John Calvin Commentary Psalms 79:8

"Remember not against us the iniquities of our forefathers: Let thy tender mercies speedily meet us; For we are brought very low." — Psalms 79:8 (ASV)

Remember not against us the iniquities of former times. The godly Jews here confirm the sentiment they had previously, briefly and obscurely, touched upon: namely, that they had justly deserved the punishments inflicted upon them. And they present this prayer because they could only get relief from their calamities by obtaining reconciliation with God.

This is the sovereign remedy for every kind of adversity; for as long as He is angry with us, even our prosperity turns out to be unproductive of benefit and happiness. By the iniquities of former times, some understand the sins committed by the fathers. Others think that the sins which the suppliants themselves committed in their childhood and youth are intended.

But the expression, I presume, has a more extensive meaning, containing a confession not only of one or two offenses, and these only recently committed, but an acknowledgment that they had for a long time been involved, along with their fathers, in manifold and old transgressions. Thus they acknowledge a long-continued stubbornness, in which they had hardened themselves against God.

This acknowledgment corresponds with the rebukes the prophets administered to them, for sacred history testifies that the punishment of the captivity was suspended until God had proved from experience that their perversity was incurable.

Nor should it surprise us to find the children praying that God would not impute to them the iniquity of their fathers, when we consider that the law declares that God casts the sins of the fathers into the bosom of their children, and takes vengeance upon their iniquities unto the third and fourth generation (Exodus 20:5).

The contrast between the expressions make haste and the iniquities of former times is noteworthy. If God had called the Israelites to a strict account for all the sins they had committed during the three or four hundred years prior, the time of their deliverance would have been long delayed.

The faithful, therefore, implore Him to forget their former offenses and to make haste to help them. As their sins proved the great obstacle and cause of delay, we can see the appropriateness with which they further implore that the compassions of God might speedily meet them.