Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 4. Turn us, O God of our salvation ] Thou hast turned our captivity; now convert our souls. And they find a reason for their prayer in an attribute of their God; the God of their salvation. And as his work was to save, they beg that his anger towards them might cease. The Israelites were not restored from their captivity all at once. A few returned with ZerubbHebel; some more with Ezra and Nehemiah; but a great number still remained in Babylonia, Media, Assyria, Egypt, and other parts. The request of the psalmist is, to have a complete restoration of all the Israelites from all places of their dispersion.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The sense of present afflictions should not do away the remembrance of former mercies. The favour of God is the fountain of happiness to nations, as well as to particular persons. When God forgives sin, he covers it; and when he covers the sin of his people, he covers it all See what the pardon of sin is. In compassion to us, when Christ ou Intercessor has stood before thee, thou hast turned away thine anger When we are reconciled to God, then, and not till then, we may expec the comfort of his being reconciled to us. He shows mercy to those to whom he grants salvation; for salvation is of mere mercy. The Lord' people may expect sharp and tedious afflictions when they commit sin but when they return to him with humble prayer, he will make them agai to rejoice in him.
Original Hebrew שׁובנו7725 אלהי430 ישׁענו3468 והפר6565 כעסך3708 עמנו׃5973
