Psalm 79

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

There is nothing that catches God by surprise, not even what we pray about.  The psalmist is speaking to God about a problem that is happening to the people of God.  God promised to keep us.  However, he hears us when we cry.  How did the people of God drift so far from His safety?  What happened that they fell into this situation?

(Heap): A disorderly pile of objects haphazardly on top of each other.

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.

  The bodies were left in the open and birds and animals feast on their remains.  There were none left to bury. (Jezebel's body was destroyed and there was very little left of her for burial.)

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

Each time the children of Israel disobeyed God, God many times turn them into the hand of the enemy or He left them to defend themselves.

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

We were those who people looked up to, but now we stink in the nostrils of our enemies.  We are cast aside and even mocked by the people who do not honor You.

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

When will you allow us to return unto Your good graces?  How long will You treat us as enemies?

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

Fight on our behalf.   Make the enemies leave us alone.  They have not known You but we do.   God told us that if we know Him and we disobey Him we will suffer greatly because we knew better.  We don't trust God when we live in sin and we know what we do is wrong.

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

Our city given to us is wasted.

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

We did wrong and we want You to forgive and heal us.  We are brought very low.  It is harder than we think and more than we can bear.

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.

Help us.  Do it for your reputation.  Cleanse us from our sins and let people know we belong to You.

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 heathen are making fun of us.  Let the heathens know you are on our side and you will take revenge on our behalf.

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;

We are prisoners and we want to be delivered.  There are those who are on death row, spare them, Lord.

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

For what our evil relatives/enemies have done to us, repay them seven times more for causing us to have so much pain.  They did this to You, 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.

We will thank you for answering our plea.  We are Your people, like sheep, we need You.  We will let all know who you are and this song will be played for many generations to come.