What does Psalm 44:22 mean?

Despite claims of loyalty to the Lord (Psalm 44:17–21), Israel has experienced an embarrassing defeat (Psalm 44:9–16). Here, the psalmist notes that despite not being guilty of national sins—at least, not as far as he knows—the people are being harmed for their association with God. In that moment, the situation seemed impossible. The writer of the psalm is being tempted to think God abandoned Israel and cast them aside. In fact, the following verse contains an uncomfortably blunt complaint (Psalm 44:23).

Expressions of deep pain are found elsewhere in the Bible. Some of those are raw, angry cries accusing God (Habakkuk 1:2–4; Psalm 73:2–3). Yet Scripture is consistent in reminders that hardship is not a sign of God's hatred—He has purposes for all such things (Jeremiah 29:11; Deuteronomy 8:5; Job 13:15).

The apostle Paul quotes this verse in Romans 8:36 as part of his argument that nothing can separate God's people from His love. The psalmist did not know why Israel had fallen to the enemy. He could not accept suffering disgrace and ridicule. And yet, even then, God loved His people and had a purpose for all that had happened to Israel.

Someday Israel will undergo intense persecution at the hands of the beast and the false prophet. The beast is "allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them" (Revelation 13:7). The false prophet will demand that everyone worship an image for the beast that he sets up in the temple. The Jewish remnant will refuse to participate in this idolatrous worship, and as a result they will not be allowed to buy or sell (Revelation 13:11–17).