Israel’s faithfulness to the Lord in the midst of adversity invites believers today to remain dedicated to Christ, the ultimate bridge between God and humanity (John 14:6).
The psalmist declares, “If we had forgotten the name of our God or extended our hands to a strange god” (v.20), emphasizing the hypothetical scenario of Israel abandoning the Lord. This possibility points to an act of deep betrayal against the covenant relationship that God established with His people (Exodus 20:2-3). To forget God’s name here implies deliberately turning away from Yahweh’s character and promises, which would have placed the Israelites at odds with their heritage as the chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6). Instead of veering toward any foreign deity, they affirm faith in the one true God who has delivered them throughout their history.
The phrase “or extended our hands to a strange god” (v.20) references the physical posture of worship. In ancient Middle Eastern cultures, bowing and lifting the hands were ways to show devotion. The psalmist underscores how devastating it would be to mimic these worship practices before any false deity. Temptations to accommodate the religious practices of surrounding nations had long been a threat to Israel’s devotion (Judges 2:11-13). The psalmist hereby assures the hearers that, despite their struggles, they have not abandoned the one true God who alone is worthy of their worship and allegiance.
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Psalms 44:20 meaning
The psalmist declares, “If we had forgotten the name of our God or extended our hands to a strange god” (v.20), emphasizing the hypothetical scenario of Israel abandoning the Lord. This possibility points to an act of deep betrayal against the covenant relationship that God established with His people (Exodus 20:2-3). To forget God’s name here implies deliberately turning away from Yahweh’s character and promises, which would have placed the Israelites at odds with their heritage as the chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:6). Instead of veering toward any foreign deity, they affirm faith in the one true God who has delivered them throughout their history.
The phrase “or extended our hands to a strange god” (v.20) references the physical posture of worship. In ancient Middle Eastern cultures, bowing and lifting the hands were ways to show devotion. The psalmist underscores how devastating it would be to mimic these worship practices before any false deity. Temptations to accommodate the religious practices of surrounding nations had long been a threat to Israel’s devotion (Judges 2:11-13). The psalmist hereby assures the hearers that, despite their struggles, they have not abandoned the one true God who alone is worthy of their worship and allegiance.