79:6According to the Old Testament, God’s wrath and judgment often fell on entire nations because of the sins of people within those nations. Here Asaph pleaded for judgment on kingdoms that refused to acknowledge God’s authority. Ironically, Asaph’s own nation of Judah was being judged by God for refusing to do this very thing (2 Chronicles 36:14-20). These were people who. had sworn allegiance to God but were now rejecting him. This made their judgment even worse.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 79
Psalm 79
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 928, 929
79Psalm 79
1and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.
2They have left the bodies of your servantsas food for the birds of heaven.The flesh of your godly oneshas become food for the wild animals.
3Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem;no one is left to bury the dead.
4We are mocked by our neighbors,an object of scorn and derision to those around us.
5O LORD, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you—on kingdoms that do not call upon your name.
7For they have devoured your people Israel,*making the land a desolate wilderness.
8Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors!Let your compassion quickly meet our needs,for we are on the brink of despair.
9Help us, O God of our salvation!Help us for the glory of your name.Save us and forgive our sinsfor the honor of your name.
10Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff,asking, “Where is their God?”Show us your vengeance against the nations,for they have spilled the blood of your servants.
11Listen to the moaning of the prisoners.Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.
12O LORD, pay back our neighbors seven timesfor the scorn they have hurled at you.
13Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation. Theme: A prayer for revival and restoration after experiencing destruction. God is our only hope for salvation. Author: Asaph (or one of his descendants), probably written after the northern kingdom of Israel was defeated and its people deported to Assyria.
Textual footnotes
- 79:7 Hebrew devoured Jacob. See note on 44:4.
Life Application Notes 2 notes
79:10Inthe end, God's glory will be evident to all people, but in the meantime, we must endure suffering with patience and allow God to strengthen our character through it. For reasons that we do not know, God sometimes allows pagan people to scoff at believers. We should be prepared for criticism, jokes, and unkind remarks because God does not place us beyond the attacks of scoffers.
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Study feature · page 929
PRAYER IN THE BOOK OF PSALMS
Prayer is human communication with God. Psalms could be described as a collection of songprayers. Probably the most striking feature of these prayers is their unedited honesty. The words often express our own feelings—feelings that we would prefer no one, much less God, ever knew. Making these psalms our prayers can teach us a great deal about how God wants us to communicate with him. Too often we give God a watered-down version of our feelings, hoping we won't offend him or make him curious about our motives. As we use the psalms to express our feelings, we learn that honesty, openness, and sincerity are valuable to God. Following are several types of prayers with examples from Psalms. Note that the psalm writers communicated with God in a variety of ways for a variety of reasons. Each of us is invited to communicate with God. Using the psalms will enrich your personal prayer life.
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