Analysis of Psalms Chapter 79
The Book of Psalms provides a profound window into the spiritual journeys and experiences of the people of Israel. Psalm 79 is a community lament, having been traditionally attributed to Asaph. It reflects the intense sorrow and plea for divine intervention following a devastating national calamity. This psalm is typically seen as a response to the destruction of Jerusalem, which historically suggests the events of 586 B.C. when the Babylonians sacked the city. Through a deep and comprehensive analysis, this psalm can reveal its layers of pain, hope, and the enduring faith of the Israelites.
Verses 1-2: The Devastation Described
O God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance;
They have defiled Your holy temple;
They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens,
The flesh of Your godly ones to the beasts of the earth.
The opening lines starkly describe the desecration of Jerusalem and its holy temple, emphasizing not just the physical destruction but also the sacrilege involved. The “inheritance” metaphor underscores Jerusalem’s significance to God, reinforcing the sense of personal violation experienced by the community. The detailed imagery of dead bodies left unburied, food for birds and beasts, accentuates the extent of humiliation and indignity suffered by the Israelites.
Here, the psalmist acknowledges a deep, sacred relationship between the land and the divine, wherein the desecration is not merely material but spiritual. This sets the stage for the subsequent emotional outpouring and plea for divine intervention, revealing the profound connection the people felt toward their spiritual heritage.
Verses 3-4: Depths of Suffering and Humiliation
They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem;
And there was no one to bury them.
We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
A scoffing and derision to those around us.
These verses vividly depict the disastrous results of the invasion. The image of blood poured out “like water” adds to the earlier imagery of untended corpses, illustrating the utter disregard for human life. The absence of burial rites not only speaks to the physical devastation but also to a cultural and spiritual annihilation, as proper burials were a significant part of ancient Jewish customs.
Additionally, the reproach and derision from neighboring nations compound the Israelites’ suffering, translating their physical and cultural ruins into a social and emotional torment. This external mockery reflects a deep-seated anguish and contributes to the overall theme of the psalm: an urgent cry for divine intervention in the face of insurmountable distress and disgrace.
Verses 5-7: Plea for Divine Justice
How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out Your wrath upon the nations which do not know You,
And upon the kingdoms which do not call upon Your name.
For they have devoured Jacob
And laid waste his habitation.
The psalmist’s inquiry, “How long, O LORD?” poignantly encapsulates the agonizing sense of prolonged suffering and divine silence. The repeated questioning of divine anger and jealousy speaks to the community’s struggle to reconcile their suffering with their understanding of a just and protective God. It underscores a common biblical theme wherein human beings grapple with divine justice and timing.
By calling for God’s wrath to be directed at the invading nations, the psalmist shifts the focus from lamentation to a plea for retributive justice. The invocation of “Jacob” is symbolic, representing not just the patriarch but the entirety of the Israelite people. The destruction of Jacob’s habitation symbolizes a profound violation that warrants divine retribution. This plea for justice tightly binds national identity, divine favor, and collective memory, reinforcing the community’s plea for intervention.
Verses 8-9: Seeking Forgiveness and Restoration
Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers against us;
Let Your compassion come quickly to meet us,
For we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
And deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name’s sake.
As the psalm progresses, there is a notable shift from seeking justice against the invaders to seeking compassion and forgiveness for the Israelites themselves. The psalmist acknowledges past sins and iniquities, appealing to God’s compassion to transcend historical grievances. It’s a humbling confession of their low state and the recognition that divine help and forgiveness are essential for their restoration.
This segment emphasizes the uniquely relational nature of Israel’s understanding of God, where divine intervention and forgiveness are seen as intertwined with the community’s wellbeing. The appeal for salvation for “the glory of Your name” reflects a theological perspective where God’s reputation and honor are intrinsically connected to the fate of His chosen people.
Verses 10-12: Vindication and Vengeance
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let there be known among the nations in our sight,
Vengeance for the blood of Your servants which has been shed.
Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are doomed to die.
And return to our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom
The reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.
Here, the psalmist echoes a concern about God’s reputation among the nations. The rhetorical question, “Where is their God?” implies that the suffering of the Israelites could be interpreted as divine impotence or abandonment. By asking for visible signs of vengeance and divine power, the psalmist seeks to reaffirm God’s might and commitment to His people, thus restoring His honor in the eyes of other nations.
The “groaning of the prisoner” and those “doomed to die” likely refer to those who have been captured or are in desperate straits following the invasion. The entreaty for God to “return to our neighbors sevenfold” the reproach they have inflicted signifies a desire for complete and overwhelming retribution, in line with the biblical principle of justice and recompense.
Verse 13: Commitment to Praise
So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture
Will give thanks to You forever;
To all generations we will tell of Your praise.
The concluding verse shifts to a tone of commitment and future praise. By identifying themselves as “the sheep of Your pasture,” the Israelites reaffirm their enduring relationship with God, emphasizing both a sense of belonging and dependence. The pledge to give thanks and tell of God’s praise “to all generations” underscores a long-term, covenantal commitment that transcends immediate suffering.
This final declaration functions as both a hopeful assertion of future deliverance and a testament to the enduring faith of the community. It ensures that—regardless of their present trials—the narrative of God’s goodness and their gratitude will be carried forward perpetually, thereby preserving their spiritual identity and relationship with the divine.
Conclusion
Psalm 79 is a vivid and powerful expression of communal grief, desperation, and hope. Through its eloquent lamentation and fervent pleas for divine justice, forgiveness, and deliverance, it encapsulates the profound spiritual and emotional turmoil experienced by the Israelites in the wake of a devastating calamity. Yet, within this sorrowful context, it also reflects a steadfast faith and a determined commitment to praise and uphold the reputation of their God, demonstrating the resilience and depth of their religious identity.
By engaging with this psalm, readers are invited to reflect on themes of suffering and divine justice, the interplay between sin, forgiveness, and redemption, and the enduring hope and faith that characterize the spiritual journey of the Israelite community. This thoughtful meditation on collective trauma and faith offers timeless insights into the human condition and the nature of divine-human relationships.