Psalms 79:1-13 - The Biblical Illustrator

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance.

The inhumanity of man and the mixture of good and evil

I. Here is a fact revealing the inhumanity of man and the permissive government of God.

1. What inhumanity is here! (Psalms 79:1-3).

(1) It is opposed to our a priori ideas of God, as a Being of infinite love.

(2) It is repugnant to that moral sense that is implanted in every man.

2. What Divine permission is hotel Why does the Almighty allow such enormities to occur?

(1) Perhaps because of the respect He has for that liberty of action with which He has endowed mankind.

(2) Because of the existence of that state of retribution which He has appointed to succeed the present life.

II. Here is a prayer revealing the mixture of good and evil in human piety.

1. Mark the good that is in this prayer (verses 8, 9, 11). In these sentences there is--

(1) A prayer to be delivered from the iniquities of froward men, that is, the bad influence of their sinful lives.

(2) A prayer that Heaven would vouchsafe His compassion to us. “Let Thy tender mercies speedily prevent us;” which means, “hasten to meet us with Thy mercy.”

(3) A prayer for these of our fellow-men who are in distress. “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee.” All these aspirations command our admiration and are worthy of our imitation.

2. Mark the evil that is in this prayer (verses 6, 10, 12). In all these clauses there is the hot flame of revenge, and this certainly is an evil. (Homilist.)

Good men God’s inheritance

Good men are here, as in many other places in the Bible, spoken of as the inheritance of God. They are His property, His portion.

I. He has no property to which He has a stronger right. Whilst good men are His, as all things are His in the universe, by creation, they are His also--

1. By special restoration. They were lost as slaves, aye, as prisoners condemned to death are lost; but He redeemed them by a stupendous sacrifice. “Ye are not your own,” etc.

2. By voluntary consecration. They have given themselves up to Him, body, soul, and spirit, which they felt to be their “reasonable service.” This is the one constant act of religion.

II. He has no property that is more valuable.

1. A soul is more valuable in itself than the material universe. A soul can think upon its Creator and love Him, can alter its course, can change its orbit, but matter cannot.

2. A soul is more serviceable to its Owner than the material universe.

(1) It gives Him a higher revelation. There is more of God seen in one soul than in all the orbs of immensity.

(2) It renders Him a higher homage--of free-thought, conscience, heart, life. (Homilist.)

Related Commentaries of Psalms 79:1

Psalms 79:1-13

1 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

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.

3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

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?

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

8 O remember not against us formera iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

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.

10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revengingb of the blood of thy servants which is shed.

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;

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 allc generations.