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Psalm 44:20-22 (JDV)

Psalm 44:20 If we had forgotten the name of our God and spread out our hands to a foreign god,

Psalm 44:21 wouldn’t God have spied this out, since he knows the hidden thoughts of the heart?

Psalm 44:22 Because of you we are being put to death all day long; we are counted like sheep to be slaughtered.

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The most unfair thing I can think of is to be put to death for someone else’s crimes. That’s how the psalmist feels here. He feels like his whole nation has become the scapegoat for someone else’s sins.

He says they are counted like sheep to be slaughtered.

Generally, sheep don’t do anything wrong to deserve slaughtering. The only thing they are guilty of is being sheep. Their owners feel sad on harvest day, but they don’t stop gathering the sheep to take to the processing plant. That’s what the sheep are for.

When I was on a burning ship a few years ago – a potential unintended victim of a terrorist bombing – I knew I didn’t deserve to be killed. But there was no way I was going to turn my back on God. He was my only hope of rescue. And he did rescue me.

The sons of Korah were deeply committed to God, but they were going through a time of terrible tragedy. If you feel like you are being unfairly punished, you are in good company.

Lord, you are our only hope of rescue.