17. All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee. Here the psalmist urges that Israel had not turned away from her
allegiance to Jehovah. When in the midst of many griefs we can still cling to
God in obedience, it must be well with us. True fidelity can endure rough
usage. Those who follow God for what they get will leave him when persecution
is stirred up, but not so the sincere believer. Neither have we dealtfalsely in thy covenant. No idol was set up, the ordained worship was not
relinquished, God was still nationally acknowledged, and therefore the psalmist
is more earnest that the Lord should interpose. This and the succeeding verses
are suitable for the lips of martyrs; indeed the entire psalm might be called
the martyr’s complaint. Not for sin but for righteousness did the saints
suffer, not for falsehood but for truth, not for forsaking the Lord but for
following after him. Sufferings of such a sort may be very terrible, but they
are exceedingly honorable, and the comforts of the Lord will sustain those who
are accounted worthy to suffer for Christ’s sake.
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