A Brief Explication of the Other Fifty Psalms, Psalm 79
PSAL. LXXIX. A Psalme of Asaph.
THe scattered and captive people of God, after the destruction of Ierusalem and of the Temple, do put up a pitiful complaint unto God, to ver. 6. and do pray for a merciful reliefe to his Church, and for avenging their blood upon their enemies. As for the complaint, in it they lament four things. First, the profanation and desolation of the Lords inheritance and Temple by the heathen their enemies, ver. 1. Secondly, the barbarous cruelty and inhumanity used against them, ver, 2, 3. Thirdly, the contempt and mocking of their wicked neighbours in their misery, ver. 4. Fourthly …as they acknowledge this to proceed from Gods displeasure, so they lament that it is like to be everlasting, ver. 5.
In their prayer, in the latter part of the Psalme, they crave: First, justice upon their enemies, ver. 6. 7. Secondly, pardon of their own sins, and deliverance out of their misery, for sundry reasons, ver, 8, 9, 10, 11. Thirdly, that God wol…d reward their inhumane neighbours who mocked at their misery, ver. 12. And do close their petition with a promise of praise and thanks unto God by the Church in all succeeding ages. Whence learn in general. 1. The Church of God may be brought so low, as here we see once it was 2 So many of Gods people as live to see such publike calamities and misery, must not despaire of a recovery, but should and may run to God and pray for the Church in affliction, expecting order after consusion, and after dissipation, to see a gathering of Gods people again, and after apparent overthrow of Religion a restoring of Gods publick worship, as the example of the Psalmist in this Psalm doth teach, whose courage and confidence in God for relief of the Lords people is wonderful, as the condition of the Church at that time seemed to be desperate. As the holy Ghost, the enditer of this Psalm, doth give warning here to all Churches in all ages, to beware to provoke the Lord unto wrath, lest he deal with them, as he dealt with those Israelites: so doth he give warrant to all afflicted Churches, to follow the example of this afflicted Church, to run to God for help: for which cause he hath given this Psalme to be made use of by the Church, A Psalme of Asaph.
Ver. 1. O God the heathen are come into thine inheritance, thy holy people have they defiled, they have laid Ierusalem on heapes.
In the first part of this Lamentation; Learn, 1. Albeit there be no place nor person, how near and dear soever unto God, exempted from judgement when they are polluted, yet the wicked instruments of the judgement poured out upon the place and persons consecrated to God, may justly be complained of, as here we see; O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance. 2. When Gods people, who should be holy, defile themselves and Gods Ordinances, it is no wonder that by prophane persons they be punished, and their holy things polluted; Thy holy Temple have they defiled; that is, they have abused it, dealt with it, as a vile and pro…ane thing. 3. Albeit people in Covenant with God have disgraced their holy profession, and polluted his ordinances, and be justly plagued by seeing holy ordinances put over in the hands of profane men for their cause, yet neither will the Lord disclaime his interest in his own ordinances, nor do his people lose right and interest in God and in his ordinances, when they take with their punishment, and do make their addresse to God for reliefe; Thy holy Temple have they defiled. 4. When God giveth over religious ordinances in the hands of profane men to be abused, no wonder if they that are the cause of this, do suffer in their civil state also; no wonder the City suffer with the Temple: Ierusalem have they laid on heaps.
Ver. 2. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowles of the heaven: the flesh of thy Saints unto the beasts of the earth.
3. Their blood have they shed like water round about Ierusalem, and there was none to bury them.
From the second part of the lamentation and complaint… Learn, 1. Falling in battel before the enemies may prove that God hath a just cause against the party overcome, but cannot prove that the victors cause is good, presuppose both parties had appealed to God: for there the heathen do overcome, and the Lords servants and Saints are slaine, and they who are lest alive do complaine of the victors, and take with their punishment at Gods hand, who doth follow his own quarrel as he pleaseth, and will not at mens pleasure sit down and decide appellations, when they call to him, or stand unto … time set down by men to him, to determine their controversie: O God, the … are come into thine inheritance, &c. The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat to the fowles. a…. Heavy and fearful are the judgements temporal, which may come upon Gods people, when they have provoked God to wrath against them for their sinnes, even such as are here set down, to wit, overturning of the outward face of Religion, destruction of their lands, cities and estate, killing of them in abundance, and want of burial when they are dead. 3. As not by outward prosperitie, so also not by outward calamities, is the love of hatred of God to be known; the same sort of outward dispensation may befall both; The dead bodies of thy servants they have given to be meat to the fon…es of heaven. 4. No tempered wrath hot calamities whatsoever can separate the Lords children from Gods love and estimation of them, nor untie the relations between God and them: for here, albeit their carcases fall, & be devoured with the fowls of the heaven and beasts of the earth, yet remaine they the Lords servants and Saints under these sufferings. The dead bodies of thy servants &c. the flesh of thy Saints. 5. The slaughter of the Lords people, and the scattering of such as escape of them may be so great, when his anger is kindled against them, that none may be found to bury the slaine, but the dead may lie unburied; Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them. 6. Nothing is to be expected of Gods enemies towards Gods people when they fall in their hands, but savage cruelty and barbarous inhumanity, for which they are to answer unto God, to whom the complaint of the living and the cry of the blood of the slaine doth call for vengeance, as the experience of the Lords people in this place doth teach.
