Skip to content

Asaph

Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.

Play PsalmReady
Share:

Scripture (KJV)

1O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.

2The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

3Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them.

4We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

5How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

6Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

7For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

8O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

9Help 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.

10Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.

11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;

12And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

13So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

Summary

Psalm 79 is a communal lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, likely written after the Babylonian invasion. Asaph cries out that the heathen have invaded God’s inheritance, defiled the holy temple, and laid Jerusalem in heaps. The bodies of God’s servants have been given to birds and beasts, their blood shed like water with none to bury them. The people have become a reproach to their neighbors. Asaph asks how long God’s anger will burn and pleads that God would pour out His wrath on the nations that do not know Him. He asks God not to remember former iniquities but to let His tender mercies speedily prevent them, for they are brought very low. He prays for help, deliverance, and purging of sins for the glory of God’s name, and asks that the heathen would not say, "Where is their God?" The psalm closes with a vow: "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations."

The major themes are communal lament, destruction, God’s name, deliverance, and perpetual thanksgiving. Practically, the psalm teaches that in national catastrophe, God’s people may appeal to the glory of His name and that lament can end in a vow of eternal praise. The great lesson is that God’s name is at stake in the suffering of His people and that He will act for the glory of His name.

Key Themes

A Prayer from Psalm 79

O God, when the heathen have invaded Your inheritance and defiled Your holy temple, when Your servants are given to the birds and their blood shed like water, we cry to You. We have become a reproach to our neighbors. How long, LORD, will You be angry? Pour out Your wrath on the nations that have not known You. Remember not against us former iniquities; let Your tender mercies speedily prevent us, for we are brought very low. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and purge away our sins for Your name’s sake. Let not the heathen say, "Where is their God?" We, Your people and the sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever and show forth Your praise to all generations. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Reflection Questions

  1. 1How does this psalm give voice to communal grief after catastrophe?
  2. 2What does it mean to appeal to "the glory of thy name" in prayer?
  3. 3How can lament end in a vow of eternal praise?
  4. 4Where do I need to pray, "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name"?

Related Psalms

Support BookofPsalms.org

If you find BookofPsalms.org helpful and would like to support the website, you may make a voluntary contribution through PayPal. Your support helps pay for the operation, hosting, maintenance, development, content, security, and continued improvement of BookofPsalms.org.

Independent Website & Contribution Disclosure

BookofPsalms.org is an independently operated, privately owned website. BookofPsalms.org is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, or operated by any church, denomination, ministry, religious organization, charity, or nonprofit organization.

All funds contributed through BookofPsalms.org are received by the privately owned company that operates the website. Funds may be used by the company to support website hosting, maintenance, development, content creation, administration, advertising, technology, and other business and operating expenses.

Contributions are voluntary and are NOT tax-deductible charitable donations. BookofPsalms.org does not represent contributions as charitable donations or contributions to a nonprofit, church, ministry, or tax-exempt religious organization.

Receive weekly Psalms and prayers

A gentle Psalm, an original prayer, and a short reflection—delivered once a week.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.