6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name;
6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!
6 If you're going to be angry, be angry with the pagans who care nothing about you, or your rival kingdoms who ignore you.
6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You, And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you- on kingdoms that do not call upon your name.
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
8 Earlier, before you knew God personally, you were enslaved to so-called gods that had nothing of the divine about them.
8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.
8 Before you Gentiles knew God, you were slaves to so-called gods that do not even exist.
(Read Galatians 4:8-11)
The happy change whereby the Galatians were turned from idols to the living God, and through Christ had received the adoption of sons, was the effect of his free and rich grace; they were laid under the greater obligation to keep to the liberty wherewith he had made them free. All our knowledge of God begins on his part; we know him because we are known of him. Though our religion forbids idolatry, yet many practise spiritual idolatry in their hearts. For what a man loves most, and cares most for, that is his god: some have their riches for their god, some their pleasures, and some their lusts. And many ignorantly worship a god of their own making; a god made all of mercy and no justice. For they persuade themselves that there is mercy for them with God, though they repent not, but go on in their sins. It is possible for those who have made great professions of religion, to be afterwards drawn aside from purity and simplicity. And the more mercy God has shown, in bringing any to know the gospel, and the liberties and privileges of it, the greater their sin and folly in suffering themselves to be deprived of them. Hence all who are members of the outward church should learn to fear and to suspect themselves. We must not be content because we have some good things in ourselves. Paul fears lest his labour is in vain, yet he still labours; and thus to do, whatever follows, is true wisdom and the fear of God. This every man must remember in his place and calling.
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God;
5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
5 not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God.
5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God;
5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways.
(Read 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8)
To abide in the faith of the gospel is not enough, we must abound in the work of faith. The rule according to which all ought to walk and act, is the commandments given by the Lord Jesus Christ. Sanctification, in the renewal of their souls under the influences of the Holy Spirit, and attention to appointed duties, constituted the will of God respecting them. In aspiring after this renewal of the soul unto holiness, strict restraint must be put upon the appetites and senses of the body, and on the thoughts and inclinations of the will, which lead to wrong uses of them. The Lord calls none into his family to live unholy lives, but that they may be taught and enabled to walk before him in holiness. Some make light of the precepts of holiness, because they hear them from men; but they are God's commands, and to break them is to despise God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 79:6
Commentary on Psalm 79:6-13
(Read Psalm 79:6-13)
Those who persist in ignorance of God, and neglect of prayer, are the ungodly. How unrighteous soever men were, the Lord was righteous in permitting them to do what they did. Deliverances from trouble are mercies indeed, when grounded upon the pardon of sin; we should therefore be more earnest in prayer for the removal of our sins than for the removal of afflictions. They had no hopes but from God's mercies, his tender mercies. They plead no merit, they pretend to none, but, Help us for the glory of thy name; pardon us for thy name's sake. The Christian forgets not that he is often bound in the chain of his sins. The world to him is a prison; sentence of death is passed upon him, and he knows not how soon it may be executed. How fervently should he at all times pray, O let the sighing of a prisoner come before thee, according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die! How glorious will the day be, when, triumphant over sin and sorrow, the church beholds the adversary disarmed for ever! while that church shall, from age to age, sing the praises of her great Shepherd and Bishop, her King and her God.