Psalms 79:1-13

O God, the heathen are come into Thine inheritance.

The inhumanity of man and the mixture of good and evil

I. Here is a fact revealing the inhumanity of man and the permissive government of God.

1. What inhumanity is here! (Psalms 79:1).

(1) It is opposed to our a priori ideas of God, as a Being of infinite love.

(2) It is repugnant to that moral sense that is implanted in every man.

2. What Divine permission is hotel Why does the Almighty allow such enormities to occur?

(1) Perhaps because of the respect He has for that liberty of action with which He has endowed mankind.

(2) Because of the existence of that state of retribution which He has appointed to succeed the present life.

II. Here is a prayer revealing the mixture of good and evil in human piety.

1. Mark the good that is in this prayer (verses 8, 9, 11). In these sentences there is--

(1) A prayer to be delivered from the iniquities of froward men, that is, the bad influence of their sinful lives.

(2) A prayer that Heaven would vouchsafe His compassion to us. “Let Thy tender mercies speedily prevent us;” which means, “hasten to meet us with Thy mercy.”

(3) A prayer for these of our fellow-men who are in distress. “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee.” All these aspirations command our admiration and are worthy of our imitation.

2. Mark the evil that is in this prayer (verses 6, 10, 12). In all these clauses there is the hot flame of revenge, and this certainly is an evil. (Homilist.)

Good men God’s inheritance

Good men are here, as in many other places in the Bible, spoken of as the inheritance of God. They are His property, His portion.

I. He has no property to which He has a stronger right. Whilst good men are His, as all things are His in the universe, by creation, they are His also--

1. By special restoration. They were lost as slaves, aye, as prisoners condemned to death are lost; but He redeemed them by a stupendous sacrifice. “Ye are not your own,” etc.

2. By voluntary consecration. They have given themselves up to Him, body, soul, and spirit, which they felt to be their “reasonable service.” This is the one constant act of religion.

II. He has no property that is more valuable.

1. A soul is more valuable in itself than the material universe. A soul can think upon its Creator and love Him, can alter its course, can change its orbit, but matter cannot.

2. A soul is more serviceable to its Owner than the material universe.

(1) It gives Him a higher revelation. There is more of God seen in one soul than in all the orbs of immensity.

(2) It renders Him a higher homage--of free-thought, conscience, heart, life. (Homilist.)