Psalms 44:15-25

15 All day long is my dishonor before me, And shame covers my face,

16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and reviles, Because of the enemy and the avenger.

17 All this has come on us, Yet have we not forgotten you, Neither have we been false to your covenant.

18 Our heart has not turned back, Neither have our steps declined from your way,

19 That you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, And covered us with the shadow of death.

20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, Or spread forth our hands to a strange god;

21 Won't God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.

22 Yes, for your sake are we killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.

23 Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don't reject us forever.

24 Why do you hide your face, And forget our affliction and our oppression?

25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body cleaves to the eretz.

Psalms 44:15-25 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.