This psalm almost certainly refers to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. It includes a confession of guilt—the guilt of an earlier generation. Interestingly, this aspect should be part of the solution to the problem of suffering: Has this man sinned, or his parents? And indeed, we may blame our ancestors for some of our circumstances, as long as we understand that we can, and do, contribute to the unhappiness of our children. We are the context into which they will be born, for better or worse. But the psalmist does not call God’s attention to the sins of his generation except in passing (v. 9). There is also a certain devout cleverness when he (v. 10) reminds God of what people will say if He abandons his people, as if God cared! However, such a prayer is very human and likely to bring a smile to heaven.