Psalms 44:7-17

7 but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.

8 In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.^[a]

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies.

10 You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us.

11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.

12 You sold your people for a pittance, gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.

14 You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us.

15 I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame

16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me, because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17 All this came upon us, though we had not forgotten you; we had not been false to your covenant.

Psalms 44:7-17 Meaning and Commentary

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. It is not certain who was the writer of this psalm, nor when it was written, and to what time it belongs: some have thought it was composed by one of the Babylonish captivity, and that it gives an account of the church and people of God in those times; but what is said in Psalm 44:17 does not seem to agree with Daniel 9:5. It is most likely it was written by David, and to him the Targum ascribes it; though it does not respect his times; since what is said in Psalm 44:9 cannot agree with them; yet he being a prophet might, under a prophetic influence, speak of future times, and represent the church in them. Some are of opinion that he prophetically speaks of the times of the Maccabees and of Antiochus, when the church and people of God suffered much for the true religion, and abode steadfast in it; so Theodoret: but rather the whole may be applied to the times of the New Testament, since Psalm 44:22 is cited by the Apostle Paul, Romans 8:36, and is applied to his times, and as descriptive of the suffering state and condition of the church then; and which seems to be the guide and key for the opening of the whole psalm.

Cross References

• 1. S Deuteronomy 20:4; Psalms 136:24
• 2. S Job 8:22; Psalms 53:5
• 3. S Psalms 34:2; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 2 Corinthians 10:17
• 4. Psalms 52:1
• 5. S Psalms 30:12
• 6. S Psalms 43:2; Psalms 74:1
• 7. S Deuteronomy 8:3; S Deuteronomy 31:17; Psalms 107:39; Isaiah 5:15
• 8. S Joshua 7:12; Psalms 108:11; Psalms 60:1,10
• 9. S Leviticus 26:17; Joshua 7:8; Psalms 89:41
• 10. S Judges 2:14
• 11. ver 22; Jeremiah 12:3; Romans 8:36
• 12. S Leviticus 26:33; S Psalms 9:11; Ezekiel 6:8; Zechariah 2:6; Deuteronomy 4:27; Deuteronomy 28:64; Psalms 106:27
• 13. S Deuteronomy 32:30; Isaiah 52:3; Jeremiah 15:13; Jeremiah 50:1
• 14. S 2 Chronicles 29:8; Isaiah 30:3; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 42:18; Jeremiah 44:8
• 15. Psalms 79:4; Psalms 80:6; Psalms 89:41
• 16. S Deuteronomy 28:37; S Micah 2:6
• 17. Ezekiel 23:32
• 18. S 1 Kings 9:7
• 19. S 2 Kings 19:21; Psalms 109:25; Jeremiah 24:9
• 20. Genesis 30:23; 2 Chronicles 32:21; Psalms 35:26
• 21. S Psalms 34:5
• 22. S Psalms 42:10
• 23. Psalms 10:13; Psalms 55:3; Psalms 74:10
• 24. S 1 Samuel 18:25; S Jeremiah 11:19; Romans 12:19
• 25. S Deuteronomy 6:12; S Deuteronomy 32:18; Ps 119:16,61,153,176; Proverbs 3:1; Psalms 78:7,57; Daniel 9:13

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew has "Selah" (a word of uncertain meaning) here.