Psalms 79:13

Verse Psalms 79:13. We thy people] Whom thou hast chosen from among all the people of the earth.

And sheep of thy pasture] Of whom thou thyself art the Shepherd. Let us not be destroyed by those who are thy enemies; and we, in all our generations, will give thanks unto thee for ever.

ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTY-NINTH PSALM

This Psalm contains the four following parts: -

I. A complaint for the desolation of Jerusalem, Psalms 79:1.

II. A deprecation of God's anger, Psalms 79:5.

III. A twofold petition: -

1. Against the enemies of God's people, Psalms 79:6; Psalms 79:10.

2. For the people, Psalms 79:8.

IV. A doxology, Psalms 79:13.

I. The complaint is bitter, and is amplified by a climax, -

1. "The heathen are come into thine inheritance," Psalms 79:1.

2. "The holy temple they have defiled," Psalms 79:1.

3. "They have laid Jerusalem in heaps," Psalms 79:2.

4. They have exercised cruelty towards the dead.

5. "They have shed blood like water," Psalms 79:3.

6. They have not even buried those whom they slaughtered.

7. "We are become a reproach, a scorn, and a derision," Psalms 79:4.

II. Next comes the cause of their calamity.

1. God's anger was kindled because of their sins, Psalms 79:5.

2. This anger he deprecates, Psalms 79:5.

III. The twofold prayer, -

1. Against the enemy: 1. Pour out thy wrath on them, not on us, Psalms 79:6; 2. He adds the reason: "They have devoured Jacob." Psalms 79:7.

2. The second part of the prayer is in behalf of the people: 1. "Remember not against us former offences," Psalms 79:8. 2. "Let thy mercy prevent us." The reasons: "We are brought very low." 3. His prayer is directed for help to the God of salvation. 4. For deliverance and pardon of sin, Psalms 79:9.

His arguments to prevail with God: -

1. The blasphemy of the heathen, Psalms 79:10.

2. The misery of the people, Psalms 79:11. And another prayer against the enemy, Psalms 79:12.

IV. The doxology.

1. We, who are thy people, will be thankful.

2. We will leave a record of thy mercy to all generations, Psalms 79:13.