This psalm mourns the defilement of the temple and the destruction of Jerusalem. It almost certainly refers to the Babylonian conquest under Nebuchadnezzar. The psalmist cries, How long, and pleas that God remember not their former iniquities. The psalm closes with a confirmation that they are God’s people and that they will give Him thanks forever.

WHAT DOES IT SAY?

1. God’s holy temple have they ______________ and they have laid Jerusalem on __________.
2. O remember not against us former _____________.
3. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is thy ________?
4. Render unto our neighbors ____________ into their bosom.
5. We thy people and __________ of thy pasture will give thee ___________ for ever.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

1. The psalmist cries concerning the afflictions experienced by Israel, “How long, LORD?” (v.5). This cry is similar to other cries in the Bible (Psalm 13:1How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
   See All...; Psalm 74:10O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
   See All...; Psalm 89:46How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?
   See All...; Revelation 6:10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
   See All...). At what times do God’s people ask how long? What are they really asking?
2. The word prevent literally means to come before (pre means before; vent can be recognized in the famous statement of Julius Caesar: “Veni, vidi, vici” or “I came, I saw, I conquered.” Veni means I came.) Therefore, the word can be a simple statement that one event occurs before another. However, in other cases, the meaning is deeper. It may mean that someone or something got there before you did. If what preceded you is there to help you (as in Psalm 79:8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
   See All...), it can be a help. If what arrives before you do is an enemy (as in Psalm 18:18They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay.
   See All...), it will be a hindrance. This last usage of the word prevent (as a hindrance) is the one most often used today. However, the more general meaning of something that comes before is often found in the Bible. Read the following verses and tell how the word prevent is used in each of them:  Job 41:11Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.
   See All...; Psalm 59:10The God of my mercy shall prevent me: God shall let me see my desire upon mine enemies.
   See All...; Psalm 119:147I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word.
   See All...; Amos 9:10All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, which say, The evil shall not overtake nor prevent us.
   See All...; Matthew 17:25He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?
   See All...; 1Thessalonians 4:15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
   See All....
3. Verse 9 states, “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.” In what ways does this show us the way we get saved?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?

1. The psalmist complains, “thy holy temple have they defiled” (v.1). What does it mean to defile? The first biblical use of the word defile is in Genesis 34:2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
   See All.... How does this verse help you to understand the word? In the Old Testament, the Bible speaks of the defiling of the tabernacle (Leviticus 15:31Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.
   See All...; Numbers 19:13Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
   See All...), the sanctuary (Leviticus 20:3And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.
   See All...; Numbers 19:20But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him; he is unclean.
   See All...; Psalm 74:7They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
   See All...; Ezekiel 5:11Wherefore, as I live, saith the Lord GOD; Surely, because thou hast defiled my sanctuary with all thy detestable things, and with all thine abominations, therefore will I also diminish thee; neither shall mine eye spare, neither will I have any pity.
   See All...; Ezekiel 23:38), the house of God (Jeremiah 32:34But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.
   See All...; Ezekiel 9:7And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city.
   See All...), and God’s secret place (Ezekiel 7:22My face will I turn also from them, and they shall pollute my secret place: for the robbers shall enter into it, and defile it.
   See All...). Yet, the New Jerusalem is never to be defiled (Revelation 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
   See All...). What is the defiling of the temple (or tabernacle)? Why is it so important to God? How does this study help you to understand 1Corinthians 3:17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
   See All... (“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”)?
2. Verse 11 states, “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die.” What is the meaning of this verse? How can we apply this verse to today?

SUGGESTED MEMORY VERSES:

Psalm 79:8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.
See All..., 9, 11, 13