Psalms 44:13-23

13 Thou hast made us the taunt of our neighbors, the derision and scorn of those about us.

14 Thou hast made us a byword among the nations, a laughingstock among the peoples.

15 All day long my disgrace is before me, and shame has covered my face,

16 at the words of the taunters and revilers, at the sight of the enemy and the avenger.

17 All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten thee, or been false to thy covenant.

18 Our heart has not turned back, nor have our steps departed from thy way,

19 that thou shouldst have broken us in the place of jackals, and covered us with deep darkness.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God, or spread forth our hands to a strange god,

21 would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

22 Nay, for thy sake we are slain all the day long, and accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Rouse thyself! Why sleepest thou, O Lord? Awake! Do not cast us off for ever!

Psalms 44:13-23 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.