79:1(A Psalm of Asaph.) O God, a the heathen are come into
thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they
have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
(a) The people cry to God against the barbarous tyranny of
the Babylonians who spoiled God's inheritance, polluted
his temple, destroyed his religion, and murdered his
people.
79:2 The b 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.
(b) The prophets show to what extremities God sometimes
allows his Church to fall to exercise their faith,
before he sets his hand to deliver them.
79:3 Their blood have they shed like water round about
Jerusalem; and [there was] none to c bury [them].
(c) Their friends and relatives did not dare to bury them
for fear of the enemies.
79:4 We are become a reproach to our d neighbours, a scorn and
derision to them that are round about us.
(d) Of which some came from Abraham but were degenerate:
and others were open enemies to your religion, but they
both laughed at our miseries.
79:5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy
jealousy e burn like fire?
(e) Will you completely consume us for our sins, before you
take us to mercy?
79:8 O remember not against us f former iniquities: let thy
tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very
low.
(f) Which we and our fathers have committed.
79:9 Help us, O God of our h salvation, for the glory of thy
name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy
name's sake.
(h) Seeing we have no other Saviour, neither can we help
ourselves, and also by our salvation your Name will be
praised: therefore O Lord, help us.
79:11 Let the sighing of the i prisoner come before thee;
according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou
k those that are appointed to die;
(i) Who though in respect to God they were justly punished
for their sins, yet in consideration of their cause
were unjustly murdered.
(k) Who were captives among their enemies and could look
for nothing but death.
79:13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee
thanks for ever: l we will shew forth thy praise to all
generations.
(l) We ought to desire no benefit from God, but on this
condition to praise his name, (Isa 43:21).
