This psalm was written for a day when some Divine deliverance had been wrought for the people of God. Yet the singer is conscious that in the heart of the people there remain dispositions not in harmony with the will of God. It is about the time when God has restored, "brought back the captivity of Jacob". (Leviticus 26:44-45). This is looking to the great tribulation when the people, Jacob, that is the twelve tribes, have been brought back by God to His land.
Religion desire fills their minds but there abides with them a deadness and a lack of joy. And yet further the Psalmist is confident that God, the LORD, had purposes of the highest and best for His own; and moreover, that He will accomplish these purposes.
These three matters are evident in the three fold movement of: thanksgiving offered (v. 1~3); of petition presented (v. 4~7); and of confidence affirmed (v. 8~13). In the thanksgiving the relation between captivity and sin is remembered, and the ending of the first by the putting away of the second is declared. Yet the imperfection of their loyalty crates the long discipline of sorrow and shame, and the prayer is that God will turn the people to Himself. And this is surely His will, for when the Psalmist pauses to hear what the LORD will say, he hears tender and gracious words which tell of salvation, first in the spiritual realm, and then in the material. In this psalm which breathes the spirit of the tender compassion of God, the name The LORD (YHVH) is the predominant one.
There is uttered a prayer for a renewed manifestation of the same mercy during present sufferings from the anger of God (v. 5~8). The intention is then announced of listening with gladness to God's pledge of peace to His people, because its fulfilment in their deliverance was certain to those who really feared Him (v. 9~10). This fulfilment with its wealth of blessings is finally described in verses 11~13), which bear a great resemblance to Isaiah 39:16; 45:8; 59:14. We receive an impression from the Psalm which compels us to assign its composition to the period succeeding a return to the land.
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