2. Israel's present defeated condition 44:9-16

44:9-10 God had allowed His people to suffer defeat recently for some reason. The nation had retreated and the enemy had taken spoils.

44:11-12 These verses describe the defeat figuratively. God had not protected His sheep but had allowed their enemy to ravage them. He had sold them to the enemy but had not profited from the bargain personally.

44:13-14 Israel's defeat had made her an object of ridicule among her neighbor nations. They laughed at God's people because the Lord had not defended them.

44:15-16 The psalmist's heart broke because Israel suffered such humiliation. He suffered because God's reputation suffered too.