Introduction: The Book of Psalms is a collection of 150 Psalms, that were written by many different individuals over a span of 1000 years. The earliest Psalm is 90, written by Moses, who lived near the year 1500 BC. The latest Psalms were written after Jerusalem was destroyed in 586 BC. For example, Psalm 137, which begins:

Psa 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.
Psa 137:2 There on the poplars we hung our harps,
Psa 137:3 for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
Psa 137:4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land?

Psalm 44 was also written after the fall of Jerusalem.

Psa 44:10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.
Psa 44:11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.

Psa 44:19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.

This morning I want to underline a few truths that God brings to us in this Psalm. (Remember, 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.)

I. The author of this Psalm was a true child of God.

A. We don't know much about him, only that he was a descendent of Korah. (Korah lived a thousand years earlier in the time of Moses.)

B. He certainly believed in God.
C. He was a student of Bible history.
D. He acknowledged that Israel's successes had come from God, and not from Israel's military strength.
E. He was determined to remain true to God, in spite of being a captive in Babylon.

II. But he was blind to the sins of the nation.

(Incidentally, Christians aren't perfect. We all still have many sins and failures in our spiritual lives. But we have a gracious Savior!)

This son of Korah blamed God for Israel's downfall, instead of confessing his sins, and Israel's sins.

Psa 44:17 All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten you or been false to your covenant.
Psa 44:18 Our hearts had not turned back; our feet had not strayed from your path.
Psa 44:19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals and covered us over with deep darkness.

Scripture makes it very clear that Israel was defeated, and carried away captive, because of sin, and the judgment of God (2 Kings 24:1-4, 8-9, 18-20; 2 Chron. 36:15-17).

Nehemiah lived just a little bit later than the author of Psalm 44, and this is what Nehemiah said:

Neh 1:6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's house, have committed against you.
Neh 1:7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.

Daniel also live about the same time, and he said:

Dan 9:4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands,
Dan 9:5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws.
Dan 9:6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
Dan 9:7 "Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame--

Conclusion: It is very common for God's people to seek to rationalize away their sins.

A. Adam and Eve did it (Genesis 3:11-13).
B. Aaron did it (Exodus 32:21-24).

We do it too... The thing I have done is not really sinful because ___________?

The Bible says that we should confess our sins, if we want forgiveness from God:

Lev 26:40 "'But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their fathers--their treachery against me and their hostility toward me,
Lev 26:41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies--then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin,
Lev 26:42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

Prov 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
Prov 28:14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

May the Lord help us all to see our sins for what they are, and to be honest with God, confessing our sins, and asking for forgiveness. Amen.