Psalms79

Psalm 79 laments the devastation of Jerusalem and the defilement of God's temple by the heathen, who have left the bodies of God's servants unburied. The people cry out to the Lord, questioning His enduring anger and pleading for His wrath to be poured upon their enemies. They appeal for God's help and deliverance, not for their own sake, but for the glory of His name, promising perpetual thanks and praise.

Jerusalem and Temple Desecrated

1
A psalm of Asaf: God, the pagans have entered your heritage. They have defiled your holy temple and turned Yerushalayim into rubble. ​
2
They have given the corpses of your servants as food for the birds in the air, yes, the flesh of those faithful to you for the wild animals of the earth. ​
3
All around Yerushalayim they have shed their blood like water, and no one is left to bury them. ​
4
We suffer the taunts of our neighbors, we are mocked and scorned by those around us. ​

How Long, O Lord?

5
How long, ADONAI? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? ​
6
Pour out your wrath on the nations that don't know you, on the kingdoms that don't call out your name; ​
7
for they have devoured Ya'akov and left his home a waste.

Plea for Mercy and Divine Vindication

8
Don't count past iniquities against us, but let your compassion come quickly to meet us, for we have been brought very low. ​
9
Help us, God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of your name. Deliver us, forgive our sins, for your name's sake. ​
10
Why should the nations ask, "Where is their God?" Let the vengeance taken on your servants' shed blood be known among the nations before our eyes. ​
11
Let the groaning of the captives come before you; by your great strength save those condemned to death. ​
12
Repay our neighbors sevenfold where they can feel it for the insults they inflicted on you, Adonai. ​

Vow of Eternal Praise

13
Then we, your people and the flock in your pasture, will give you thanks forever. From generation to generation we will proclaim your praise. ​

Study Notes for Psalms 79

Verse 1

This psalm is a corporate lament, likely written following the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, traditionally attributed to the Babylonian invasion (586 BC). The invaders are called 'the heathen' (Gentiles), who have violated God's sacred space and land ('thine inheritance').

Verse 2

The inability to bury the dead was considered a profound dishonor and curse in the ancient Near East, symbolizing complete defeat and divine rejection. The bodies are left exposed as carrion.

Verse 3

The phrase 'shed like water' emphasizes the extreme scale and casual cruelty of the slaughter. The horror is compounded by the fact that there was no one left to perform the necessary burial rites.

Verse 4

The suffering is not only physical but also relational and theological. Israel has become a 'reproach'—subjected to scorn and derision by surrounding nations—implying that Yahweh is powerless to protect His people.

Verse 5

This interrogative lament, 'How long, LORD?', is a classic expression of theological distress, questioning the duration of God's apparent withdrawal or anger. 'Thy jealousy' refers to God’s protective zeal for His own covenant and honor.

Verse 6

The psalmist redirects God's wrath, asking Him to pour it out on the Gentile nations who do not acknowledge Him, rather than continuing to punish Israel. This sets up a contrast between covenant keepers and pagan aggressors.

Verse 8

The psalm acknowledges that the people's suffering is tied to their past sins ('former iniquities'). However, they appeal not to their own righteousness, but to God’s 'tender mercies' for swift help, as they are utterly devastated.

Verse 9

The central petition is driven by theological concern: deliverance is sought 'for the glory of thy name.' God must act to save His people to preserve His own reputation and honor among the nations.

Verse 10

This is a key verse of theodicy. The ultimate concern is that the Gentiles mock God by asking, 'Where is their God?' The psalmist demands divine intervention—vengeance—as a public display of Yahweh’s power and sovereignty.

Verse 11

The focus shifts to the weakest and most vulnerable—the 'prisoner' and 'those that are appointed to die.' The greatness of God’s power is invoked specifically to rescue those in imminent peril of execution.

Verse 12

To render 'sevenfold' is an intense imprecation, requesting complete and overwhelming retribution against the neighbors who have scorned Israel and, by extension, reproached the Lord Himself.

Verse 13

The psalm concludes with a commitment to worship and thanksgiving (a vow of praise). This final promise affirms the covenant relationship: once God acts as Shepherd, the people will eternally fulfill their role as the 'sheep of thy pasture.'

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