Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
The question pleads for anger to end, asking whether God will stay angry with His people forever and draw out His anger to all generations. It asks whether His anger against them will last forever and continue through every generation. It is one of the prayer questions asked on the basis of God's past goodness, after His favor to the land, return from captivity, forgiveness of iniquity, and turning from wrath.
In its setting it belongs to a psalm of deliverance associated with the Jews' return from Babylonian captivity, written because of deliverance from captivity. It reflects the sorrow and anxiety of the returning exiles. If written before the captivity, the psalm is prophetic.
It expresses the penitent people's fear that God's anger against them might continue forever. During the return their troubles and the slow rebuilding of the temple made it seem that God remained angry despite His forgiveness and deliverance, and the question looks toward the completion of God's work among His people. The question is joined to asking the God of salvation to turn, cause indignation to cease, quicken His people again, show mercy and grant salvation so they may rejoice. In its prayer it is a plea for God to end His indignation and restore His people so they may rejoice in Him.
The verse shows that the Lord is at all times ready to speak peace to His children when they turn from sin and rebellion. The Lord's love and care for His erring people do not give them reason to presume on His mercy.
The question pleads for anger to end, asking whether God will stay angry with His people forever and draw out His anger to all generations. It asks whether His anger against them will last forever and continue through every generation. It is one of the prayer questions asked on the basis of God's past goodness, after His favor to the land, return from captivity, forgiveness of iniquity, and turning from wrath.
In its setting it belongs to a psalm of deliverance associated with the Jews' return from Babylonian captivity, written because of deliverance from captivity. It reflects the sorrow and anxiety of the returning exiles. If written before the captivity, the psalm is prophetic.
It expresses the penitent people's fear that God's anger against them might continue forever. During the return their troubles and the slow rebuilding of the temple made it seem that God remained angry despite His forgiveness and deliverance, and the question looks toward the completion of God's work among His people. The question is joined to asking the God of salvation to turn, cause indignation to cease, quicken His people again, show mercy and grant salvation so they may rejoice. In its prayer it is a plea for God to end His indignation and restore His people so they may rejoice in Him.
The verse shows that the Lord is at all times ready to speak peace to His children when they turn from sin and rebellion. The Lord's love and care for His erring people do not give them reason to presume on His mercy.