Psalm 79

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:13

We thy people - Whom thou hast chosen from among all the people of the earth. And sheep of thy pasture - Of whom thou thyself art the Shepherd. Let us not be destroyed by those who are thy enemies; and we, in all our generations, will give thanks unto thee for ever. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:1

Verse 1 1.O God! the heathen have come into thy inheritance. Here the prophet, in the person of the faithful, complains that the temple was defiled, and the city destroyed. In the second and third verses, he complains that the saints were murdered indiscriminately, and that their dead bodies were cast forth upon the face of the earth, and deprived of the honor of burial. Almost every word expresses the cruelty of these enemies of the Church. When it is considered that God had chosen the land of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:4

Verse 4 4We have been a reproach to our neighbors. Here another complaint is uttered, to excite the mercy of God. The more proudly the ungodly mock and triumph over us, the more confidently may we expect that our deliverance is near; for God will not bear with their insolence when it breaks forth so audaciously; especially when it redounds to the reproach of his holy name: even as it is said in Isaiah, “This is the word which the Lord hath spoken concerning him, The virgin, the daughter of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:5

Verse 5 5How long, O Jehovah! wilt thou be wroth for ever? I have already observed that these two expressions, how long and for ever, when joined together, denote a lengthened and an uninterrupted continuance of calamities; and that there is no appearance, when looking to the future, of their coming to a termination. We may, therefore, conclude that this complaint was not ended within a month or two after persecution against the Church commenced, but at a time when the hearts of the faithful... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:6

Verse 6 6.Pour out thy fury upon the heathen, who have not known thee. This prayer is apparently inconsistent with the rule of charity; for, while we feel anxious about our own calamities, and desire to be delivered from them, we ought to desire that others may be relieved as well as ourselves. It would seem, therefore, that the faithful are to be blamed in here wishing the destruction of unbelievers, for whose salvation they ought rather to have been solicitous. But it becomes us to bear in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:8

Verse 8 8Remember not against us the iniquities of former times. The godly Jews here confirm the sentiment which they had before briefly and obscurely touched upon, namely, that they had justly deserved the chastisements which had been inflicted upon them. And they present this prayer, because they could only get relief from their calamities by obtaining reconciliation with God. This is the sovereign remedy for every kind of adversity; for so long as he is angry with even our prosperity turns... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:9

Verse 9 9Help O God of our salvation! They again repeat in this verse, that whatever afflictions they endured were to be traced to the anger of God, and that they could have no comfort under them unless He were reconciled to them. Being deeply sensible that they had committed many transgressions, to strengthen their hope of obtaining pardon, they employ a variety of expressions. In the first place, as an argument to induce God to show them favor, they address him as the God of their salvation.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:10

Verse 10 10.Why should the heathen say, Where is their God? Here the people of God, in urging his name as a plea at the throne of grace: do so in a different sense from that in which they had urged it before. He extends his compassion towards us for his own name’s sake; for, as he is merciful, and will have our mouths stopped, that he alone may be accounted righteous, he freely pardons our sins. But here, the faithful beseech him that he would not allow his sacred name to be exposed to the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:11

Verse 11 11.Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee. The people of God, I have no doubt, were in captivity when the Holy Spirit endited this prayer; and, therefore, the name of prisoners is applied to them all in general, because they were so shut up within the bounds of Assyria and Chaldea, that had they stirred one foot thence, they would have incurred the penalty of death. They are called the children of death; by which is meant, that they were appointed or condemned to death in... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:12

Verse 12 12And render to our neighbors sevenfold. We have already said enough on the subject of vengeance; and here the faithful show still more clearly, that they are not so much moved by the injuries done to themselves personally, as inflamed with a holy zeal when they see the sacred name of God blasphemed, and, as it were, torn in pieces by the wicked. If this affection reign in our hearts, it will easily moderate the ungovernableness of our flesh, and if the wisdom of the Spirit is added to... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:13

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:9

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:10

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:11

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:12

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