Psa 79 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 79:1-13: Ps 79 This lament describes the occasion of Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC . The early history of Israel’s rebellions described in Ps 78 provoked God’s wrath, resulting in the desolation of Zion described here as the defilement of the Temple and the disgraced bodies that littered the landscape. The psalmist then prays for forgiveness and rescue (79:8-9 ), as well as for God to pay back the nation’s enemies (79:12-13 ). Other psalms lamenting the Exile include Pss 42–44 , 102 , 107 , 126 , 137 . Summary for Ps 79:1-4: 79:1-4 The poet laments the desecration of the Temple and the success of the enemy. 79:1 your special possession: This phrase might refer to the land , the Temple (see 61:5 ), or the people (see 79:2 ; 78:71 ).

Summary for Ps 79:1-13: Ps 79 ^a This lament describes the occasion of Jerusalem’s fall in 586 BC. The early history of Israel’s rebellions described in Ps 78 ^b provoked God’s wrath, resulting in the desolation of Zion described here as the defilement of the Temple and the disgraced bodies that littered the landscape. The psalmist then prays for forgiveness and rescue (79:8-9 ^c), as well as for God to pay back the nation’s enemies (79:12-13 ^d). Other psalms lamenting the Exile include Pss 42–44 ^e, 102 ^f, 107 ^g, 126 ^h, 137 ⁱ.
Summary for Ps 79:1-4: 79:1-4 ^j The poet laments the desecration of the Temple and the success of the enemy. 79:1 ^k your special possession: This phrase might refer to the land, the Temple (see 61:5 ^l), or the people (see 79:2 ^m; 78:71 ⁿ).
Summary for Ps 79:5-8: 79:5-8 ^o The intensity of God’s judgment surprises the people; they cry out in despair for compassion, forgiveness, and relief. Verses 6-7 ^p are repeated almost verbatim in Jer 10:25 ^q.
79:6 ^r The repentant among God’s people ask him to vent his anger not on them but on their wicked and unrepentant enemies.
79:8 ^s The people’s accumulation of past sins contributed to the Exile (2 Kgs 17:7-23 ^t; 24:3-4 ^u); however, the people perished because of their own sins (Jer 31:30 ^v; Ezek 18:20 ^w).
Summary for Ps 79:9-11: 79:9-11 ^x The people ask God to rescue them. Although Israel’s sins caused the tragedy, the pagan nations must also be held responsible for the bloodshed.
79:12 ^y The Exile resulted in national suffering and in individual searching for the Lord.

• pay back: See 1:6 ^z; 94:2 ^aa; Jer 32:18 ^ab.

• The expression seven times signifies something complete.

• Israel’s neighbors included Edom, Moab, and Ammon (see Ps 137:7 ^ac; 2 Kgs 24:2 ^ad; Obad 1 ^ae).