Psalm 79:1-80:7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 79:1-5

We have here a sad complaint exhibited in the court of heaven. The world is full of complaints, and so is the church too, for it suffers, not only with it, but from it, as a lily among thorns. God is complained to; whither should children go with their grievances, but to their father, to such a father as is able and willing to help? The heathen are complained of, who, being themselves aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, were sworn enemies to it. Though they knew not God, nor owned him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 79:1

O God, the Heathen are come into thine inheritance ,.... The land of Canaan, divided among the children of Israel by lot and line for an inheritance, out of which the Heathen were cast, to make room for them; but now would come into it again; see Psalm 89:35 , and this is called the Lord's inheritance, because he gave it as such to the people of Israel, and dwelt in it himself; and the rather this is observed as something marvellous, that he should suffer Heathens to possess his own... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:1

The heathen are come into thine inheritance - Thou didst cast them out, and take thy people in; they have cast us out, and now taken possession of the land that belongs to thee. They have defiled the temple, and reduced Jerusalem to a heap of ruins; and made a general slaughter of thy people. 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1

O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance (comp. Psalms 74:2 ; Psalms 78:62 ). Israel—alike the people and the land—is "God's inheritance." Thy holy temple have they defiled . The Babylonians defiled the temple by breaking into it, seizing its treasures and ornaments ( Jeremiah 52:17-23 ), and finally setting fire to it ( Jeremiah 52:13 ). They have laid Jerusalem on heaps. This was certainly not done either by Shishak or by Antiochus Epiphanes; but was done, as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-4

Times of persecution. Such times have been repeated over and over again. They must be recognized as parts of the Divine administration, and we must inquire how they are made to bear on the spiritual interests of God's Church in the world. They are not merely historical incidents. They are not merely isolated calamities. They are only seen and apprehended aright when they are seen to be Divine permissions, and even taken up and used for high moral ends by Divine power. They are one form in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-13

The psalm consists of four strophes of four verses each, together with an epilogue consisting of one verse only. In Psalms 74:1-4 the situation is described. In Psalms 74:5-8 and Psalms 74:9-12 prayer is made to God for deliverance, and for vengeance upon the cruel enemy. Psalms 74:13 is an expression of confidence in God, and a promise of perpetual thankfulness. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-13

An imprecatory psalm. We need not be at pains to fix the date of this psalm, whether it belongs to the period of the Exile or of Antiochus Epiphanes. The words to some extent suit either. But we note in it— I. WHAT IS RIGHT FOR EVERY ONE . The writer is in sore trouble, but he takes his trouble to God. One purpose of all such trouble has already been won—the heart has been brought nearer God. II. WHAT WAS NATURAL AND NOT WRONG FOR ISRAEL , BUT WOULD ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-13

Prayer for deliverance from suffering. "Written in a time of the deepest distress; the city is desolate and the whole nation oppressed by the cruel thraldom of their heathen oppressors. They are apparently deserted by God, and their bitterness enhanced by the feeling that God was exacting from them the penalty for the iniquity of their forefathers." I. SUFFERING . 1 . God ' s Church seemed in danger of being entirely overthrown. ( Psalms 79:1-5 .) Nothing causes... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 79:1

O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance - The nations; a foreign people. See Psalms 2:1, note; Psalms 2:8; note; Psalms 78:55, note. The term is one that would be applicable to the Chaldeans, or Babylonians, and the probable allusion here is to their invasion of the holy land under Nebuchadnezzar. 2 Chronicles 36:17-21.Thy holy temple have they defiled - They have polluted it. By entering it; by removing the sacred furniture; by cutting down the carved work; by making it desolate.... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 79:1-5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 79:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:1

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

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-13

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:1-13

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 79:1

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