Psalms 79:1

ยถ 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.

A Psalm {H4210} of Asaph {H623}. O God {H430}, the heathen {H1471} are come {H935}{H8804)} into thine inheritance {H5159}; thy holy {H6944} temple {H1964} have they defiled {H2930}{H8765)}; they have laid {H7760}{H8804)} Jerusalem {H3389} on heaps {H5856}.

A psalm of Asaf: God, the pagans have entered your heritage. They have defiled your holy temple and turned Yerushalayim into rubble.

The nations, O God, have invaded Your inheritance; they have defiled Your holy temple and reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

O God, the nations are come into thine inheritance; Thy holy temple have they defiled; They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

Commentary

Commentary on Psalms 79:1 (KJV)

Psalm 79:1 is the poignant opening of a communal lament, attributed to Asaph. It immediately plunges the reader into a scene of utter devastation and national humiliation, crying out to God in the midst of profound suffering.

Context

This psalm, like many others attributed to the "Sons of Asaph" or the Asaphite guild, likely reflects a period of immense national crisis. The vivid description of the temple defiled and Jerusalem laid in ruins strongly points to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple around 586 BC, led by King Nebuchadnezzar. This catastrophic event marked the end of the Kingdom of Judah and the beginning of the Babylonian exile. The psalm voices the shock, grief, and desperate plea of a people who have witnessed the desecration of all that was holy and sacred to them.

Key Themes

  • Desecration of the Holy: The verse highlights the profound defilement of God's "holy temple" and "thine inheritance." This was not just a physical destruction but a spiritual affront, challenging God's honor and presence among His people.
  • National Humiliation: The invasion by "the heathen" (foreign, non-covenant nations) and the reduction of Jerusalem to "heaps" signifies the utter defeat and shame of Israel, once God's favored nation.
  • Lament and Plea: The psalm opens with a direct address to God, "O God," indicating a desperate cry for divine intervention and justice in the face of overwhelming calamity. It sets the tone for a psalm that will seek God's mercy and vengeance.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Heathen": The Hebrew word is goyim (ื’ึผื•ึนื™ึดื), which simply means "nations" or "Gentiles." In this context, it carries a negative connotation, referring to pagan nations hostile to God and His people, specifically the Babylonians.
  • "Thine inheritance": The Hebrew word is nachalah (ื ึทื—ึฒืœึธื”), meaning "inheritance" or "possession." This term emphasizes God's sovereign claim over Israel as His chosen people and land, which He had promised to Abraham and his descendants. The invasion of this inheritance is seen as an attack on God Himself.
  • "Defiled": The Hebrew tame (ื˜ึธืžึตื) signifies ritual impurity or defilement, often associated with something becoming unfit for sacred use or presence. The defilement of the temple was the ultimate sacrilege.

Practical Application

Psalms 79:1 resonates with anyone who has witnessed the desecration of what is sacred, whether physically or spiritually. It reminds us:

  • Even in the darkest moments of destruction and despair, we can and should cry out to God.
  • The pain of seeing God's name or His house dishonored is a deep and righteous sorrow for believers.
  • It underscores the reality that disobedience can lead to severe consequences, even allowing enemies to triumph for a time, though God remains sovereign.
  • It invites us to reflect on what we consider "holy" in our lives and how we protect it from defilement.
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Cross-References

  • Micah 3:12

    Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed [as] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:19

    And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof.

  • Psalms 74:1

    ยถ Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? [why] doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

  • Psalms 74:4

    Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns [for] signs.

  • Lamentations 1:10

    The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen [that] the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command [that] they should not enter into thy congregation.

  • Jeremiah 26:18

    Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed [like] a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:6

    Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.