How long, LORD? will you be angry forever? shall your jealousy burn like fire?
Read Chapter 79
Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
8. In the second place now giving utterance to an evident prayer, whence it may be perceived that the calling to remembrance of former affliction is not by way of information but prayer; "How long," he saith, "O Lord, wilt Thou be angry, unto the end? shall Thy jealousy burn like fire?" (ver. 5). He is evidently asking God not to be angry unto the end, that is, that this so great oppression and tribulation and devastation may not continue even unto the end; but that He moderate His chastening, according to that which is said in another Psalm, "Thou shalt feed us with the bread of tears, and Thou shalt give us to drink of tears in measure." For the, "how long, O Lord, wilt Thou be angry, unto the end?" hath been spoken in the same sense as if it had been said, Be not, O Lord, angry unto the end. And in that which followeth, "shall Thy jealousy burn like fire?" both words must be understood, both, "how long," and, "unto the end: "just as if there had been said, how long shall there burn ...
Name. Their ignorance was of course culpable. (Berthier)
This prayer is prophetical, (St. Augustine) or insinuates that those infidels were still more deserving of punishment. (Berthier)
By destroying Israel, the number of God's worshippers would be lessened. (Calmet)
Yet this consideration would not hinder God from chastising them; and it is not absolutely true that pagans are always more guilty. Those who know the will of their master, and do it not, shall suffer many stripes. Having the true faith, they may, however, (Haydock) be sooner converted. (Worthington)
