Psalm 79 – A Detailed Explanation
Introduction
Psalm 79 is a communal lament written in response to a national catastrophe, most likely the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. The psalm expresses the deep anguish of the people of Israel and their plea for divine intervention, justice, and restoration. Traditionally attributed to Asaph, or to his descendants (as part of the Asaphite guild of temple musicians), this psalm is one of the “Imprecatory Psalms,” where the psalmist calls for judgment upon enemies.
Context and Background
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Historical Setting: The most probable historical backdrop is the Babylonian siege and destruction of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25; Lamentations; Jeremiah 39), though some scholars argue it may also reflect later devastations under the Seleucids or Romans. However, its raw tone and content best match the early Babylonian exile.
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Literary Type: A communal lament, in the style of a prayer.
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Themes: Devastation, plea for mercy, call for justice, divine reputation, hope for restoration.
Structure of the Psalm
Psalm 79 has 13 verses and follows this general structure:
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Verses 1–4: Description of the catastrophe and its effects.
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Verses 5–7: Appeal to God's compassion and expression of frustration.
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Verses 8–12: Petition for forgiveness, mercy, and vengeance.
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Verse 13: A vow of praise and enduring faith.
Verse-by-Verse Explanation
Verses 1–4: The Desolation of Jerusalem
1 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2 They 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.
3 They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.
4 We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.
Explanation:
The psalm opens with intense grief. The nations (likely Babylon) are described as having desecrated God's inheritance (Israel), defiled the temple, and destroyed Jerusalem. This destruction is portrayed with graphic imagery: unburied bodies, bloodshed, and societal disgrace. Verse 3 particularly emphasizes the horror of death without burial, a sign of ultimate shame and curse in ancient Israelite culture.
Verses 5–7: Frustration and Plea for Intervention
5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
that do not call on your name;
7 for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.
Explanation:
The question “How long, Lord?” is a common refrain in lament psalms (see Psalm 13). It reflects the people’s confusion: why has God allowed this, and will His anger continue forever? God's jealousy is mentioned—referring to His covenant passion—but here it seems turned against His own people.
In verses 6–7, there's a shift: a call for God to direct His wrath not against Israel, but against the nations who reject Him. The psalmist acknowledges that Israel has sinned, but insists that the enemy nations are worse, because they do not even recognize God's name.
Verses 8–12: Request for Mercy and Justice
8 Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
9 Help us, God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
10 Why 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.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
Explanation:
In verse 8, the psalmist humbly acknowledges Israel’s sin but appeals for mercy rather than continued punishment. There’s a recognition that the present generation suffers for the sins of their ancestors—a common biblical theme (see Exodus 20:5; Lamentations 5:7).
Verse 9 presents a theologically rich plea: not just for relief, but for God’s own glory. The psalmist seeks forgiveness and rescue "for your name’s sake," a phrase indicating God's reputation among the nations. If God's people are destroyed, then the nations will question His power or presence (v.10).
Verse 11 offers a poignant image of captives and the groaning of prisoners, possibly exiles or those under sentence of death. The psalmist intercedes for their lives.
Verse 12 calls for retributive justice, asking that God repays their neighbors sevenfold. This is not vindictive rage but reflects the covenantal principle of measured justice (Genesis 4:15, Leviticus 26:18).
Verse 13: A Vow of Future Praise
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.
Explanation:
The psalm closes on a note of hope and commitment. Despite the ruin and pain, the people affirm their identity as God’s sheep—an image of dependence, care, and covenant relationship (cf. Psalm 23, John 10). This vow to praise forever shows their continued faith in God's ability to restore them.
Major Themes and Theological Insights
1. Divine Justice and Mercy
The psalm wrestles with the tension between God's justice—expressed in His punishment of sin—and His mercy. The people confess their guilt (v.8–9) but also request that God's anger not be infinite.
2. Theodicy (Why Do the Wicked Prosper?)
Why are the godless nations allowed to destroy God's people? Why does God seem absent? The psalmist doesn't answer these questions fully but responds with a call for God to act.
3. Covenant Relationship
Even in despair, the psalmist speaks of "your inheritance," "your people," and "your holy temple." These phrases express the covenant bond, which remains unbroken even in judgment.
4. God’s Reputation Among the Nations
The plea to act “for your name’s sake” is a significant theme. The psalmist is concerned not only with survival but with God's global reputation (v.10).
5. Communal Lament
This is not a personal psalm but a collective cry. It gives voice to a nation in crisis. Such psalms remind modern readers of the importance of intercessory prayer and corporate repentance.
Connections with Other Scriptures
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Lamentations: Both books mourn the fall of Jerusalem with vivid imagery and deep sorrow.
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Psalm 74: Another Asaphite psalm with similar themes of destruction and plea for God to remember His covenant.
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Deuteronomy 28: The curses described in this chapter seem fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, offering a theological explanation for the judgment.
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Daniel 9: Daniel also confesses national sins and appeals for mercy on the basis of God’s reputation and past acts of deliverance.
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Revelation 6:10: The martyrs cry out, “How long, O Lord?”—echoing the same theme of delayed justice.
Application and Relevance Today
1. Praying Through National or Communal Tragedy
Psalm 79 models how to bring pain, injustice, and confusion before God—not by minimizing it, but by expressing it fully.
2. Balancing Justice and Mercy
The psalmist seeks both vengeance on evildoers and mercy for his people. In our prayers, we can also ask God to balance these perfectly.
3. Faith in Crisis
Even in suffering, the people affirm God's sovereignty and pledge to worship Him. This is a model of resilient faith.
4. Remembrance and Repentance
The prayer acknowledges past sins but doesn't let them define the future. There’s a movement from guilt to hope.
Conclusion
Psalm 79 is a powerful lament that gives voice to suffering, anger, guilt, and hope all at once. It doesn’t provide simple answers, but it brings profound honesty before God. Through its structure, raw emotion, and theological depth, it invites readers today to reflect on the pain of injustice, the mystery of divine silence, and the enduring hope of restoration.
Though it arises from a particular historical moment, Psalm 79 continues to resonate with those who face collective suffering—whether from war, persecution, or disaster. It reminds us that even in the ruins, we are still the sheep of His pasture, and He hears our cries.
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