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Exodus & Kingdom: Nation formed, law given, kingdom rises and falls

Psalms

Chapter 79

Plea for Deliverance and Restoration of God's Favor

The psalmist grieves that heathen have defiled God's holy temple, laid Jerusalem in heaps, and left the dead bodies of God's servants unburied for birds and beasts, with their blood shed like water around Jerusalem. The people have become a reproach to their neighbors, and the psalmist urgently asks how long God's anger will burn and begs Him to pour out His wrath on nations that do not know Him. He pleads that God forget past iniquities and let His tender mercies speedily come, so that His name is glorified and known among the heathen, and His servants who are appointed to die are preserved, with the blood of the slain avenged sevenfold.

Temple defiledBodies unburiedPlea for God's wrathPrayer for deliverance

1O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

5How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

9Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.

10Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.

11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

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