Psalms 44:21

Psa 44:21 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

Ver. 21. Shall not God search this out?] What pretences or excuses soever be used for the colouring and covering of the same.

For he knoweth, &c.] See Mat 10:26, {See Trapp on "Mat 10:26"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

22. (Psa 44:21). Shall not God search this out? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. This is the apodosis of the sentence begun in the preceding verse." If we have done thus, must not God know it?" The primary meaning of the verb translated search out is to dig, to bring to light what is hidden under ground. Thence, by a natural transition, it denotes the investigation and disclosure of all secrets. The interrogation is an indirect but strong affirmation of the fact in question. The for, at the beginning of the last clause, does not indicate the reason of the question, but of the affirmative answer which is tacitly implied. He (is) knowing, a form of expression which denotes continued and habitual knowledge. See above, on Psa 1:6, and with the sentiment compare that of Psa 7:10 (9).

Joseph Addison Alexander, The Psalms Translated and Explained (1850) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

They take God to witness that they were upright to himward.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 21. Shall not God search this out?] We confidently appeal to the true God, the searcher of hearts, for the truth of this statement.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21 Shall not God search this out? We have here a solemn and emphatic protestation, in which the people of God dare to appeal to him as the judge of their integrity and uprightness. From this it appears, that they did not plead their cause openly before men, but communed with themselves as if they had been before the judgment-seat of God; and moreover, as a token of still greater confidence, they add, that nothing is hidden from God. Why is it that hypocrites often call God to witness, if it is not because they imagine that, by concealing their wickedness under some specious disguise, they have escaped the judgment of God? and thus they would represent the character of God to be different from what it is, as if by their deceptions they could dazzle his eyes. Whenever, therefore, we come before God, let us at the same time remember, that there is nothing to be gained by any vain pretense in his presence, inasmuch as he knows the heart.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

21. It would be vain to attempt to conceal any faithlessness from the Searcher of hearts. Cp. Job’s protestations of innocence, ch. Psa_31:4 ff.; and Psa_139:1; Psa_139:23; Jer_17:10.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Shall not God search this out?.... Undoubtedly he would, was it so, and expose it, and punish for it; as he will the Balaamites and children of Jezebel, Rev 2:18; this seems to be an appeal to God for the truth of all that the church had said concerning her steadfastness and integrity under the most trying exercises;

for he knoweth the secrets of the heart; whether the heart is turned back, or there is any inclination to apostatize from God, or his name is forgotten in it; as well as whether in fact the hand has been stretched out, or prayer made to a strange god, Jer 17:9.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Shall not God search this out? - That is, If this had been the case, it would be known to God. If, as a nation, we had been given to idolatry, or if our hearts had been secretly alienated from the true God, though there had been no open manifestation of apostasy, yet that could not have been concealed from him. The question here asked implies a solemn declaration on the part of the psalmist that this was not so; or that there was no such national apostasy from God, and no such prevalence of idolatry in the land as to account for what had occurred. The reason for the calamities which had come upon them, therefore, must be found in something else.

For he knoweth the secrets of the heart - What is in the heart: what is concealed from the world. If there were any such alienation from him in the hearts of the people, he would know it. The fact that God knows the heart, or that he understands all the secret thoughts, purposes, and motives of people, is one that is everywhere affirmed in the Scriptures. See 1Ch 28:9; Rom 8:27; compare the notes at Rev 2:23.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

We appeal to the heart-searching God, concerning the sincerity of this profession of ours.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ver. 21. Shall not God search this out? Could such idolatry be concealed from him? Would he not with holy indignation have detected unfaithfulness to itself, even had it been hidden in the heart and unrevealed in the life? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. He is acquainted with the inner workings of the mind, and therefore this could not have escaped him. Not the heart only which is secret, but the secrets of the heart, which are secrets of the most secret thing, are as open to God as a book to a reader. The reasoning is that the Lord himself knew the people to be sincerely his followers, and therefore was not visiting them for sin; hence, then, affliction evidently came from quite another cause.

Ver. 21. Shall not God search this out? etc. Are there such variety of trials appointed to examine the sincerity of men's graces? How great a vanity, then, is hypocrisy! and to how little purpose do men endeavour to conceal and hide it! We say, murder will out; and we may as confidently affirm, hypocrisy will out. When Rebekah had laid the plot to disguise her son Jacob, and by personating his brother to get the blessing, Jacob thus objects against it: "My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver, and I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing." As if he should say, But what if my father detect the cheat? How, then, shall I look him in the face? How shall I escape a curse? After the same manner every upright soul scares itself from the way of hypocrisy. If I dissemble, and pretend to be what I am not, my Father will find me out. There is no darkness nor shadow of death that can conceal the hypocrite; but out it will come at last, let him use all the art he can to hide it...If men's works be not good, it is impossible they should be hid long. A gilded piece of brass may pass from hand to hand a little while, but the touchstone will discover the base metal; and if that does not, the fire will. John Flavel.

Ver. 21. A godly man dares not sin secretly. He knows that God sees in secret. As God cannot be deceived by our subtlety, so he cannot be excluded by our secrecy. Thomas Watson.

Ver. 21. In time of persecution for religion, nothing can counterbalance the terrors and allurements of the persecutors, and make a man steadfast in the cause of God, save the fear of God, and love to God settled in the heart; for the reason of the saint's steadfastness in this Psalm, is because God would have searched out their sin if they had done otherwise, for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. David Dickson.

Ver. 21. Can he not? Will he not?

Ver. 21. A question and an assertion.

