Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 6 · Book 3 · Commentary on psalm 7
PSAL. LXXIX.
The Psalmist complaineth of the desolation of Ierusalem. 8 He prayeth for deliverance, 13 and promiseth thankefulnesse.
A Psalme of Asaph.
O God, the heathens are come into thine inheritance; they have defiled the Palace of thine Holinesse, they have laid Ierusalem on heaps. They have given the carkasse of thy servants, for meat, to the fowle of the heavens; the flesh of thy gracious Saints to the wilde beast of the earth. They have shed their bloud like waters round about Ierusalem, and there was none to bury them. We are a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffe and a scorne to them that are round about us. How long, Iehovah, wilt thou be angry to perpetuitie; shall thy jealousie burne as fire? Powre out thy wrathfull heat upō the heathens which know thee not, and upon the kingdoms which call not on thy Name. For he hath eaten up Iakob, and his habitation they have wonderously desolated. Remember not against us former iniquities; make haste, let thy tender mercies prevent us, for wee are brought very low. Helpe us, O God of our salvation, because of the glory of thy Name, and ridde us free, and mercifully cover our sinnes for thy names sake. Why shall the heathens say, where is their God? knowne be among the heathens before our eyes, the vengeance of the bloud of thy servants that is shed. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thy face; according to the greatnesse of thine arme, reserve thou the sons of death. And render to our neighbors seven-fold into their bosome, their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. And we thy people, and sheepe of thy pasture, will confesse to thee for ever; to generation and generation, we will tell thy praise.
Annotations.
OF Asaph] or to him: see Ps. 50. 1. thine inheritance] or possession; the land of Canaan invaded by the Gentiles, Exod. 15. 17. 2 Sam. 20. 19. Ier. 50. 10, 11. Lam. 1. 10. heapes] that is, ruines, Mic. 1. 6. and 3. 12.
Vers. 2. carkasse] for carkasses, as after, beast, for beasts; and prisoner, vers. 11. for prisoners: See Psal. 34. 8.
Vers. 3. none to bury] which is a thing most dishonourable, Eccl. 6. 3. Cōpare herewith, Rev. 11. 2, 9.
Vers. 5. jealousie] that is, hot wrath burne, as Psal. 89. 47. So Ezek. 36. 5. elsewhere it is said to smoake, Deut. 29. 19. this fire is the flame of Iah. Song 8. 6.
Vers. 6. which call not &c.] a note of prophanenesse, Psalm. 14. 4. This sentence Ieremie useth, Ier. 10. 25.
Vers. 8. former iniquities] iniquities of former times (or persons;) done by us, or our fathers, as Psal. 25. 7. both are joyned together, Lev. 26. 40. Lam. 5. 7. Former, and iniquities, differ in gender, yet many times such are coupled, the sense being regarded more than strict forme of words; which the Hebrew text sometime manifesteth, as tabo, 2. Sam. 8. 5. for which in 1 Chron. 18. 5. is jabo; lahen. 2 Chron. 18. 16. lahem, 1 King. 22. 17. So againe in this Psalme, vers. 10. brought low] or, weakened, emptied, impoverished. See this word, Psal. 41. 2. and 116. 6.
Vers. 10. knowne be] to wit, the vengeance, let it be open and manifest. The Chaldee translateth, Let him be revealed among the peoples, that we may see the vengeance of thy servants bloud that is shed. Here againe the words differ in gender, (as was noted before, vers. 8.) wherefore some turne it, let him (that is, God) be knowne, by the vengeance, &c. Compare herewith Deut. 32. 42, 43. Jer. 51. 36, 37.
Vers. 11. the sighing] or the groaning mournfull crie: So Psal. 102. 21. reserve] or make to remaine, that is, keepe alive from destruction; which if God had not done, they had been as Gomorrah, Isa. 1. 9. And this God promised to doe, Ezek. 6. 7, 8. and 12. 16. sonnes of death] that is, persons appointed to die, or worthy of death; in Chaldee, delivered to death: as 1 Sam. 20. 31. Deut. 25. 2. So Psal. 102. 21. and, Sonne of perdition, 2 Thes. 2. 3.
Vers. 12. seven-fold] that is, fully and abundantly. See Psal. 12. 7. into their bosome] that is, largely, and that it may affect, & cleave unto them; so Isa. 65. 7. Ier. 32. 18. See also Luk. 6. 38.