This is not so much a personal Psalm but one for the whole people of God who are going through difficult days. The Psalm begins with a reminder of God’s gracious and mighty deeds in driving out the nations of Canaan and planting His people in the land (v1-3). The Psalm is very clear that it wasn’t the weapons of Israel but the hand of God the King thata achieved this (v4-8).

Verse 9 begins with an emphatic ‘But’ as the Psalms now speaks of the people sharing how God has rejected them by not going with their armies (v9), by making their army turn back (v10), they are like sheep to the slaughter (v11), they are sold for a trifle of money (v12) and are the taunt of their enemies (v13-16).

Their argument is that this has all happened to God’s people despite them not forgetting God or being unfaithful to His covenant (v17-18). Despite their faithfulness they suffer and regarded as sheep to be slaughtered (v19-22).

What do we do when we feel we have been faithful to the Lord but have been brought into very trying situations and nearing despair?

The answer is once more to throw ourselves upon the Lord and call on Him to arise for our deliverance (v23-26). Where else can we go?