תהלים, פרק ע״ח, פסוק ל״ה

In moments of deep distress and trouble, the Israelites turn their attention back to God. They express a sudden recognition of His divine power, declaring that He is their ultimate source of strength, their fortress, and their refuge [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. They realize that their survival does not come from their own personal merit, but rather because they depend entirely on God. Through this realization, they hope that by showing submission and returning to Him, He will save them [אלשיך]. Furthermore, they acknowledge that the God who redeemed them is supreme over everything. He is the ultimate cause behind all events, acting completely on His own and doing exactly as He pleases throughout the world [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם].

However, the primary approach among commentators is that this renewed faith was not genuine or deeply felt. The Israelites only spoke these words outwardly. While they declared their belief out loud, their repentance was not sincere, and their hearts were not truly committed to God [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. These grand statements of faith were simply a reaction to the disasters and blows that had just struck them. In reality, their declarations were nothing more than lip service. Some even went so far as to use intellectual and logical arguments to speak lies and ultimately deny God, completely contradicting what they had claimed with their mouths [מלבי״ם].