A Mizmor of Asaph
1-4
O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance. They have defiled Your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of Your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of Your chasidim(חסידים) to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury [them]. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.
5-9
How long, Adonai? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy(קנאה, kinah) burn like fire?
קנאה (kinah) = (n.) “jealousy” / “zeal”
קנה (kanah) = (v.) “be jealous” / “zealous”
6 Pour out Your anger toward the nations that did not know You, and upon the kingdoms that did not call upon Your name! 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. 8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let Your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for Your name’s sake!
10-13
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let Him be known among the nations before our eyes by the avenging of the outpoured blood of Your servants! 11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before You. According to Your great power, preserve those doomed to die! 12 Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted You, O Lord! 13 But we are Your people and the sheep of Your pasture and will give thanks to You forever. From generation to generation we will recount Your praise.
REFERENCES:
Verse 1
1Maccabees 7:17 “The flesh of Your faithful ones and their blood they poured out all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.”
Verse 2
Matthew 13:3-4 And He told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.”
Matthew 13:19 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.”
Deuteronomy 33:8-10 And of Levi [Moses] said, “Give to Levi Your Tummim, and Your Urim to Your godly[חסיד, chasid] one, whom You tested at Massah, with whom You quarreled at the waters of Meribah, who said of his father and mother, ‘I regard them not’. He disowned his brothers and ignored his children. For they observed Your word and kept Your covenant. They shall teach Jacob Your rules and Israel Your Torah. They shall put incense before You and whole burnt offerings on Your altar.” [1st occurrence]
Verse 5
Exodus 34:13-14 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim. For you shall worship no other god, for Adonai, whose name is Jealous [קנה, kanah], is a jealous God [אל קנה, El kanah].
Deuteronomy 4:24 For Adonai your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God [אל קנה, El kanah].
Numbers 5:14 And if the spirit of jealousy [קינה, kinah] comes over him and he is jealous [קנה, kanah] of his wife who has defiled herself, or if the spirit of jealousy [קינה, kinah] comes over him and he is jealous [קנה,kanah] for his wife, though she has not defiled herself… [1st occurrence]
