A prayer for God’s help amid great destruction.

1–11 Cry to God for help and mercy
12–17 Encouragement from God’s past displays of power
18–23 Appeal for God’s help on the basis of the covenant

• Verses 3–8 describe the Babylonians’ destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
• Note how verse 12 is a “hinge,” turning from the lament of verses 1–11 to the hope of verses 13–28.
• God promised to be Israel’s God—how would that motivate the psalmist to pray then?