Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 44:9-16

"But now thou hast cast [us] off, and brought us to dishonor, And goest not forth with our hosts. Thou makest us to turn back from the adversary; And they that hate us take spoil for themselves. Thou hast made us like sheep [appointed] for food, And hast scattered us among the nations. Thou sellest thy people for nought, And hast not increased [thy wealth] by their price. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbors, A scoffing and a derision to them that are round about us. Thou makest us a byword among the nations, A shaking of the head among the peoples. All the day long is my dishonor before me, And the shame of my face hath covered me, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth, By reason of the enemy and the avenger." — Psalms 44:9-16 (ASV)

The believer must have times of temptation, affliction, and discouragement; the church must have seasons of persecution. At such times the people of God will be ready to fear that He has cast them off, and that His name and truth will be dishonoured. But they should look above the instruments of their trouble, to God, well knowing that their worst enemies have no power against them except what is permitted from above.