What does Psalms Chapter 78 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The Latin incipit is Deus, venerunt gentes. The speaker’s recollections, requests and future declarations remain distinct. Edition explanations remain attributed; practical case details and universal guarantees are not invented.

Chapter breakdown

The Latin incipit is Deus, venerunt gentes. The heading says church persecution relief seems to belong to Machabees' time, retaining its uncertainty. The inscription is for Asaph. The speaker says heathens entered inheritance, defiled temple and made Jerusalem a place to keep fruit. Dead servants' bodies were given to birds and saints' flesh to beasts, blood like water around Jerusalem with none to bury. This does not establish that no survivors existed, an orchard shelter or an eyewitness author's identity.

They became neighbors' reproach and scorn and ask how long anger and fiery zeal endure. They ask wrath upon nations not knowing God and kingdoms not calling His name because Jacob was devoured and his place wasted. They ask former iniquities not remembered and speedy mercy for extreme poverty, saving and forgiveness for the name's glory.

They ask God known before their eyes through vengeance for shed blood lest Gentiles ask where He is, prisoners' sighs heard and possession of children of the put-to-death by the great arm. Sevenfold reproach to neighbors is requested. God's people and pasture's sheep will thank and praise through generations. Requested preservation is not completed rescue, and this Asaph inscription does not name David as speaker.

The story inside

Opening: The Latin incipit is Deus, venerunt gentes. Development: The speaker’s recollections, requests and future declarations remain distinct. Conclusion: Edition explanations remain attributed; practical case details and universal guarantees are not invented.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The Latin incipit is Deus, venerunt gentes.
2
The speaker’s recollections, requests and future declarations remain distinct.
3
Edition explanations remain attributed; practical case details and universal guarantees are not invented.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 62735–62737
O God, the heathens are come into thy inheritance, they have defiled thy holy temple: they have made Jerusalem as a place to keep fruit.
Lines 62739–62741
They have given the dead bodies of thy servants to be meat for the fowls of the air: the flesh of thy saints for the beasts of the earth.
Lines 62757–62758
Remember not our former iniquities: let thy mercies speedily prevent us, for we are become exceeding poor.
Lines 62760–62761
Help us, O God, our saviour: and for the glory of thy name, O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins for thy name’s sake:
Lines 62767–62769
Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee. According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to death.
Lines 62774–62776
But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture, will give thanks to thee for ever. We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.