“A Psalm Of Asaph Regarding The Destruction Of Jerusalem” Psalm 79:1-13

Psalm 79 can be classified as an imprecatory psalm in which Asaph is calling upon God to destroy Israel’s enemies. In fact, in verses 1-5, Asaph laments over the fact that Jerusalem and its temple had been demolished; moreover, the people had been slaughtered and greatly ridiculed. They cried to the Lord, “We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?” (vv. 4-5).

Despite the faithful warning of Jeremiah about God’s judgment on the nation, Judah continued to rebel against God’s message. Because of the
nation’s refusal to obey God’s law and sabbatical years, God judged the nation by sending Judah into captivity to Babylonians in 586 B.C. Jeremiah, the great prophet of God, not only warned the people about their captivity, but he witnessed to the captivity of Judah, for Lamentations 1:3-5 states: “Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.”

The nation of Judah that was noted for its glory, has now become the object of scorn and ridicule (Psalm 137:1-4). As a result of the nation’s plight, the psalmist pleads for God’s help and for God to withhold His wrath against the nation because of their sins (vv. 6-9). Their plea is seen in verses 8-9: “O remember not against us iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.”

The psalmist earnestly pleads to the Lord to deliver the nation from their enemies so as to end Judah’s being an object of ridicule (vv. 10-12). They desired that their enemies would be repaid for their injustices in verse 12: “And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.” After the nation has been delivered, Judah will praise the Lord; “So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations” (v. 13).

May God Bless!