INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 79 A PSALM OF ASAPH. This psalm was not written by one Asaph, who is supposed to live after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, or, according to some, even after the times of Antiochus, of whom there is no account, nor any certainty that there ever was such a man in... [ Continue Reading ]
O GOD, THE HEATHEN ARE COME INTO THINE INHERITANCE,.... The land of Canaan, divided among the children of Israel by lot and line for an inheritance, out of which the Heathen were cast, to make room for them; but now would come into it again; see Psalms 89:35, and this is called the Lord's inheritan... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEAD BODIES OF THY SERVANTS HAVE THEY GIVEN TO BE MEAT UNTO THE FOWLS OF THE HEAVEN,.... For such there were, both at the time of the Babylonish captivity, and in the times of Antiochus, who were good men, and served the Lord, and yet suffered in the common calamity. Nicanor, a general of Demetr... [ Continue Reading ]
THEIR BLOOD HAVE THEY SHED LIKE WATER ROUND ABOUT JERUSALEM,.... Without any concern of mind, or remorse of conscience; without any fear of God or man; as if it had been so much water only; and this they shed in great abundance: from the Apocrypha: "And when he had taken all away, he went into his... [ Continue Reading ]
WE ARE BECOME A REPROACH TO OUR NEIGHBOURS,.... That is, those that remained; so the Jews were to the Edomites, especially at the time of the Babylonish captivity, Psalms 137:7, A SCORN AND DERISION TO THEM THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT US; as the Christians in all ages have been to the men of the world, an... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW LONG, LORD, WILT THOU BE ANGRY? FOR EVER?.... That is, how long wilt thou be angry? shall it be for ever? see Psalms 85:4, for though what was done, or to be done, as before related, was or will be done by the enemies of the Lord's people, yet by his permission, and as a token of his anger and d... [ Continue Reading ]
POUR OUT THY WRATH UPON THE HEATHEN THAT HAVE NOT KNOWN THEE,.... Who had poured out the blood of the saints like water, and therefore it was a righteous thing with God to pour out the cup of wrath in his hands, and cause them to drink the dregs of it: these words, though they are in the form of an... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY HAVE DEVOURED JACOB,.... The posterity of Jacob, the people of the Jews, typical of the church of God, made havoc of by the Romish antichrist: and laid waste his dwelling place; both Jerusalem and the temple, which was done both by the Chaldeans and the Romans, and also in the times of Anti... [ Continue Reading ]
O REMEMBER NOT AGAINST US FORMER INIQUITIES,.... Or, "our ancient iniquities", as the Septuagint; the most ancient sin of all is that of our first parents, in which we are involved, and by which we are made sinners; and for which judgment comes upon all men; and from thence flows the corruption of n... [ Continue Reading ]
HELP US, O GOD OF OUR SALVATION, FOR THE GLORY OF THY NAME,.... Help us out of the troubles in which we are; enable us to bear them with patience, and without murmuring, while it is thy pleasure to continue them; assist us against our powerful enemies, and strengthen us to do our duty; afford us mor... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE SHOULD THE HEATHEN SAY, WHERE IS THEIR GOD?.... They boast of, and put their confidence in, and expect salvation from? he does not appear for them, he is not with them; he has forsaken them, and will not help them; than which nothing can be more afflicting and distressing to the Lord's peo... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE SIGHING OF THE PRISONER COME BEFORE THEE,.... Such as were so in a literal or spiritual sense; and the sighs and groans of such are not hid from the Lord; they come up into his ears as did the sighing and groaning of the children of Israel when in Egypt, Exodus 2:23, ACCORDING TO THE GREATN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND RENDER UNTO OUR NEIGHBOURS SEVEN FOLD INTO THEIR BOSOM, ec.] Not seven fold for one, as the Targum paraphrases it, or a seven fold punishment for one sin; but that he would recompense their sins, or punish for them, and take vengeance on them, largely, abundantly, though not beyond measure, or e... [ Continue Reading ]
SO WE THY PEOPLE, AND SHEEP OF THY PASTURE,.... Who were the people of God, not by creation and providence only, as all men are, being his creatures, and provided for by him; but by special choice, and by covenant grace: and "the sheep of his pasture"; whom he feeds as a shepherd does his flock, pro... [ Continue Reading ]