Psalm 44:17-22

They are standing on their integrity here. They say, You should help us because we have been faithful. They assert that they have kept the covenant. They were not sinners. They were not idolaters, they said. They were still loyal to God despite the shame and the confusion, despite the defeat. And they challenge God. You know our hearts. You know we are true to You, yet we suffer and die. Why? The perplexity lingers in this section because what is happening goes hard against their experience and understanding of how God works. They think God delivers the faithful. Why are we suffering defeat?