Psalm 79 (78):8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He articulates that the sins in question are not merely of a recent origin, but rather of an ancient nature, stemming from our forebears. These transgressions await divine judgment, not correction. Rather, let Your grace go before us, anticipating the day of judgment, for mercy is indeed greater than judgment (James 2:13). There exists a judgment devoid of mercy for those who have withheld compassion. Although he acknowledges our profound poverty, he emphasizes that we should recognize God's mercies as preceding our need; that our own frailty, through His grace, might be uplifted to fulfill His commandments, so we may avoid being condemned in His judgment.

You descended into poverty on our behalf, and thus we, too, embrace poverty. "The prayer of the poor man, when he is discouraged, and before the Lord he utters his prayer" (Psalm 101:1). Just as you experienced destitution despite your wealth (2 Cor. 8:10), we find ourselves in a similar state of need.

Forget not our early transgressions. Those who uttered this petition were devout and fervently committed to righteousness. The valor of the Maccabees is indeed admirable. Thus, they justly request that the nation not be judged for its past offenses. However, they did not assert that God should focus on their current faithfulness. This highlights their profound virtue, as they acknowledge their previous wrongdoings while keeping their present devotion concealed. May Thy generosity, O Lord, hasten to us, for we are in dire need. Promptly grant us Thy unyielding support, for we are lacking in all Thy care.

Do not recall our initial transgressions. The Lord speaks, urging us Jews to forget the wrongdoings of the past; He refers to these earlier sins simply as the past. He says not to remember all the prior offenses that have been committed; for when compared to them, the punishments we have faced are minimal. Theodoret observes that those who offered such prayers were indeed devout and showed considerable fervor for righteousness. The noble deeds of the Maccabees are honored. Notice that after proclaiming this, they refrained from mentioning subsequent sins; thus, God looked upon their current righteousness. This especially highlights their virtue, as they acknowledged their earlier sins while concealing their piety.

How can we find satisfaction for both past and present transgressions? It is possible that the prophet refers to the sins committed during the time in the wilderness, as these led to numerous stern warnings from God, causing the prophet to fear their recollection. “Let Thy bounties soon appear unto us, O Lord, for we are very poor.” Sin renders a person destitute, but that state of poverty deepens when sin intertwines with malice. This is why they implore the Lord to extend His mercy swiftly, fearing that their profound desolation might drive them to hopelessness and ultimately to destruction.

In order to prevent the perception that the people of God were seeking to vindicate themselves by blaming their adversaries and deeming them deserving of retribution—alleging that they endured unjust executions and that the punishment they faced was imposed by those who opposed them rather than by divine justice—they openly acknowledge both their own transgressions and those of their ancestors in this verse. They call upon the compassion of the Heavenly Father, seeking to soften His judgment. "Remember not," He states, "our first iniquities," asking that they not be punished for their past wrongdoings. "Soon let Thy bounties precede us," they plead, for they find themselves on the brink of destruction, and without divine mercy swiftly coming to their aid, they risk total ruin. Furthermore, emphasizing the necessity for immediate assistance, they express their dire condition by declaring, "How poor we are greatly impoverished," signifying a deprivation not only of material wealth but also of strength and support.

David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, authored this psalm and entrusted it to Asaph, the leader of the singers, to express a prophetic lament regarding the impending desolation of Jerusalem due to the assaults by various rebellious nations that would later occur. This psalm also contains a voice of heartfelt supplication to God from the faithful Church during times of distress. The Gentiles represent those who are deemed abominable, while God's treasured possession refers to the devoted Christian community.