Psalms 79

A Psalm of Asaph. This Psalm was penned, in all probability, upon the same occasion with the seventy-fourth; viz. the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar: see w f hat I have said there, in the Argument of that Psalm; and it will appear altogether unlikely, that this should have respect to the - times of Antiochus Epiphancs: as many imagine, and among the rest Theodoret: which is the more strange, because the same reason he gives there why the seventy- - fourth Psalm doth not belong to those times, (which he repeats again upon Psal. lxxx. 17.) lies as strongly against the application of this Psalm to the fury and rage wherewith that princo fell upon the Jewish nation., Whose miserable calamity under Nebuchadnezzar,we find bewailed by Jeremiah, who then lived, (Jer. x. 25.) * in the very words of the sixth and seventh verses of this. Psalm; which is some indication that they both belong to the same matter: but whether Jeremiah took them from Asaph, or Asaph from him, I cannot certainly determine. The latter is most likely; because this Psalm seems to have been written after that desolation had for some time continued. We read, indeed, in the first book of Maccabees, (vii. 16, * 17.) two other verses of this Psalm, (viz. 2, 3.) applied, to the slaughter of threescore of the devouter sort of Jews, presently after Antiochus’s death. But that author quotes them, it is plain, as words which had been writ- * ten in former days; and by him only made use of to his. purpose: which was to shew, that. the same cruelties were in great part acted over again, which their fathers had seen at the destruction of Jerusalem, vol. in.

Psalms 79:1

\J GOD, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. O God, the supreme judge of the world, thou art not ignorant, we know, of our calamity, for it comes by thy order; but give us leave to represent unto thy majesty, the sad condition of the people and place which were once very dear unto thee; for profane nations have not only invaded our (or rather thy) country, to which thou hast a peculiar title, but polluted thy own house/which was separated to thy service alone; and laid it, together with Jerusalem, in ruinous heaps.

Psalms 79:2

The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy sai7it$ unto the beasts of the earth. Under which thy servants the priests, and other holy men, whom they have slain,’ could not have the honour to be buried; nor obtain the common civility of a grave: but the dead bodies of those whom thou lovedst, they have barbarously exposed to be devoured by ravenous beasts and birds.. •

Psalms 79:3

Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. For they valued the shedding of their blood no more than the pouring out of water: which flowed in such abundance about Jerusalem, that they left not men enough alive to take care of the interment of the dead. ^'.

Psalms 79:4

We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. And we that remain lead a most despicable life, being not only scorned and abused, but openly derided, and made the sport of the Edomites and other nations, which formerly stood in awe of us. * • */ l >

Psalms 79:5

How long, Lord, wilt thou be angry? for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?. And, whichis saddest of all, we have long complained of this, and find no relief; but only in our most passionate cries to thee, O Lore]: the’ effects of whose just anger and jealousy we groan under (because we have forsaken thee, and been unfaithful to our covenant with thee), but hope they will not always last; nor proceed to make an utter end of us.

Psalms 79:6

Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. Pour them out rather (in as full a measure, and with as little pity, as they did our blood, ver. 3.) upon the Babylonians: who, though they have conquered many kingdoms, do not acknowledge thee at all, nor ascribe their successes to thy power: but to their idols whom they serve, and honour with that worship which is due to thee alone. Ver. 7- For they have devoured Jacob, and laid wastehis ♦ dwelling-place.] They have been the instruments, indeed, of thy vengeance; but have executed it with such cruelty^ that, not content with the conquest of us, they have sought our total extirpation: having depopulated our country, and made that pleasant land a wilderness; which thou gavest’ to Jacob and his seed for their habitation. -

Psalms 79:8

O remember not against ns former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us; for we are brought very low. O let not his virtue, and the covenant thou madest with him, be forgotten; when thou reckonest with us for the sins of our forefathers; the punishment of which \ we beseech thee that we may bear no longer: speed our deliverance, good Lord; and how unworthy soever we be,