Psalm 44:19

19 For thou hast laid us low in a place of affliction, and the shadow of death has covered us.

Psalm 44:19 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 44:19

Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons
Where men, comparable to dragons or their poison and cruelty, dwell; particularly in Rome, and the Roman jurisdiction, both Pagan and Papal, the seat of Satan the great red dragon, and of his wretched brood and offspring, the beast, to whom he has given his power; here the saints and followers of Christ have been sorely afflicted and persecuted, and yet have held fast the name of Christ, and not denied his faith; see ( Revelation 2:13 ) ( 12:3 ) ; the wilderness is the habitation of dragons; and this is the name of the place where the church is said to be in the times of the Papacy, and where she is fed and preserved for a time, and times, and half a time, ( Revelation 12:6 Revelation 12:14 ) ;

and covered us with the shadow of death;
as the former phrase denotes the cruelty of the enemies of Christ's church and people, this their dismal afflictions and forlorn state and condition; see ( Psalms 23:4 ) ( Isaiah 9:2 ) ; and may have some respect to the darkness of Popery, when it was at the height, and the church of Christ was covered with it, there being very little appearances and breakings forth of Gospel light any where. According to Arama, the "place of dragons" denotes the captivity of Egypt, which is the great dragon; and the "shadow of death", he says, was a name of Egypt in ancient times, as say the Rabbins; and observes that ( Psalms 44:25 ) explains this; see ( Genesis 3:14 ) .

Psalm 44:19 In-Context

17 All these things are come upon us: but we have not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt unrighteously in thy covenant.

18 And our heart has not gone back; but thou hast turned aside our paths from thy way.

19 For thou hast laid us low in a place of affliction, and the shadow of death has covered us.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, and if we have spread out our hands to a strange god; shall not God search these things out?

21 for he knows the secrets of the heart.