2 With your hand you drove out the nations and planted our ancestors; you crushed the peoples and made our ancestors flourish.
2 How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.
2 you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you planted; you afflicted the peoples, but them you set free;
2 How single-handedly you weeded out the godless from the fields and planted us, How you sent those people packing but gave us a fresh start.
2 You drove out the nations with Your hand, But them You planted; You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
2 You drove out the pagan nations by your power and gave all the land to our ancestors. You crushed their enemies and set our ancestors free.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 44:2
Commentary on Psalm 44:1-8
(Read Psalm 44:1-8)
Former experiences of God's power and goodness are strong supports to faith, and powerful pleas in prayer under present calamities. The many victories Israel obtained, were not by their own strength or merit, but by God's favour and free grace. The less praise this allows us, the more comfort it affords, that we may see all as coming from the favour of God. He fought for Israel, else they had fought in vain. This is applicable to the planting of the Christian church in the world, which was not by any human policy or power. Christ, by his Spirit, went forth conquering and to conquer; and he that planted a church for himself in the world, will support it by the same power and goodness. They trusted and triumphed in and through him. Let him that glories, glory in the Lord. But if they have the comfort of his name, let them give unto him the glory due unto it.