Interpretation of Psalm 44:22's "We Were Killed All Day Long"
Psalm 44:22 states, "Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter" [1]. This verse is part of a national lament found in Psalm 44, which follows a pattern of reflecting on an unspecified moment in Israel's history and appealing to God for salvation [5].
The broader context of Psalm 44 begins with the people recalling God's past acts of rescue (Psalm 44:1-3) and acknowledging His power to save (Psalm 44:4-8). However, the psalm then shifts to describe their current humiliation, which they attribute to exile (Psalm 44:9-16). Despite their suffering, they claim innocence and lament the injustice of their situation (Psalm 44:17-22), culminating in a cry for vindication (Psalm 44:23-26) [5].
The phrase "killed all day long" emphasizes the continuous and pervasive nature of their suffering and persecution. The comparison to "sheep for the slaughter" highlights their vulnerability and the apparent lack of resistance or defense against their oppressors [1]. This imagery is also used elsewhere in scripture to describe those facing destruction or judgment, such as the wicked who will be torn apart like prey [8].
The Apostle Paul directly quotes Psalm 44:22 in Romans 8:36, applying it to the experiences of New Testament saints. John Gill notes that Paul uses this passage to demonstrate the strong attachment of saints to Christ and their love for Him, even amidst severe afflictions and persecutions [3]. Gill further explains that "for thy sake we are killed" means that both Old Testament and New Testament saints were frequently put to death or exposed to persecution for the sake of God and Christ, respectively [4]. The phrase "all the day long" in this context signifies that they were constantly liable to death, or that one or another of them was being killed daily [4].
The historical setting of Psalm 44 is a national lament after a defeat in battle [5]. While the specific historical event is not named, the psalm reflects a period of significant distress and humiliation for Israel. The psalm's appeal to God's past acts of redemption suggests a time when the people felt abandoned despite their faithfulness [5]. The "Treasury of Scripture Knowledge" cross-references Psalm 44:22 with various passages in Jeremiah and Lamentations, which often describe periods of national judgment, exile, and suffering for Israel [2, 7]. These cross-references suggest a context of divine displeasure and the consequences of disobedience, though the psalm itself emphasizes the people's perceived innocence [2, 5].
The phrase "for your sake" is a crucial element, indicating that their suffering is directly linked to their devotion to God. This suggests a theological dilemma for the psalmists: why would God allow His faithful people to suffer so intensely? This question resonates with other psalms of lament, such as Psalm 22, which expresses an outcry against both enemies and a feeling of divine abandonment [6].
The interpretation of Psalm 44:22, particularly through its citation in Romans 8:36, extends its meaning beyond a specific historical event in Israel's past. It becomes a timeless expression of the suffering endured by God's people throughout history for their faith, whether under the Old Covenant or the New [3, 4].
Sources
- Psalms “Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter. -- Psalms 44:22”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Jeremiah 44:22 cross-references: Genesis 6:3, Genesis 6:5, Genesis 19:13, 1 Kings 9:7, 2 Kings 17:15, Psalms 95:10, Psalms 107:33, Isaiah 1:24, Isaiah 7:13, Isaiah 43:24, Jeremiah 5:9, Jeremiah 15:6, Jeremiah 18:16, Jeremiah 24:9, Jeremiah 25:11, Jeremiah 25:18, Jeremiah 25:38, Jeremiah 26:6, Jeremiah 29:19, Jeremiah 44:2, Jeremiah 44:6, Jeremiah 44:12, Lamentations 2:15, Ezekiel 5:13, Daniel 9:11, Daniel 9:12, Amos 2:13, Malachi 2:17, Romans 2:4, Romans 9:22, 2 Peter 3:7”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 44:22: Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long,.... These words are cited by the Apostle Paul in Rom 8:36; and are applied to his times, showing the then close attachment of the saints to Christ, and their strong love and affection for him; and they have the same sense here, being an instance and proof of the church's integrity and faithfulness in the cause of God, amidst the sorest afflictions and persecutions; for the truth of which she appeals to the searcher of hearts; and had their accomplishment in the ten persecutions under the Heathen emperors, and under th”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 8:36: As it is written, for thy sake we are killed,.... This passage is a citation out of Psa 44:22; and the meaning is, that for the sake of God, and his pure worship, Old Testament saints were frequently put to death, or exposed to the persecutions of men, which often issued in death; as New Testament saints have been, for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, even all the day long; that is, they were liable to death all the day long; or every day, one or other of them was put to death: we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter; they were reckoned as fit for nothing el”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 44:1: Ps 44 This national lament after defeat in battle continues the tone of the previous two psalms, including reflecting on an unspecified moment in Israel’s history and calling on God for salvation. The people recite God’s past acts of rescue (44:1-3), acknowledge God’s power to save (44:4-8), describe their humiliation in exile (44:9-16), claim their innocence and lament the injustice of their current situation (44:17-22), and cry for vindication (44:23-26). 44:1 we have heard . . . of all you did: The story of redemption encompasses the story of God’s favor and po”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 22:1: Ps 22 All previous laments pale in comparison with this outcry against the enemy and God’s abandonment. The psalm contains two main sections: the lament (22:1-21) and praise for redemption (22:22-31), which leads naturally to Ps 23. The apostles saw in this psalm an expression of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, who ultimately fulfilled the purpose of David’s humiliation, rejection by people, and divine abandonment (Matt 27:35, 39, 43, 46; Mark 15:34; John 19:23-24, 28; Heb 2:12). 22:1-21 The psalmist alternates between reflections on his present dire circumstances”
- Lamentations (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Lamentations 2:22: Thou hast called, as in a solemn day, my terrors round about,.... Terrible enemies, as the Chaldeans; these came at the call of God, as soldiers at the command of their general; and in as great numbers as men from all parts of Judea flocked to Jerusalem on any of the three solemn feasts of passover, pentecost, and tabernacles. The Targum paraphrases it very foreign to the sense; "thou shall proclaim liberty to thy people, the house of Israel, by the Messiah, as thou didst by Moses and Aaron on the day of the passover:'' so that in the day of the Lord's anger”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 50:22: 50:22-23 The wicked will experience God’s justice, while the godly will see God’s everlasting salvation. 50:22 God will tear the wicked apart like a lion tearing its prey (Isa 5:29; 31:4; Ezek 19:3; cp. Pss 7:2; 22:13).”