1.
O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
Title. A Psalm. Hebrew mizmor. See App-65 .
of Asaph. The eighth of the twelve Asaph Psalms. Compare Psalms 74 , the second of the third book. See App-10 . The Psalm is said to have "hardly any regular strophical divisions". But see the Structure above.
God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .
heathen = nations.
holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .
temple. See 1 Kings 14:25 , 1Ki 14:26 ; 2 Chronicles 12:2-10 . Pillaged, but not destroyed.
on heaps = in ruins. Compare the prophecy in Micah 3:12 .
2.
The 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.
saints = men of Thy lovingkindness, or gracious ones, or beloved.
3.
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.
shed = poured out. Compare same word in Psalms 79:6 .
4.
We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
5.
How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
How long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare (Psalms 79:5 ) with (Psalms 79:10 ).
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 out. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . See note on "shed", Psalms 79:3 .
not known Thee. Compare Jeremiah 10:25 .
7.
For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
they have. So some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate. Compare Jeremiah 10:25 . But other codices read "he hath": i.e. the enemy.
Jacob. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for the riches of his descendants.
dwelling place = pasture.
8.
O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
iniquities. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .
prevent us = come to meet us. Eng. usage changed. Original sense obsolete.
9.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.
purge away = cover, or atone for. Hebrew. kaphar. See note on Exodus 29:33 .
Thy name's sake = Thine own sake. See Psalms 20:1 .
10.
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare Psalms 79:5 .
By. Supply Ellipsis from the preceding line: "[Let] the avenging . . . [be known]", &c.
11.
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;
Thy power. Hebrew Thine arm. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the power contained in and put forth by it. By Figure of speech Anthropopatheia ( App-6 ), an "arm" attributed to God.
preserve = reserve.
those that are appointed to die = sons of death. Genitive of Relation. Compare Romans 8:36 .
12.
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13.
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 .