This Psalm was probably written in response to the Babylonian defeat of Jerusalem. Then the nation invaded Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Many Israelites were killed, and many others taken off into exile as prisoners. The nation was utterly humiliated.
Although it was Babylon that had done this, the Psalmist saw this as a sign of God's anger against Israel, and indeed it was so, as the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel make clear. The Psalmist calls on God to shower His wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge Him.
Then he calls out for mercy and forgiveness, and to be set free from the sins of previous generations.
The Psalm closes with another call for God to execute judgement on the nations, with the hope that God's name will be honoured and that the Israelites would praise God again.
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