May 23, 2018 (Wednesday)
From the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges:
The occasion of this Psalm has already been discussed in the Introduction to Psalms 74. It consists of three stanzas (I separated verse 13 as a fourth stanza; it is a promise, rather than a plea).
i. The Psalmist tells God of the invasion of His land, the desecration of His Temple, the destruction of His city, the slaughter of His servants, the reproach of His people
(Psalm 79:1-4).
ii. He entreats God to show mercy to Israel, and not to punish them any more for the sins of their forefathers, but to chastise their wanton oppressors (Psalm 79:5-8).
iii. Once more he pleads for help and pardon, urging that the honour of God’s name is at stake, and that the outrages of the heathen should not go unpunished; and he concludes with a vow of perpetual praise from the restored nation (Psalm 79:9-13).
New International Version (NIV)
A psalm of Asaph
I. THE PSALMIST’S GRIEF OVER THE CONDITION OF HIS LAND (1-4)
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.
II. THE PSALMIST PRAYS THAT GOD WILL HELP HIS PEOPLE (5-8)
5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
How long 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.
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.
III. THE PSALMIST PRAYS FOR GOD TO DEFEND HIS OWN HONOR (9-13)
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.
IV. THE PSALMIST PROMISES GOD THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE (13)
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.