Bible reveals that the church’s victory can only be secured through suffering. This is epitomized in the life of Jesus. He experienced agony in the garden of Gethsemane, and He was led like a sheep to the slaughter on Calvary. Our victory was secured by His suffering.
Jesus reminds us that the church must follow His pattern. He calls us to take up our cross and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). Like Israel, and like Jesus, the church must gain its victory through agony. The Apostle Paul supports this interpretation of Psalm 44 by applying verse 22 to the suffering of the church in Romans 8:36. However, after noting the reality of this suffering, Paul reminds us of how this suffering will turn to victory through Jesus. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37). Paul also comforts us by reminding us that our sufferings, no matter how great, are unable to keep us from God’s unfailing love (vv. 38-39). God will arise and deliver His church. His people will know the thrill of victory.
