Psalms 79:10

10 Why should the nations ask, "Where is their God?"[a] Before our eyes, let vengeance for the shed blood of Your servants be known among the nations.

Psalms 79:10 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 79:10

Wherefore should the Heathen say, where is their God?
&c.] They boast of, and put their confidence in, and expect salvation from? he does not appear for them, he is not with them; he has forsaken them, and will not help them; than which nothing can be more afflicting and distressing to the Lord's people; see ( Psalms 42:3 ) ,

let him be known among the Heathen in our sight;
in his holiness and justice, as a God of power, and to whom vengeance belongs; let him be known by his judgments executed upon the Heathen, openly and publicly in our sight, and in the view of the whole world; see ( Psalms 9:16 ) , so it follows,

by the revenging of the blood of thy servants, which is shed;
as in ( Psalms 79:3 ) , which blood God will revenge according to the request of his people, and give them blood to drink by way of retaliation; by which means his vindictive justice will be known, and it will be seen where the God of his people is, that he is with them, and maintains their cause; see ( Revelation 6:9 ) ( Revelation 16:6 Revelation 16:7 ) ( 19:2 ) . The words may be rendered in connection with the preceding clause thus; "let it be known among the Heathen in our sight, even the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed"; though Kimchi supplies the words as we do, "by a revenging"

Psalms 79:10 In-Context

8 Do not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come to us quickly, for we have become weak.
9 God of our salvation, help us- for the glory of Your name. Deliver us and atone for our sins, because of Your name.
10 Why should the nations ask, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, let vengeance for the shed blood of Your servants be known among the nations.
11 Let the groans of the prisoners reach You; according to Your great power, preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back sevenfold to our neighbors the reproach they have hurled at You, Lord.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Ps 115:2; Jl 2:17; Mc 7:10
  • [b]. Dt 32:43; Jr 20:12; 46:10
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