The Book of Psalms
Psalm 79
Psalm LXXIX · Vol. II, p. 1039
1 The psalmist complaineth of the desolation of Jerusalem. 6? He? prayeth for deliverance, 13 and promiseth thankfulness.
A psalm of1 Asaph.
1 O God, athe heathen are come into bthine inheritance; cthy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
B.C. cir. 1588.
1 Or, for.
a La.1.10. 2 Ki.23.33; 24.1,2,11; 25.1-10. Lu.21.24.
b Ex.15.17. Ps.78.54,55; 74.1-4.
2 Thed dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.
4 Weg are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
g De.28.37. Ps.44.13,14; 80.6; 137.7. Eze.35.12-14.
6 Pourj out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee,2 and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
7 Fork they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling-place.
k Ps.80.13. Je.51.34,35; 50.6,7.
8 Ol remember not against us former iniquities:3 letn thy tender mercies speedily prevent us;4 for we are brought very low.
9 Helpo us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name;5 and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
o 2 Ch.14.11. Jos.7.9. Ps.106.8; 32.1,2. Da.9.16-19. Eze.20.9,14,22.
5 For the manifestation of his glorious attributes proclaimed, see note on Ex.34.6.—C.
10 Whereforep should the heathen say, Where is their God? qlet him be known among the heathen in our sight by the 6revenging7 of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
q Ps.9.16; 58.11; 64.9; 83.9-18. Je.51.36. Re.18.24; 6.9; 16.6,7; 19.2.
6 Heb. vengeance.
7 Revenging—not the revenge of wrath and malice, as it is put forth by sinful men, but the righteous sentence which divine justice inflicts, as much for the merciful protection of the innocent as for the retributive punishment of the guilty.—C.
11 Letr the sighing of the prisoner8 come before thee: saccording to the greatness of thy power9 preserve thou those that are appointed to 1die:2
8 Such, be it remembered, was Jesus!—C.
s Nu.14.17-19. 1 Pe.1.5. Is.27.3. Ps.44.22,23.
9 Heb. thine arm.
1 Heb. reserve the children of death.
2 Appointed to die. So were the holy apostles! the servants being judged and condemned, as their Lord!—C.
Notes
Ver. 1. There is no internal note of the precise date of this psalm, and conjecture is useless. It is enough to know that it records some one of those lamentable occasions upon which a righteous God gave up to judgment a backsliding and forgetful church. But let the Gentile churches recollect that such judgments are not confined to Israel, but are prophetically suspended over themselves, should they fall into the Jewish sins of self-righteousness and unbelief, Ro. 9. 31; 10. 3; 11. 20, 21. C.
Ver. 5. These words may have been, and probably were, descriptive of the ravages of the Babylonians, when the first temple was destroyed and Jerusalem laid waste; but they were also prophetic of more terrible calamities in the distant future. To this day the poor Jews assemble at stated times outside the massive wall of the ancient temple area, and, wailing, chant these lines. P.
Reflections.—To what fearful and lasting distress and desolation is the church of God sometimes brought, while forced to bear at once the cruelty and derision of men and the manifested displeasure of God! But he will assuredly visit with his wrath such as live in ignorance of him and neglect of his worship. And though he permit his people to be oppressed for a while, he will speedily rid them of their persecutors; and often their extremity ushers in their deliverance. Humble prayers for forgiveness, poured forth in sighs and groans, and attended with deep concern for God's dishonour, will not be long unanswered. And deliverances, founded in pardon through Jesus' blood, will animate to cordial praise and thankfulness.