9 But now you have sent us away from you, and put us to shame; you do not go out with our armies.
10 Because of this we are turned back by the attacker: those who have hate for us take our goods for themselves.
11 You have made us like sheep which are taken for meat; we are put to flight among the nations.
12 You let your people go for nothing; your wealth is not increased by their price.
13 You have made us to be looked down on by our neighbours, we are laughed at and shamed by those who are round about us.
14 Our name is a word of shame among the nations, a sign for the shaking of heads among the peoples.
15 My downfall is ever before me, and I am covered with the shame of my face;
16 Because of the voice of him who says sharp and bitter words; because of the hater and him who is the instrument of punishment.
17 All this has come on us, but still we have kept you in our memory; and we have not been false to your word.
18 Our hearts have not gone back, and our steps have not been turned out of your way;
19 Though you have let us be crushed in the place of jackals, though we are covered with darkest shade.
20 If the name of our God has gone out of our minds, or if our hands have been stretched out to a strange god,
21 Will not God make search for it? for he sees the secrets of the heart.
22 Truly, because of you we are put to death every day; we are numbered like sheep for destruction.
23 Why are you sleeping, O Lord? awake! and come to our help, do not give us up for ever.
24 Why is your face covered, and why do you give no thought to our trouble and our cruel fate?
25 For our souls are crushed down to the dust: our bodies are stretched out on the earth.
26 Up! and come to our help, and give us salvation because of your mercy.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Psalms 44
Commentary on Psalms 44 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
PSALM 44
Ps 44:1-26. In a time of great national distress, probably in David's reign, the Psalmist recounts God's gracious dealings in former times, and the confidence they had learned to repose in Him. After a vivid picture of their calamities, he humbly expostulates against God's apparent forgetfulness, reminding Him of their faithfulness and mourning their heavy sorrows.
1-3. This period is that of the settlement of Canaan (Jos 24:12; Jud 6:3).
have told—or, "related" (compare Ex 10:2).
2. plantedst them—that is, "our fathers," who are also, from the parallel construction of the last clause, to be regarded as the object of "cast them out," which means—literally, "send" them out, or, "extend them." Heathen and people denote the nations who were driven out to make room for the Israelites.
4. Thou art my King—literally, "he who is my King," sustaining the same covenant relation as to the "fathers."
5. The figure drawn from the habits of the ox.
6-8. God is not only our sole help, but only worthy of praise.
7. put … to shame—(compare Ps 6:10), disgraced.
8. thy name—as in Ps 5:11.
9. But—contrasting, cast off as abhorrent (Ps 43:2).
goest not forth—literally, "will not go" (2Sa 5:23). In several consecutive verses the leading verb is future, and the following one past (in Hebrew), thus denoting the causes and effects. Thus (Ps 44:10-12), when defeated, spoiling follows; when delivered as sheep, dispersion follows, &c.
11. The Babylonian captivity not necessarily meant. There were others (compare 1Ki 8:46).
13, 14. (Compare De 28:37; Ps 79:4).
15. shame of … face—blushes in disgrace.
16. Its cause, the taunts and presence of malignant enemies (Ps 8:2).
17-19. They had not apostatized totally—were still God's people.
18. declined—turned aside from God's law.
19. sore broken—crushed.
place of dragons—desolate, barren, rocky wilderness (Ps 63:10; Isa 13:22),
shadow of death—(Compare Ps 23:4).
20, 21. A solemn appeal to God to witness their constancy.
stretched out … hands—gesture of worship (Ex 9:29; Ps 88:9).
22. Their protracted sufferings as God's people attests the constancy. Paul (Ro 8:36) uses this to describe Christian steadfastness in persecution.
23-26. This style of addressing God, as indifferent, is frequent (Ps 3:7; 9:19; 13:1, &c.). However low their condition, God is appealed to, on the ground, and for the honor, of His mercy.