Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more?
-The contrast of the past with the sad present suggests the question, Has God, as appearances would imply, completely cast off His people forever? He feels such a supposition at variance with the known faithfulness of God. Verse 8. Doth his promise fail for evermore? - doth he cease to give His people a promise to encourage hope? It is true, the written law could never fail, and they had it still. But the Psalmist and his people desired a special promise under the national calamity which had befallen the Ten tribes, and which threatened the remaining one-Judah. Such a promise God by Isaiah gave to Hezekiah when threatened by Sennacherib. But now there is none. Compare Psalms 74:9.
Verse 9. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? - though he has so emphatically called Himself "The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth" (Exodus 34:6; Psalms 103:8). Compare Israel's similar appeal in Isaiah 63:11-15, in the day of her turning to God.