Psalms 79
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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.
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.
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.
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.
Public Domain KJV text from Wordproject.org
Psalm 79:1-13
How Long, O Lord?
A Psalm of Asaph.
1O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple;
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
2They have given the bodies of your servants
to the birds of the heavens for food,
the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
3They have poured out their blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them.
4We have become a taunt to our neighbors,
mocked and derided by those around us.
5How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6Pour out your anger on the nations
that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
that do not call upon your name!
7For they have devoured Jacob
and laid waste his habitation.
8Do not remember against us our former iniquities;
let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
for we are brought very low.
9Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins,
for your name’s sake!
10Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
be known among the nations before our eyes!
11Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!
12Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors
the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
13But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
ESV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Psalm 79:1-13
Psalm 79
A psalm of Asaph.
1O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2They have left the dead bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
3They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.
4We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.
5How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
that do not call on your name;
7for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.
8Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
9Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
10Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Before our eyes, make known among the nations
that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
11May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.
NIV Bible text displayed through the American Bible Society's Global Bible Widget
Commentary
This Psalm was written by Asaph after the Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem. It was a dark time for the people of Judah. Solomon’s temple has been torn down and burned and the city lay in rubble and ashes, smoke rising from the utter ruin that remained. The people who have survived are war-weary, tired, and heartbroken. Many have seen their loved ones killed and their bodies lay unburied. Amidst all this, Asaph is crying out to God for a reprieve from their suffering. In reviewing their own history, the Israelites can recall many times of distress brought on by apostasy and rebellion, followed by God’s unfailing love and mercy poured out on repentant hearts. It is this mercy that Asaph is pleading for.
Have you ever reached that point where you wanted to grab a hold of God and wail, “That’s enough! I’ve had all I can take?” Regardless of our situation, the unfailing love and mercy of God can also be poured out on our humbled hearts, giving comfort and healing.
Kimberly Bobenhausen
Southern Adventist University, Tennessee USA (as of this writing)
