Psalm 44:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Yet for your sake we are killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

NIV: Yet for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

NASB: But for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.

CSB: Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.

NLT: But for your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.

KJV: Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

NKJV: Yet for Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

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).

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.