Psalm 79 — Jerusalem in Mockery
Introduction: This Psalm is attributed to Asaph, and it contains some very dramatic content about devastation and massive slaughter in Jerusalem. I wanted to consider the expressions of anguish, and the manner in which the appeal for relief and restoration was made to Yahweh. I did not try to determine which king would have been reigning at the time, but even trying to relate to the horrible content has been quite a challenge for me. I have referred to other passages that may serve to consider the purposes Yahweh could have for Israel to be subjected to such devastating events.
NOTE: Bible passages are from the World English Bible (WEB).
A — The Temple Was Defiled and Many People Slain
Psalm 79 “1 God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. 2 They 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. 3 Their blood they have shed like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a reproach to our neighbours, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.”
Comments: There is no actual description about the manner in which the temple was defiled, when other nations mercilessly slaughtered so many who were in Jerusalem at the time. The author of the Psalm seemed to be writing from a perspective as one who had personally observed what he has described. For a psalmist who was a servant of Yahweh at the temple, it must have been very painful to write these words, even though he knew that Yahweh is righteous in His judgments when sin has overflowed. The psalmist is well aware that Israel has become a reproach to neighboring nations, who can scoff and deride them and their God after having inflicted this overwhelming devastation upon them.
B — Help Us for the Glory of Your Name
Psalm 79 “5 How long, Yahweh? Will you be angry forever? 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 on your name; 7 For they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland. 8 Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need. 9 Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.”
Comments: The psalmist does not make an appeal to Yahweh with the claim that his generation has not sinned, but he does plea that the history of sinning through Israel’s forefathers not be carried forward to add to those of that present generation. He asks how long Yahweh’s anger will burn against Israel, then he makes his appeal that Yahweh would turn His wrath against the nations that have devastated Jacob. The psalmist asks Yahweh for deliverance, and to forgive their sins, because He is the God of their salvation; and this would bring glory to the name of Yahweh. The record of a prayer by Daniel while he was in Babylonian captivity has those three elements of confession of sin, appeal for mercy from Yahweh, and that the answer would bring glory to the name of Yahweh.
C — Preserve According to the Greatness of Your Power
Psalm 79 “10 Why 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. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death. 12 Pay back to our neighbours seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord. 13 So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.”
Comments: The psalmist requests that Yahweh repay those who have mocked by saying “where is their God?” He characterizes his plea as the sighing like a prisoner before Yahweh in hope that God will preserve those who are sentenced to death. The psalmist does not ask Yahweh to equip Israel to pay back the nations for their reproach to the name of God, but instead he asks the Lord to do so according to the greatness of His power. Then the people who are the sheep of the Great Shepherd will praise the Lord forever, to all generations.
D — Christ Jesus Brought Jew and Gentile Believers Together
In the present times, the children of God are not defined by nationality, society, ethnicity, or church denomination; nor is there a physical temple where services prescribed by the law must be conducted by men of a priestly line. The children of God now have Christ as their high priest, who serves in heaven at the right hand of the Father. Christians can experience joy before the Lord, but there also can be great times of suffering. Yahweh rules from Heaven and will do as he pleases in both mercy and justice. Romans 8 “38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Reflections in Prayer
Yahweh my God, I believe there is not even one unspoken inner thought that can be hidden from you by any person, and therefore you know my struggle about the devastating and horrible slaughter you permitted in Jerusalem, as described in this Psalm. It has caused me to think about other passages about rebelliousness by those who had opportunity to choose to serve you with their lives. My thoughts first went to the record of forty years in the wilderness for the children of Israel who repeatedly provoked the God who had freed them from bondage in Egypt. This pattern of repeated rebellion to a merciful God underscores the sin nature of mankind, and I then considered how often I fail to patiently keep my focus on bearing fruit for my Savior until my time comes to be with you in heaven. Thank you Lord Jesus that you opened my heart, mind, and soul with the truth that you are the Creator God, and the only way to eternal life! Hallelujah, amen.
Published 30 August 2020