Psalms 79


A PSALM OF ASAPH
This Psalm concerns the destruction of the Holy Temple and the Exile of Judah.
[Psalms 79:1] O GOD, THE HEATHEN ARE COME INTO THINE INHERITANCE; THY HOLY TEMPLE HAVE  THEY DEFILED; THEY HAVE LAID JERUSALEM ON HEAPS.                     
 
[Psalms 79:2] THE 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.                     
 
[Psalms 79:3] THEIR BLOOD HAVE THEY SHED LIKE WATER ROUND ABOUT JERUSALEM; AND THERE   WAS NONE TO BURY THEM.                     
 
[Psalms 79:4] WE ARE BECOME A REPROACH TO OUR NEIGHBOURS, A SCORN AND DERISION TO  THEM THAT ARE ROUND ABOUT US.    
Thius describes the Jews throughout much of their history when they were in exile amongst the Christian and Muslim peoples.                
<<A SCORN AND DERISION>>: S.R. Hirsch points out that the words used here are "Laag" (translated as scorn and perhaps giving rise to the English word, "laughter") and "keles" translated as derision. "Keles" notes Hirsch also means "praise".  The enemies praise themselves by referring to how Judah is downtrodden as if Judah has been disowned and is no longer a "Chosen People".
This is what happens now.
I still sometimes get letters from anti-Semites and this is what they say:
"How can the Jews be the Chosen People when they were persecuted and disliked by everyone around them?"
It was prophesied that this would happen.
This (and other segements of Scripture) Psalm prophesies it.
This in effect is another proof of the Bible.
Not that the Bible needs proof but for those of us who live in the world of Denial it is worthwhile to constantly note and be reassured by proofs such as these.
No matter when they may claim the Psalms were written everyone agrees that Psalms such as these date from before the destruction of the Second Temple.
Onl;y after the Second Temple were verses such as these really pertient and descriptive.
 
[Psalms 79:5] HOW LONG, LORD? WILT THOU BE ANGRY FOR EVER? SHALL THY JEALOUSY BURN LIKE  FIRE?                     
 
[Psalms 79:6] POUR OUT THY WRATH UPON THE HEATHEN THAT HAVE NOT KNOWN THEE, AND UPON  THE KINGDOMS THAT HAVE NOT CALLED UPON THY NAME.                     
The peoples whop persecuted the Jews were the real culprits. They deserved to be punished much mopre than Judah.
 
[Psalms 79:7] FOR THEY HAVE DEVOURED JACOB, AND LAID WASTE HIS DWELLING PLACE.
The terms "Jacob" and "Israel" interchange.  In some cases "Jacob" represents Judah and in others the Ten Tribes. Someo f the Commentators have mentioned this and suggested general rules of application.  These suggestions, form Commentator to Commentator, however appear to contradict each other. We have begun to work our general rules of application of our own but have not yet reached a final formulation.                  
 
[Psalms 79:8] O REMEMBER NOT AGAINST US FORMER INIQUITIES: LET THY TENDER MERCIES  SPEEDILY PREVENT US: FOR WE ARE BROUGHT VERY LOW.                     
 
[Psalms 79:9] HELP 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.
The glory of the Almighty is imbued in the mind of humanity whenever Judah manages to express himself  an an independent body. This especially holds when there is religious dimension involved.  Judah should realize that the Gentiles prefer  Jews who try to keep the commandments even if the interpretations of Judah are sometimes somewhat beyond their understanding.                  
 
[Psalms 79:10] WHEREFORE 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. 
The persecutors of Judah are in effect challenging the Almighty, Show Yourself!                   
 
[Psalms 79:11] LET THE SIGHING OF THE PRISONER COME BEFORE THEE; ACCORDING TO THE   GREATNESS OF THY POWER PRESERVE THOU THOSE THAT ARE APPOINTED TO DIE;                     
 
[Psalms 79:12] AND RENDER UNTO OUR NEIGHBOURS SEVENFOLD INTO THEIR BOSOM THEIR REPROACH, WHEREWITH THEY HAVE REPROACHED THEE, O LORD.
It seems that people sometimes hate Jews because they have some kind of grudge against the Almighty.                     
 
[Psalms 79:13] SO WE THY PEOPLE AND SHEEP OF THY PASTURE WILL GIVE THEE THANKS FOR EVER: WE WILL SHEW FORTH THY PRAISE TO ALL GENERATIONS.