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
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
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
How long, Lord? - See Psalms 74:1, note; Psalms 74:10, note; and Psalms 77:7-9, notes. This is the language, not of impatience, but of anxiety; not of complaining, but of wonder. It is language such as the people of God are often constrained to employ under heavy trials - trials which continue so long that it seems as if they would never end.Shall thy jealousy, burn like fire? - That is, Shall it continue to burn like fire? Shall it utterly consume us? On the word jealousy, see the notes at... read more
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen - Punish, as they deserve, the nations that have risen up against thy people, and that have brought; desolation upon the land. The word rendered here pour out is used with reference to a cup or vial, as containing a mixture for the people to drink - of intoxication, or of poison. See the notes at Revelation 16:1; notes at Psalms 11:6; notes at Isaiah 51:17; compare Jeremiah 25:15, Jeremiah 25:17; Matthew 20:22; Matthew 26:39, Matthew 26:42.That have not known... read more
For they have devoured Jacob - literally, “They have eaten.” That is, they have eaten up what the land produced.And laid waste his dwelling-place - His home; his habitation; the residence of Jacob, or of the people of Israel. read more
O remember not against us forrmer iniquities - Margin, The iniquities of them that were before us. The Hebrew may mean either former times, or former generations. The allusion, however, is substantially the same. It is not their own iniquities which are particularly referred to, but the iniquity of the nation as committed in former times; and the prayer is, that God would not visit them with the results of the sins of former generations, though their own ancestors. The language is derived from... read more
Psalms 79:6-7. Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen Though we confess that we have deserved thy wrath, yet the heathen, by whom thou hast scourged us, have deserved it much more, as being guilty of far greater impieties than we, living in gross ignorance and contempt of thee and thy worship. And, therefore, we pray thee to transfer thy wrath from us to them. But the prayer is rather to be considered as a prophecy, in which the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and... read more
Psalms 79:8. Remember not against us former iniquities The sins committed by our forefathers, and by us who have filled up the measure of their sins, for which we confess thou hast most righteously brought this desolating judgment upon us. Let thy tender mercies Upon which all our confidence is fixed; for merit and righteousness we have none; see Daniel 9:7; Daniel 9:9. Speedily prevent us Prevent our utter extirpation, which we have deserved, and have great reason to expect; for we... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 79:7
For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. This and the preceding verso occur also, almost word for word, in Jeremiah 10:25 . It is difficult to say which writer has quoted from the other. read more