PsalmsChapter 79

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A psalm of Asaph. O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple and left Jerusalem in ruins.

They have given the corpses of your servants as food to the birds of the sky, the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.

They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury them.

We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, mocked and ridiculed by those around us.

How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not know you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name.

For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his home.

Do not hold against us the sins of past generations. Let your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are brought very low.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us and atone for our sins, for your name's sake.

Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes, that you avenge the shed blood of your servants.

May the groaning of the prisoner come before you; by the greatness of your arm, preserve those condemned to die.

Pay back our neighbors sevenfold into their laps for the scorn they have heaped on you, O Lord.

Then we, your people, the flock of your pasture, will thank you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

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Summary2

Chapter 79

Main Theme: A collective lament over the destruction of Jerusalem, with a plea for God's intervention and vengeance against the enemies.

Content: The psalm describes how pagan nations destroyed the temple and Jerusalem, where the dead are dishonored and blood flows without anyone to bury them. The people have become an object of mockery among their neighbors. The psalmist cries out to God to turn His wrath upon the nations that do not know Him and asks for forgiveness for the people's sins. The psalm concludes with a promise that God's people will praise Him forever.

Key Words/Images:

God's Inheritance (נַחֲלָה): The land and temple given by God to His people, now desecrated by enemies.
Blood like water (דָּם כַּמַּיִם): A powerful image of the massacre and the total lack of dignified burial.
The Honor of God's Name: The motivation for God's intervention—His own name and honor are at stake among the nations.
Sheep of Your Pasture (צֹאן מַרְעִיתֶךָ): Israel as God's people under His care, with a promise of eternal praise.

Historical context

Historical and Cultural Context for Psalms 79

Historical Background

The psalm describes the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The historical background most likely points to the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. under Nebuchadnezzar II, when the temple was burned down, the walls were torn down, and large parts of the population were either killed or taken into exile. The description of unburied corpses (vv. 2–3) reflects one of the worst fates that could befall a person in Old Testament thought—to be denied a dignified burial was both a shame and a curse. This was a deliberate humiliation by the conquerors.

The lament that pagan nations have "entered your inheritance" (נַחֲלָה, nachalah) touches on the deep theological crisis that arose when God's covenant people saw their holy land and temple desecrated. The inheritance was not merely territory but God's promised gift to His people.

Places

Jerusalem and the temple ("your holy temple," הֵיכַל קָדְשֶׁךָ) stand at the center of the psalm. The expression that Jerusalem was laid "in ruins" (לְעִיִּים, le'iyyim) describes total destruction. Archaeological excavations in Jerusalem have confirmed extensive layers of destruction from 586 B.C.E., including signs of fire and collapsed structures in the City of David and on the temple mount.

Key Terms

The expression "those condemned to death" (בְּנֵי תְמוּתָה, benei temutah, v. 11) literally means "children of death" and refers to prisoners awaiting execution. The prayer that God should "repay sevenfold" (שִׁבְעָתַיִם, shiv'atayim, v. 12) reflects the Old Testament concept of justice in which the number seven symbolizes complete retribution. The psalm's closing image of Israel as "your people and the sheep of your pasture" (v. 13) uses the well-known shepherd metaphor that emphasizes the covenant relationship between God and Israel.

People2

Asaph1 Jacob1

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Key words7

The Lord's temple — A term for the place where God is worshiped and honored, often referred to as the temple in Jerusalem.
Salvation — To be saved from sin, death, or destruction, especially with regard to the spiritual salvation that God gives.
Nations — Groups of people who share a common culture, tradition, or geographic area, often used to describe non-Israelite peoples.
Desecration — An act that dishonors, damages, or destroys something holy or valuable, such as a temple or religious object.
Restoration — The process of bringing something back to its original state, here used in connection with the land and people of Israel.
Vengeance — The act of punishing someone for a wrong they have committed, often understood as God's just punishment for sin.
Praise — A song or expression of gratitude, honor, and worship to God, often used in prayer and worship services.