But thou. — The poem takes a new departure here. God is reproached for violating the covenant, and the contrast between the actual condition of things in Israel at present, and the glorious destiny promised, is feelingly set forth.
The boldness of this expostulation has scandalised the Jewish expositors. But see exactly similar language, Psalms 44:9; Psalms 44:22. The point of the poem, indeed, is gone if we soften down these expressions. The stronger the conviction of the inviolability of God’s promises, the more vehement becomes the sense of right to expostulate at their seeming violation, the delay of the fulfilment of the covenant. We may illustrate by the Latin poet’s
“Hic pietatis honos, sic nos in sceptra reponis?”
VIRGIL: Æn. 1:25.