Ver. 4. We are become a reproach to our neighbours: a scorne and derision to them that are round about us.
From the third part of the complaint and lamentation; Learn, 1. In the day of Gods displeasure against his people, yea in the day of the trial of the faith and patience of his people, no wonder that such as should most pity our calamity, and be comfortable unto us, rejoyce to see us in misery, yea and make our calamity a matter of reproach to us, a matter of scorne and derision of us; for here it is said, We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorne and derision to them that are round about …. 2. When God doth afflict his people, all their priviledges, and the Religion which they professe, do become contemptible and ridiculous to the ungodly, who do not esteem either of Gods ordinances or of his people, but when they are adorned with outward prosperity. The Lords people were seared and honoured by them that were about them, when God did fight for them, and countenanced them; but now they lament, We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorne and derision to them that are round about us. 3. To be mocked in misery, and specially of them by whom we should be comforted, is amongst the saddest passages of our affliction: Therefore here, is this part of their lamentation set down, after the formerly mentioned misery, as a load above a burden, and that which did imbitter their sorrow most of all, because it did reflect upon their Religion, their faith, their interest in God, as if all had been ridiculous.
Ver. 5. How long, LORD, wilt thou be … gry, for ever? shall thy jealousie burne like fire?
From the fourth part of the lamentation; Learn, 1. The Lords displeasure and anger against his people, is more heavy to them then all the calamities which have lighted on them; How long wilt thou be angry? putteth the capstone on their prisonhouse. 2. Guilty consciences cannot but apprehend wrath, when their plagues are heavy, yea they cannot escape a conflict with the fear of everlasting wrath, when his hand doth lie long upon them. How long, Lord? Wilt thou be angry for ever? 3. When Gods people do fall from their matrimonial Covenant with God, and their heart and eyes do go a whoring after idols, no wonder the Lord be jealous, and his wrath for this be most hot, and be like to devour unto utter destruction: Shall thy jealousie burne like fire? 4. Whatsoever hath been our calamity, whosoever have been the instruments of our misery, yea how great soever our provocation of Gods anger hath been: it is wisdome, as to expound all the malice and cruelty of men to be the effects of Gods anger and jealousie, and that his anger and jealousie is kinled by our sinnes: so to runne to God, and lament the whole matter before him, and deprecate his wrath, as the Church doth here; How long, Lord? Wilt thou be angry for ever?
Ver. 6. Poure cut thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdomes that have not called upon thy Name.
7. For they have devoured Iacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
In the latter part of the Psalme is their prayer; and first, for justice and vengeance on their enemies. Whence learn, 1. Albeit it be not lawful for us in our own quarrel to pray against our enemies, yet in the Churches quarrel, in the Lords quarrel it is lawful to pray in general against the incorrigible and desperate enemies of God and his people, as here the Church is taught. 2. Albeit temporal judgements may overtake Gods visible Church, when the open enemies of Gods people and of his true worship are spared, yet at length the fulnesse of wrath is reserved for the ungodly, one and all: Poure out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee. 3 Prayer to God, and invocation of his Name upon all occasions, as Gods honour and mens necessities and duties publick, private, and secret do call them to come before him, is a mark differencing Gods people from the ungodly, whether professed or real heathens, and a mark of such as shall finde mercy distinguishing them from the object of Gods wrath: Poure out thy wrath upon the Kingdomes that have not called on thy Name. 4. Unto the tight worshipping of God the true knowledge of God is required: for how shall men call upon God in whom they believe not, whom they know not, or whom to know they care not? Therefore such as are strangers from God here, are described by this They have not known thee, they have not called on thy Name. 5. The members of a visible Church may be scattered one from another, that they cannot in one place joyntly and professedly enjoy publick Ordinances; as here, Iacob is devoured, and his dwelling place laid waste. 6. The heaviest article in the ditty of the ungodly is their being either accessory to, or active in the overthrow of Gods people; Poure out thy wrath on them; for they have devoured Iacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
Ver. 8. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
9. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the the glory of thy Name: and deliver us, and purge away our sinnes for thy Names sake.
10. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be knowne among the heathen in our sight, by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.
11. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee, according to the greatnesse of thy power: preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
Secondly they pray for pardon of their sins, and delivery from the misery which their sins had procured; unto which Petitions sundry reasons are added for strengthening of the faith of the Church. Whence learne, 1. The sense of sin maketh the afflicted to be patient, and submissive unto God without murmuration, and their lamentation for their misery doth resolve in prayer, and in a prayer for remission of sin; O remember not against us former iniquities. 2. The onelyonly right way to remedy a miserable condition, is to sue for remission of sins, and for the renewed evidence of reconciliation: for before the Church here do ask any thing for their outward delivery, they pray, O remember not against us former iniquities. 3. A peoples long continuance in sin doth furnish ground of fear of the long continuing of begun wrath and judgement upon them, and therefore they pray for the forgetting of their sin, that the quarrel being the judgement may be removed; O remember not against us our former iniquities. 4. When warth and justice are like to consume us, and quickly make an end of us, a refuge is open to us in Gods tender mercies, who cannot destroy utterly a sinner fleeing to his mercy; Let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low. 5. When the Lords people are brought low, let them not look for a lifting up or reliefe, except from God onelyonly, therefore say they, here, Help us, O Lord. 6. Such as have laid hold on God for salvation promised in the Covenant, may also look for particular deliveries out of particular troubles, as appendices of the main benefit of salvation; Therefore, Help, us, O God of our salvation, say they. 7. When men do ask any thing, the granting whereof may glorify God, they may confidently expect to have it; and in speciall, when God may be so glorified, as his people may also be preserved and comforted: Help us (say they) for the glory of thy Name, and deliver us. 8. As the conscience of sin useth to step in oftner between us and mercy, so must we call oftner for remission of sinne; for earnest affection can double and treble the same Petition without babling: Deliver us, and purge away our sins. 9. It is the glory of the Lord to forget sin, and when remission of sinnes is prayed for according to Gods promise, the Lords glory is engaged for the helping of faith to obtain; Purge away our sin for thy Names sake. 10. Idolaters are ready to insult over Gods people and their religion, and over God also, when the Church is afflicted, and this dishonour of God true Saints cannot endure; Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? 11. Howsoever the Lord will punish his own people for their sins in the sight of the heathen, yet will he not suffer the heathen long to insult over his people, or over the true religion; but by shewing kindnesse to his people, will have the heathen to know that he is their God, who will answer for himself, and for his people, and their religion also; Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? 12. As it doth belong …o Gods honour to deliver his people in their distresse, so also to punish the persecutors of his Church and blasphemers of his Name; Let him be known among the heathen in our sight, by avenging the blood of thy servants. 13. It is a comfort and encouragement of living Saints, to see God avenge the blood of dead Saints slain by their enemies; Let him be knowne in our sight, by avenging the blood of thy servants. 14. As it is no wonder to see griefe and sighing to be the cheer of Gods people when the Lord hath scattered them, and they are captive prisoners under their oppressors; so may we be sure their tears and sighing shall not be misregarded by God: Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee. 15. Albeit it seem impossible to deliver Gods people, when they are as condemned prisoners, destinated by their enemies unto destruction, yet saith seeth delivery very possible to Gods omnipotency: According to the greatnes of thy power, preserve thou those that are appointed to die.
Ver. 12. And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosome, their reproach where with they have reproached thee, O Lord.
13. So we thy people, and sheep of thy pasture, will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
In the last place, they pray for vengeance on their wicked neighbours, who mocked them and their Religion in the time of their calamity: and thus they close their prayer with a promise to praise God for the granting of their petitions. Whence learn, 1. Such as rejoyce at the calamity of Gods people, and mock them in their misery, especially neighbours who should be most comfortable, as they are in some respect more guilty then open oppressors; so shall they be most severely plagued of God for their cruelty: Render unto our neighbours seven-fold into their besom their reproach. 2. The mocking of Gods people in their misery, especially for their Relgion, is the mocking of God, and reproaching of him whose servants they are; Render them the reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 3. When God taketh vengeance on the enemies of the Church, then is it seen what interest God hath in that despised company: for the Church here is confident, that then their relations unto God, and Gods care of them, shall be evident; So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture shall give thee thanks: that is, we shall come out of distresse, and gather our selves together, and professe our selves to be thy people, and chosen flock, and shall praise thee. 4. The troubles of the Lords people, and their mourning, are but temporal, and of short endurance: but their deliverance and comfort, when their troubles are ended, is everlasting, and no lesse then everlasting duration can suffice them to praise God and thank him for his kindnesse; So we thy people shall give thee thanks for ever. 5. As the Lords work for his distressed people calleth for thanks at their hands, so also doth it call for praise at their hands, who shall hear of it; and they whose duty it is to give thanks, ought also according to their power, to stirre up others to praise God with themselves, and to stirre up also the posterity in all succeeding ages, as the Church here promiseth: We will shew forth thy praise to all generations.