Chapter 510 of 1163

PSALM 79

Once again Asaph is lamenting the invasion of the enemy (cf. Ps. 74). He had several concerns.

God’s inheritance. The temple was defiled, the city destroyed, and the people slain. God permitted these things to happen to His inheritance! But God would rather destroy His inheritance than allow His people to sin and rebel.

God’s name. What will the heathen nations say about Israel and Israel’s God? The corpses and ruins bore witness to something that the world needed to know: God is holy and does not tolerate disobedience. Asaph confessed the sins of the nation and asked God to honor His name before the nations (vv. 8–10, 13).

God’s wrath. Asssaph asserted, “Pour out Your wrath” (v. 6)! “Avenge our blood” (v. 10)! Years later, that prayer was answered, and God punished Babylon for the way she treated Israel.

God’s people. They are “Your servants” and “Your saints” (v. 2), “the sheep of Your pasture” (v. 13). Care for them, Lord! Deliver them! God did care for them, but He also chastened them so that they might learn to obey His will.

When you want God to be harder on others than He is on you, it is time to start seeing your sins the way God sees them.

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