Why Have You Rejected Us Forever?
The lament begins by asking why God has cast off his flock and let his anger smolder against the sheep of his pasture. The community begs him to remember the people he redeemed and Zion where he once dwelt, then calls him to walk through the everlasting ruins. Enemies have roared in the sanctuary, set up their own emblems, hacked down its carved work, burned it to the ground, and profaned the dwelling of God's name. They have resolved to crush God's people entirely, and now there are no signs, no prophet, and no clear sense of how long this devastation will continue.
A1 Maskil of Asaph. 2Remember Your congregation, 3Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, 4Your foes have roared within Your meeting place; 5like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees 6and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks. 7They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; 8They said in their hearts, 9There are no signs for us to see.
The psalm turns from description to direct protest, asking how long the enemy will taunt and blaspheme God's name. The people ask why God seems to withdraw his hand instead of drawing it out to destroy the adversary.
10How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? 11Why do You withdraw Your strong right hand?
In the face of silence, the community recalls that God has been king from ancient times, working salvation in the midst of the earth. He divided the sea, crushed the heads of the sea monsters and Leviathan, opened springs and torrents, and dried up perennial rivers. Day and night belong to him, and he established the heavenly lights, the boundaries of the earth, summer, and winter.
12Yet God is my King from ancient times, 13You divided the sea by Your strength; 14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; 15You broke open the fountain and the flood; 16The day is Yours, and also the night; 17You set all the boundaries of the earth;
The prayer returns to petition by asking God to remember how foolish enemies mock him and not to hand over the life of his dove to wild beasts. He is urged to consider his covenant, because the dark places of the land are full of violence, and not to let the oppressed turn back ashamed. The psalm ends with a plea for God to rise up, defend his own cause, and not forget the rising clamor of his adversaries.
18Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, 19Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; 20Consider Your covenant, 21Do not let the oppressed retreat in shame; 22Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! 23Do not disregard the clamor of Your adversaries,