Western scholars seem to be unsure whether the Sons of Korah wrote this or if it was simply dedicated to them. English translations vary on whether it is “by” or “for” them. Even more disturbing is the insinuation by Western scholars that this psalm accuses God of failing Israel when she was faithful. While they observe no other psalm seems to say this, they are shocked by the apparent sarcasm aimed at God, despite having nowhere else to turn.
Here we need to repeat the lesson of Job: Sometimes God does stuff that makes no sense to us, and we have no reason to expect He is accountable to us. If there is one lesson Israel most needed reminding of, particularly leading up to the Exile, it was that no human entity has God over a barrel. Even God’s Chosen People face suffering and sorrow that seems entirely unconnected with anything they understand, and it has not changed after Christ. Our God portrays Himself as a mysterious and imperious Eastern Potentate, with concerns far beyond our imagination. He is God and we are not. That this seems so foreign to Western sensibilities should serve as a warning that Christians need to pay more attention to the cultural background of Jesus, who was an Eastern man founding a new Eastern religion that was built on top an ancient Eastern religion and culture. Despite the tone here, we have no reason to suspect the psalmist isn’t aware of the bigger picture, but is simply telling how it feels.
So the psalm starts out describing how the nation had a long record of God’s covenant faithfulness. The Conquest of Canaan Land was all about God’s power and glory. The army of Israel was just along for the ride, going through the motions as commanded. Then it gets personal: “You are my king!” This is followed by a call for God to repeat in that time what He had done during all those past centuries, showing His power over the enemies of Israel. This is the boast by which Israel taunted their vanquished enemies.
Then comes the anguished cry. What happened, Lord? Now we are being slaughtered in battle. The psalmist feels the nation was sold cheaply. And it is now the enemy who taunts Israel in the name of their heathen gods. The psalmist insists they have been faithful and cannot imagine how they might have transgressed the Covenant in such a way as to bring this upon their heads. Did God fall asleep on them? This is how it feels when the inexplicable things come into our lives, and very much how it felt for Job.
The final verse is a renewed call for God to rescue them on the basis of His own character. They aren’t going to get help anywhere else.
