Bible Commentaries
Psalms 79

Verse 1

PSALM LXXIX

The psalmist complains of the cruelty of his enemies and the

desolations of Jerusalem, and prays against them, 1-7.

He prays for the pardon and restoration of his people, and

promises gratitude and obedience, 8-13.

NOTES ON PSALM LXXIX

The title, A Psalm of Asaph, must be understood as either applying to a person of the name of Asaph who lived under the captivity; or else to the family of Asaph; or to a band of singers still bearing the name of that Asaph who flourished in the days of David; for most undoubtedly the Psalm was composed during the Babylonish captivity, when the city of Jerusalem lay in heaps, the temple was defiled, and the people were in a state of captivity. David could not be its author. Some think it was composed by Jeremiah; and it is certain that the sixth and seventh verses are exactly the same with Jeremiah 10:25: "Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him; and have made his habitation desolate."

Verse Psalms 79:1. The heathen are come into thine inheritance — Thou didst cast them out, and take thy people in; they have cast us out, and now taken possession of the land that belongs to thee. They have defiled the temple, and reduced Jerusalem to a heap of ruins; and made a general slaughter of thy people.

Verse 2

Verse Psalms 79:2. The dead bodies of thy servants — It appears that in the destruction of Jerusalem the Chaldeans did not bury the bodies of the slain, but left them to be devoured by birds and beasts of prey. This was the grossest inhumanity.

Verse 3

Verse Psalms 79:3. There was none to bury them.] The Chaldeans would not; and the Jews who were not slain were carried into captivity.

Verse 4

Verse Psalms 79:4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours — The Idumeans, Philistines, Phoenicians, Ammonites, and Moabites, all gloried in the subjugation of this people; and their insults to them were mixed with blasphemies against God.

Verse 5

Verse Psalms 79:5. How long, Lord? — Wilt thou continue thine anger against us, and suffer us to be insulted, and thyself blasphemed?

Verse 6

Verse Psalms 79:6. Pour out thy wrath — Bad as we are, we are yet less wicked than they. We, it is true, have been unfaithful; but they never knew thy name, and are totally abandoned to idolatry.

Verse 7

Verse Psalms 79:7. Laid waste his dwelling-place. — The Chaldee understands this of the temple. This, by way of eminence, was Jacob's place. I have already remarked that these two verses are almost similar to Jeremiah 10:25, which has led many to believe that Jeremiah was the author of this Psalm.

Verse 8

Verse Psalms 79:8. Remember not against us former iniquities — Visit us not for the sins of our forefathers.

Speedily prevent us — Let them go before us, and turn us out of the path of destruction; for there is no help for us but in thee.

We are brought very low. — Literally, "We are greatly thinned." Few of us remain.

Verse 9

Verse Psalms 79:9. Purge away our sins — כפר capper, be propitiated, or receive an atonement (על חטאתינו al chattotheynu) on account of our sins.

Verse 10

Verse Psalms 79:10. Where is their God? — Show where thou art by rising up for our redemption, and the infliction of deserved punishment upon our enemies.

Verse 11

Verse Psalms 79:11. The sighing of the prisoner — The poor captive Israelites in Babylon, who sigh and cry because of their bondage.

Those that are appointed to die — בני תמותה beney themuthah, "sons of death." Either those who were condemned to death because of their crimes, or condemned to be destroyed by their oppressors. Both these senses apply to the Israelites: they were sons of death, i.e., worthy of death because of their sins against God; they were condemned to death or utter destruction, by their Babylonish enemies.

Verse 12

Verse Psalms 79:12. Sevenfold into their bosom — That is, Let them get in this world what they deserve for the cruelties they have inflicted on us. Let them suffer in captivity, who now have us in bondage. Probably this is a prediction.

Verse 13

Verse Psalms 79:13. We thy people — Whom thou hast chosen from among all the people of the earth.

And sheep of thy pasture — Of whom thou thyself art the Shepherd. Let us not be destroyed by those who are thy enemies; and we, in all our generations, will give thanks unto thee for ever.

ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-NINTH PSALM

This Psalm contains the four following parts: -

I. A complaint for the desolation of Jerusalem, Psalms 79:1-5.

II. A deprecation of God's anger, Psalms 79:5.

III. A twofold petition: -

1. Against the enemies of God's people, Psalms 79:6-7; Psalms 79:10-12.

2. For the people, Psalms 79:8-9.

IV. A doxology, Psalms 79:13.

I. The complaint is bitter, and is amplified by a climax, -

1. "The heathen are come into thine inheritance," Psalms 79:1.

2. "The holy temple they have defiled," Psalms 79:1.

3. "They have laid Jerusalem in heaps," Psalms 79:2.

4. They have exercised cruelty towards the dead.

5. "They have shed blood like water," Psalms 79:3.

6. They have not even buried those whom they slaughtered.

7. "We are become a reproach, a scorn, and a derision," Psalms 79:4.

II. Next comes the cause of their calamity.

1. God's anger was kindled because of their sins, Psalms 79:5.

2. This anger he deprecates, Psalms 79:5.

III. The twofold prayer, -

1. Against the enemy: 1. Pour out thy wrath on them, not on us, Psalms 79:6; 2. He adds the reason: "They have devoured Jacob." Psalms 79:7.

2. The second part of the prayer is in behalf of the people: 1. "Remember not against us former offences," Psalms 79:8. 2. "Let thy mercy prevent us." The reasons: "We are brought very low." 3. His prayer is directed for help to the God of salvation. 4. For deliverance and pardon of sin, Psalms 79:9.

His arguments to prevail with God: -

1. The blasphemy of the heathen, Psalms 79:10.

2. The misery of the people, Psalms 79:11. And another prayer against the enemy, Psalms 79:12.

IV. The doxology.

1. We, who are thy people, will be thankful.

2. We will leave a record of thy mercy to all generations, Psalms 79:13.