Psalms 44:22*

Charles H. Spurgeon's The Treasury of David (1869–1885) — public domain. Psalms only. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

21. Shall not God search this—The psalmist appeals to the omniscience of God for the confirmation of his words.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Shall not God search this out! i.e. visit for it punish it. Such a result was to be expected. But when there had been no precedent idolatry, no neglect of the worship of Jehovah, what then? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Secret idolatry would, of course, explain the state of things; but the writer evidently knows of no secret idolatry.

God"s knowledge of men"s hearts.

"Shall not God search," etc.? A world of perfect, mutual knowledge, in which the secrets of every heart lay open to every eye, must needs be either heaven or hell. Every one must be perfectly good or else perfectly miserable. In this world of mixed good and evil, God has mercifully built a wall of secrecy, or at least thrown a veil of privacy, around the consciousness of each one of us. Every heart has its own secrets. But the text reminds us that there is neither wall nor veil to God"s eye, nor thinnest film of obscurity. (Heb_4:13)

I GOD KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART.

1. Our thoughts. How impenetrably these are veiled from our fellows! Our feelings often betray themselves. They escape our control. A look, a change of colour, a start, an exclamation, a tremor, may discover them against our will. But our thoughts lie deeper. Words may be used not to express, but to conceal them. A man"s outward conduct and apparent character may be such that if the habitual current of his inmost thoughts could be laid open, his nearest friends would stand aghast. But God knows. Thought may flash so swiftly through the mind, that we ourselves are scarcely aware of it; but God sees. It may fade in a moment from the mirror of memory; but God remembers.

2. Our feelings lie as open to God as our thoughts. They are often a mystery to ourselves, not to him. They surprise us by their sudden and unexpected character and power. They do not surprise him. They perplex us by their mixture of good and evil. All is plain to him. Our inmost springs of character lie under his hand as well as eye. He knows how to work in us both to will and to do. (Php_2:13)

3. Our hidden future; unconscious capabilities, good or evil; undeveloped possibilities. Examples: Jer_1:5-9 2Ki_8:13 Luk_5:2-10. Our sins (known or unknown to ourselves), and all our spiritual needs. Perhaps you have not felt your sins. But God takes account; (Psa_90:8) knows your need of pardon; (Isa_1:18) knows your weakness, and need of grace; (Joh_13:37, Joh_13:38) knows your need of trial and discipline. (Heb_13:6)

II WE SEARCH IN ORDER TO KNOW; GOD SEARCHES BECAUSE HE KNOWS.

1. By his providence, proving men and revealing their character. As Abraham, (Gen_22:12) Hezekiah. (2Ch_32:31)

2. By. his Spirit. (Joh_16:8)

3. By his Word. (Heb_4:12, Heb_4:13)

CONCLUSION. The Lord Jesus claims this Divine prerogative. (Rev_2:23 1Co_4:4, 1Co_4:5) But he loves to discover even the little that is good in us, and to reward it. (Rev_3:8) He that probes can heal. He that knows can save. (Rev_3:9) Let us open our hearts to him. (Psa_139:23, Psa_139:24)

God"s knowledge of men"s hearts.

"Shall not God search," etc.? A world of perfect, mutual knowledge, in which the secrets of every heart lay open to every eye, must needs be either heaven or hell. Every one must be perfectly good or else perfectly miserable. In this world of mixed good and evil, God has mercifully built a wall of secrecy, or at least thrown a veil of privacy, around the consciousness of each one of us. Every heart has its own secrets. But the text reminds us that there is neither wall nor veil to God"s eye, nor thinnest film of obscurity. (Heb_4:13)

I GOD KNOWS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART.

1. Our thoughts. How impenetrably these are veiled from our fellows! Our feelings often betray themselves. They escape our control. A look, a change of colour, a start, an exclamation, a tremor, may discover them against our will. But our thoughts lie deeper. Words may be used not to express, but to conceal them. A man"s outward conduct and apparent character may be such that if the habitual current of his inmost thoughts could be laid open, his nearest friends would stand aghast. But God knows. Thought may flash so swiftly through the mind, that we ourselves are scarcely aware of it; but God sees. It may fade in a moment from the mirror of memory; but God remembers.

2. Our feelings lie as open to God as our thoughts. They are often a mystery to ourselves, not to him. They surprise us by their sudden and unexpected character and power. They do not surprise him. They perplex us by their mixture of good and evil. All is plain to him. Our inmost springs of character lie under his hand as well as eye. He knows how to work in us both to will and to do. (Php_2:13)

3. Our hidden future; unconscious capabilities, good or evil; undeveloped possibilities. Examples: Jer_1:5-9 2Ki_8:13 Luk_5:2-10. Our sins (known or unknown to ourselves), and all our spiritual needs. Perhaps you have not felt your sins. But God takes account; (Psa_90:8) knows your need of pardon; (Isa_1:18) knows your weakness, and need of grace; (Joh_13:37, Joh_13:38) knows your need of trial and discipline. (Heb_13:6)

II WE SEARCH IN ORDER TO KNOW; GOD SEARCHES BECAUSE HE KNOWS.

1. By his providence, proving men and revealing their character. As Abraham, (Gen_22:12) Hezekiah. (2Ch_32:31)

2. By. his Spirit. (Joh_16:8)

3. By his Word. (Heb_4:12, Heb_4:13)

CONCLUSION. The Lord Jesus claims this Divine prerogative. (Rev_2:23 1Co_4:4, 1Co_4:5) But he loves to discover even the little that is good in us, and to reward it. (Rev_3:8) He that probes can heal. He that knows can save. (Rev_3:9) Let us open our hearts to him. (Psa_139:23, Psa_139:24)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.