Psalm 79:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 79:6-13

The petitions here put up to God are very suitable to the present distresses of the church, and they have pleas to enforce them, interwoven with them, taken mostly from God's honour. I. They pray that God would so turn away his anger from them as to turn it upon those that persecuted and abused them (Ps. 79:6): ?Pour out thy wrath, the full vials of it, upon the heathen; let them wring out the dregs of it, and drink them.? This prayer is in effect a prophecy, in which the wrath of God is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 79:8

O remember not against us former iniquities ,.... Or, "our ancient iniquities", as the Septuagint; the most ancient sin of all is that of our first parents, in which we are involved, and by which we are made sinners; and for which judgment comes upon all men; and from thence flows the corruption of nature, or that original sin of our nature in which we are all conceived and born, and so are transgressors from the womb; or iniquities of former times, of our youth, as Kimchi, sins done of old,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 79:8

Remember not against us former iniquities - Visit us not for the sins of our forefathers. Speedily prevent us - Let them go before us, and turn us out of the path of destruction; for there is no help for us but in thee. We are brought very low - Literally, "We are greatly thinned." Few of us remain. 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

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:8

O remember not against us former iniquities; or, the iniquities of our forefathers (so Professor Cheyne and the Revised Version); comp. Le 26:45, "I will remember to them the covenant of their ancestors"—where the same word ( רִאשֹׁגִים ) is used. Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us; or, come to meet us (Kay, Cheyne). For we are brought very low (comp. Psalms 111:6 ; Psalms 142:6 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:8

Brought very low. I. THIS A CONDITION VERY COMMON . Sometimes it is through: 1 . Mental distress, helplessness, sorrow, despair. 2 . Or sickness of body, as Hezekiah. 3 . Or outward disaster, as in this psalm. II. ITS CAUSES GENERALLY TRACEABLE : 1 . To ourselves— our own sin or folly. 2 . To others with whom we are associated. See this verse, where "former iniquities" mean the iniquities of people who have lived before us. Parents,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:8

The trouble of our old sins. Prayer book Version, "Oh remember not our old sins." Because a man cannot forget his old sins, he is very disposed to think that God cannot forget them either. And this he will do in face of the repeated assurances of God's Word, that his forgiving includes his forgetting. Three very striking figures are used to assure us that God will not keep the memory of the sins which he has forgiven and blotted out. 1 . It is as if they were thrown "behind his... read more

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