Psalms 79
Psalm 79 is a “communal lament,” in which the people earnestly appeal to God and seek help amid the destruction of Jerusalem and the suffering that resulted. The psalm can be structured roughly as follows.
- Verses 1-4: It describes the tragic situation in which the temple is defiled and Jerusalem is destroyed by foreigners. The psalmist laments that God’s people have become a disgrace and an object of scorn because of this.
- Verses 5-7: The psalmist asks God how long these sufferings and judgments will continue, and pleads for God to judge the wicked deeds of the Gentile nations.
- Verses 8-12: He confesses Israel’s sin and requests mercy and salvation not from some past wrong but from the present situation. He also appeals to God’s justice regarding oppression and scorn.
- Verse 13: Finally, he concludes the psalm with a pledge to praise God forever, along with a confession of thanksgiving.
1verseA Psalm by Asaph. God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
2verseThey have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.
3verseThey have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.
4verseWe have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.
5verseHow long, LORD? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6versePour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,
7versefor they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.
8verseDon’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.
9verseHelp us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.
10verseWhy should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes, that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.
11verseLet the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.
12versePay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.
13verseSo we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.
Reflection on the Overall Meaning
This psalm reveals the inner life of a person of faith who appeals to God’s justice and mercy at the same time in the face of suffering and tragedy. The psalmist acknowledges that the cause of their affliction also lies in Israel’s sin, yet he still looks forward to God’s help and restoration. In the end, it emphasizes the hope of longing for God’s mercy in every situation and an attitude of responding with gratitude for that grace.
Points to Ponder
- In the reality of suffering, let’s think about how we are honestly expressing our hearts to God.
- In sorrow and request, the psalmist also confesses his own weakness and sin. Look back and consider whether there is this balance in our prayers and our faith life.
- Even amid difficulties, reflect on how an attitude of giving thanks to God and not losing hope is showing up in our lives.
Apply It to Yourself
When faced with frustration and pain in my life, and a suffocating reality, seek the courage to move beyond complaining and towards earnest pleading for God’s mercy. Also, I hope it will be a day in which you choose to trust God, just as the psalmist did, so that even in difficult moments you do not lose thanksgiving and hope.
