Psalm 44:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: You have made us like sheep for slaughter and have scattered us among the nations.

NIV: You gave us up to be devoured like sheep and have scattered us among the nations.

NASB: You turn us over to be eaten like sheep, And have scattered us among the nations.

CSB: You hand us over to be eaten like sheep and scatter us among the nations.

NLT: You have butchered us like sheep and scattered us among the nations.

KJV: Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

NKJV: You have given us up like sheep intended for food, And have scattered us among the nations.

Earlier, the writer praised God, giving Him all credit for Israel's historic victories (Psalm 44:1–8). After some unspecified defeat, the psalmist described Israel as experiencing disgrace, abandonment, defeat, and desolation (Psalm 44:9–10). Now he depicts the nation using imagery connected to sheep: they are slaughtered and scattered. In this passage, the writer struggles to understand why the Lord would allow this to happen. Even further, it seems, God has caused this to occur, despite there being no obvious reason (Psalm 44:12–22).

Romans 8:36 quotes a later verse (Psalm 44:22) with similar themes, to emphasize that nothing can separate God's people from His love. Israel's defeat did not indicate that the Lord no longer cared about His sheep. It was intended as a lesson: to teach them that He had a purpose in the defeat. The presence of difficulty, no matter how drastic, should not be interpreted as a sign that the Lord hates the one who suffers. Scripture contains many instances of natural human angst in the face of hardship (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4). Yet even those moments are followed by clarity and faith in God's will (Psalm 73:15–19; Habakkuk 1:5–11).

Several Old Testament references identify Israel as God's flock. Psalm 77:20 describes the Lord as leading His people like a flock. Psalm 80:1 compares Israel to a flock being led by the Shepherd of Israel. Psalm 100:3 says the people of Israel are "the sheep of his pasture." "Nations" is typically a reference to the non-Israelite world: to Gentiles. A few scholars connect this psalm to Psalm 60 and Amos 1:6, and to an invasion by Edom while Israel was engaged in other battles.

Psalm 44:9–16 marks a drastic change in tone. The previous section contained praise for God's miraculous intervention on Israel's behalf. The psalmist made clear his intent to serve and praise the Lord. Here, however, the writer's words overflow with complaining and questioning. Suffering an especially humiliating defeat leads the people to ask, "why?" Has God abandoned them, or is there another explanation? This resembles other passages expressing natural human anguish when God doesn't act as we'd expect (Psalm 73:2–3; Habakkuk 1:2–4).

Israel passed down stories of God's miraculous power and the victories the Lord granted. However, this psalm comes after the nation has suffered some humiliating defeat. The psalmist struggles to understand why, as he sees no evidence of national sin in Israel to justify punishment. The writer expresses raw emotion, frustrated and anguished, yet prays for rescue out of faith in God's lovingkindness.

This psalm seems to follow a major defeat in battle. No explicit context is given, though the psalmist claims it was not God's punishment for national idolatry. Some commentators see connection to a conflict with Edom, who surprised Israel when the nation was engaged in other battles (Psalm 60; 85; Amos 1:6; 2 Samuel 8:13) as a possible explanation. This is another example of biblical writers expressing raw human emotions as they struggle to understand God's will. Psalms 69 and 73 include related themes. Habakkuk chapter 1 expresses similar ideas.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.