The reference to God's deeds in ancient days establishes the foundation for the national lament—Israel's existence depends entirely upon God's mighty interventions on their behalf. The casting out of nations and planting of Israel's ancestors portrays God as an active agent in historical events, working through conquest and displacement to establish covenant people in the land. The emphasis on God's hand and arm in these acts establishes divine agency beyond ordinary military capability; God exercises transcendent power. The emphasis on glory and strength associates God's character with the visible manifestations of divine power in historical action. This verse sets up the psalm's central complaint—the same God who acted so decisively in the past apparently allows present suffering without corresponding intervention.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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