A Byword Among the Heathen - Psalms 44:14

In Psalms chapter forty four David said, “You have given us like sheep appointed for meat; and have scattered us among the heathen. You sell your people for nought, and do not increase your wealth by their price. You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us”, and in chapter forty four and verse fourteen of Psalms David said, “you make us a byword among the heathen” where we read,

You make us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

The verse begins, “You make us a byword among the heathen, ...” David began with the words, “you make us a byword” or “you, Jehovah God, put, place, set, appoint and establish us, David and his believing companions, as a proverb, parable, proverbial saying and aphorism” “among the heathen” which means “with the non-Hebrew, non-believing and pagan Gentile peoples and nations”. David said Jehovah God set he and his believing companions to be like a parable or proverbial saying among the pagan Gentile people.

The verse continues, “... a shaking of the head among the people.” David added the words, “a shaking of the head” or “wagging, nodding or tossing the heathen's head back and forth” “among the people” which means “with the human beings whether male or female”. David said people wagged their heads back and forth as they mocked he and his fellow believers.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how David thought Jehovah God made he and his fellow believers to be mocked as a parable and made fun of through the wagging of their heads. Rather than believe Jehovah God like David, these people ridiculed he and his companions. Jesus knew this behavior from people as He hung on the cross, (See Matthew 27:39 and Mark 15:19), and this is typical to day for people who do not believe in God's Son Jesus Christ as the Messiah and Son of God. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of mankind, and when we receive Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and be with us even when others mock us, make us a parable and wag their heads in unbelief.

Next time David says, “my confusion is continually before me”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".