What does Psalm 44:16 mean?

After some unspecified defeat (Psalm 44:9–15), the psalmist is tormented by those who shame and belittle his nation. The loss in battle led to Israel being mocked and insulted. This is especially hard for the psalmist to accept since God had given Israel great victories in the past (Psalm 44:1–8). Yet this humiliating loss was not an obvious punishment for blatant sin (Psalm 44:17–18). The angst of defeat would have been bad enough, but it seems Israel's foes were especially cruel in their jeering.

A conflict between the Philistines and the Israelites in the time of Saul and David illustrates such taunting behavior. The Philistine giant Goliath challenged the Israelites' army with the words, "I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man, that we may fight together" (1 Samuel 17:10). The giant intimidated Israel's army so much that "when Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid" (1 Samuel 17:11). Only young David was willing to accept Goliath's challenge. When David approached Goliath in battle, Goliath "disdained him" (1 Samuel 17:42). He called to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field" (1 Samuel 17:44).