John Calvin Commentary Psalms 89:46

"How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? [How long] shall thy wrath burn like fire?" — Psalms 89:46 (ASV)

How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? After pouring out his complaints regarding the sad and calamitous condition of the Church, the Psalmist now turns to prayer. From this it follows that the language of lamentation he had expressed until now, although it emanated from carnal sense, was nevertheless joined with faith.

Unbelievers, in the agitation of trouble, may sometimes engage in prayer, yet whatever they ask proceeds from insincere lips. But the prophet, by connecting prayer with his complaints, testifies that he had never lost his confidence in the truth of the Divine promises.

Regarding this manner of expression, How long, for ever? we have spoken on Psalm 79:5, where we have shown that it indicates a long and continued succession of calamities. Moreover, by asking How long God will hide himself, he implicitly suggests that all will be well as soon as God is pleased to look upon His chosen people with a gracious countenance.

In the second clause of the verse, he again mentions as the reason why God did not graciously look upon them with fatherly favor, that His anger was incensed against them. The obvious conclusion from this is that all the afflictions we endure proceed from our sins, as these are the scourges of an offended God.