Psalm 79:1
79:1 A Psalm of Asaph. O God, {a} the heathen are come into
     thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they
     have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

     (a) The people cry to God against the barbarous tyranny of
         the Babylonians who spoiled God's inheritance, polluted
         his temple, destroyed his religion, and murdered his
         people.

Psalm 79:2
79:2 The {b} 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.

     (b) The prophets show to what extremities God sometimes
         allows his Church to fall to exercise their faith,
         before he sets his hand to deliver them.

Psalm 79:3
79:3 Their blood have they shed like water round about
     Jerusalem; and [there was] none to {c} bury [them].

     (c) Their friends and relatives did not dare to bury them
         for fear of the enemies.

Psalm 79:4
79:4 We are become a reproach to our {d} neighbours, a scorn and
     derision to them that are round about us.

     (d) Of which some came from Abraham but were degenerate:
         and others were open enemies to your religion, but they
         both laughed at our miseries.

Psalm 79:5
79:5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy
     jealousy {e} burn like fire?

     (e) Will you completely consume us for our sins, before you
         take us to mercy?

Psalm 79:8
79:8 O remember not against us {f} former iniquities: let thy
     tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very
     low.

     (f) Which we and our fathers have committed.

Psalm 79:9
79:9 Help us, O God of our {h} salvation, for the glory of thy
     name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy
     name's sake.

     (h) Seeing we have no other Saviour, neither can we help
         ourselves, and also by our salvation your Name will be
         praised: therefore O Lord, help us.

Psalm 79:11
79:11 Let the sighing of the {i} prisoner come before thee;
      according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou
      {k} those that are appointed to die;

      (i) Who though in respect to God they were justly punished
          for their sins, yet in consideration of their cause
          were unjustly murdered.
      (k) Who were captives among their enemies and could look
          for nothing but death.

Psalm 79:13
79:13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee
      thanks for ever: {l} we will shew forth thy praise to all
      generations.

      (l) We ought to desire no benefit from God, but on this
          condition to praise his name, Isaiah 43:21.