For the voice of him that re-proacheth and blasphemeth . The reproaches of the heathen were most commonly "blasphemies,'' since they consisted very mainly of contemptuous expressions against the God of Israel (see the comment on Psalms 44:13 ; and comp. Isaiah 37:3 , Isaiah 37:23 ). By reason of the enemy and avenger. The persons by whom the blasphemous reproaches were uttered—Israel's enemies bent on avenging former losses and defeats. read more
All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant . Israel had neither put aside the thought of religion, and given herself up to wordliness, nor yet, while still professedly religious, transgressed habitually God's commandments. She maintained "thorough sincerity in religion, and consistent integrity of life." Yet "all this"—all that has been described in Psalms 44:9-16 —had come upon her. read more
In this third stanza the psalmist strongly emphasizes his complaint by maintaining that the calamities from which they are suffering have not come upon the people through any fault of their own, or been in any way provoked or deserved He is, perhaps, over-confident; but we cannot doubt that he is sincere in the belief, which he expresses, that the people, both before and during their calamities, have been obedient and faithful to God, wholly free from idolatry, and exemplary in their conduct... read more
Our heart is not turned back; i.e. turned away from God, as it was when they passed through the wilderness ( Psalms 78:41 ). Neither have our steps declined from thy way . Neither in respect of inward feeling nor of outward act have we strayed from the right path. read more
Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons; rather, in the place of jackals ; i.e. in wild and desolate regions, where jackals abound (comp. Isaiah 13:22 ; Isaiah 34:13 ). The expression is probably used metaphorically. And covered us with the shadow of death. Brought us, i.e; into imminent peril of destruction (see Psalms 44:10 , Psalms 44:11 ). read more
If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out (rather, spread out ) our hands to a strange god . If Israel had either forgotten the true God (see above, Psalms 44:17 ) or fallen away to the worship of false or strange gods—then her ill success against her foreign enemies would have been fully accounted for, since it would only have been in accordance with the threatenings of the Law (Le 26:14-17; Deuteronomy 28:15-23 ); but as she had done neither of these things, her... read more
Shall not God search this out! i.e. visit for it—punish it. Such a result was to be expected. But when there had been no precedent idolatry, no neglect of the worship of Jehovah, what then? For he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Secret idolatry would, of course, explain the state of things; but the writer evidently knows of no secret idolatry. read more
God's knowledge of men's hearts. "Shall not God search," etc.? A world of perfect, mutual knowledge, in which the secrets of every heart lay open to every eye, must needs be either heaven or hell. Every one must be perfectly good or else perfectly miserable. In this world of mixed good and evil, God has mercifully built a wall of secrecy, or at least thrown a veil of privacy, around the consciousness of each one of us. Every heart has its own secrets. But the text reminds us that there is... read more
Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long ; or, continually , as the phrase is often translated. Not only are the Israelites not suffering on account of any previous desertion of God, or other misconduct, but they are suffering for their fidelity to God. The heathen hate them, and make war upon them, as worshippers of one exclusive God, Jehovah, and contemners of their many gods, whom they hold to be "no-gods." They are martyrs, like the Christians of the early Church (see Romans... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 44:15
My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me (see the comment on Psalms 44:9 ). read more