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.
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Jerusalem and Temple Desecrated

1
A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. ​
2
The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. ​
3
Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. ​
4
We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. ​

How Long, O Lord?

5
How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? ​
6
Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. ​
7
For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

Plea for Mercy and Divine Vindication

8
O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. ​
9
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. ​
10
Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. ​
11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; ​
12
And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. ​

Vow of Eternal Praise

13
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations. ​

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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