Psa 79 | MHM | STEP | Lament Over the Ruin of Jerusalem This psalm is a prayer of deep sorrow, brought before God by his people. The writer describes how the church is suffering, not just from the troubles of the world, but also from attacks by those who do not know God. The psalmist turns to God as their Father and King, knowing that only God has the power to judge the nations and help his people. This prayer is honest about pain and loss, but also shows faith by bringing every complaint to God. v. 1 : The psalmist describes the destruction caused by enemies. “O God, the heathen are come into your inheritance; your holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps” . Foreign nations have invaded the land that belongs to God, destroying the holy city and the temple. The people are more upset about the damage to God’s house and name than about their own loss. When sins caused God to allow this, the disaster was even worse than when Israel had first taken the land from the heathen (Psalm 78:55 ).

‏ Psalms 79

Lament Over the Ruin of Jerusalem

This psalm is a prayer of deep sorrow, brought before God by his people. The writer describes how the church is suffering, not just from the troubles of the world, but also from attacks by those who do not know God. The psalmist turns to God as their Father and King, knowing that only God has the power to judge the nations and help his people. This prayer is honest about pain and loss, but also shows faith by bringing every complaint to God.

v. 1: The psalmist describes the destruction caused by enemies. “O God, the heathen are come into your inheritance; your holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps”. Foreign nations have invaded the land that belongs to God, destroying the holy city and the temple. The people are more upset about the damage to God’s house and name than about their own loss. When sins caused God to allow this, the disaster was even worse than when Israel had first taken the land from the heathen (Psalm 78:55 ^a).

v. 2-3: The enemies were very cruel to God’s people. “The dead bodies of your servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of your saints unto the beasts of the earth. Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them”(Psalm 79:2-3 ^b). The people were killed without mercy, and their bodies were left unburied, which was especially shameful for the Jews (Deuteronomy 21:23 ^c). Even after death, the saints were treated with disrespect. This cruelty was a sign of the enemies’ hatred, not just for the people, but for God as well (Revelation 11:9 ^d).

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v. 4: The survivors also suffered. “We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us”. Other nations mocked and insulted them. They were shamed for their sins and their suffering. Sometimes, being laughed at by others leads God’s people to see their mistakes and turn back to him. Even the apostles once were treated as the lowest of society because of their faith.

v. 5: The psalmist wonders how long God’s anger will last. “How long, Lord? Wilt you be angry forever? Shall your jealousy burn like fire?”. He feels God’s anger through the attacks of their enemies, but his greatest desire is for God’s favor to return. Those who love God most fear his anger more than anything else.

Petitions for Succor and Relief; Petitions for Deliverance

In these verses, the psalmist prays earnestly for God’s help during a time of great suffering for his people. The prayers are not just about their own pain, but also about God’s honor. The psalmist asks God to forgive, rescue, and defend his people, and to show his power to the nations who have done evil. The prayers are humble, recognizing the people’s sins, but they are also bold, trusting God’s mercy and justice.

v. 6-7: The psalmist asks God to turn his anger away from Israel and against the nations that have harmed them. “Pour out your wrath upon the heathen that have not known you, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon your name: for they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place”(Psalm 79:6-7 ^e). He calls on God to judge those who do not know him and have destroyed his people’s land. The psalmist knows that God cares deeply for his people and will act against those who attack them.

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v. 8-9: The people ask for forgiveness, admitting that their troubles are a result of their own sins. “O remember not against us former iniquities: let your tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for your name’s sake”(Psalm 79:8-9 ^f). They pray for God’s mercy and ask him to remove their sins. They do not claim they deserve help, but ask God to save them so that his name will be honored.

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v. 10: The psalmist wants God to show his power so that the nations cannot say, “Where is their God?”He prays, “Let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of your servants which is shed”. Their enemies mock God by hurting his people, so the psalmist asks God to show that he is real and powerful.

v. 11: He asks God to hear the cries of those who are prisoners or sentenced to die. “Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power preserve those that are appointed to die”. He trusts that God’s power is enough to rescue even those in the most desperate situations (2 Corinthians 1:8-10 ^g).

v. 12: The psalmist prays for justice. “Render to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached you, O Lord”. He asks God to repay the nations for mocking and insulting his name, not just for the people’s sake, but for God’s honor. God’s justice will teach everyone that he defends his people (Jude 15 ^h).

v. 13: The psalm ends with a promise of praise. “So we your people and sheep of your pasture will give you thanks for ever: we will show forth your praise to all generations”(Psalm 79:13 ⁱ). God’s people promise to thank him always and to tell every generation about his goodness. They know that if God saves them, it will be a reason to praise him forever.