Psalm 44:2-11

2 With your hand you drove out nations to plant them in [the land], you crushed peoples to make room for them.

3 For not by their own swords did they conquer the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; rather, it was your right hand, your arm and the light of your face; because you favored them.

4 God, you are my king; command complete victory for Ya'akov.

5 Through you we pushed away our foes, through your name we trampled down our assailants.

6 For I don't rely on my bow, nor can my sword give me victory.

7 No, you saved us from our adversaries; you put to shame those who hate us.

8 We will boast in our God all day and give thanks to your name forever. (Selah)

9 Yet now you have thrust us aside and disgraced us; you don't march out with our armies.

10 You make us retreat from the adversary, and those who hate us plunder us at will.

11 You have handed us over like sheep to be eaten and scattered us among the nations.

Psalm 44:2-11 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.