Psalms 79 - Printer Friendly

This psalm refers to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The city fell centuries after the lives of King David and one of his musicians, named Asaph (1 Chronicles 6:39). This could mean that the label "of Asaph" refers to style. Or it suggests a later writer named Asaph composed the song.

Between 605 and 586 BC, the kingdom of Judah—all that remained of the divided nation of Israel—suffered multiple defeats at the hands of the Babylonians. The last was the worst. In 586 BC, Babylon's siege against Jerusalem succeeded. The temple was desecrated and torn down, and Jerusalem was burned. Much of what happened was exactly as God predicted if Israel were to fall into idolatry (Deuteronomy 28:25). The psalm opens with a depiction of the ruin and slaughter (Psalm 79:1–4).

After describing the aftermath of Jerusalem's destruction, the psalmist struggles to understand it. He wonders about God's anger towards the people and asks forgiveness. Israel ignored God's warnings about imitating the pagan nations of Canaan (Deuteronomy 18:9), which would lead to their ruin (Deuteronomy 28:15). Even so, the psalmist prays that the Lord would bring vengeance to Babylon. Since the invaders were pagan unbelievers, Judah is not merely defeated, but also humiliated (Psalm 79:5–11).

The psalm ends with another appeal for the Lord to avenge the desecration of Jerusalem. The psalmist vows to honor God with praise. This seems to anticipate that God will answer his prayer (Psalm 79:12–13).

Psalm 79:1–4 opens a song of mourning. This apparently refers to the Babylonian invasion of 586 BC. The defeat resulted in the destruction of Solomon's temple and the ruin of Jerusalem. The psalmist expresses grief about the defiled temple and the many Israelites who have been killed. Israel has been completely humiliated by their enemies.

Psalm 79:9–11 continues a prayer that God would turn His wrath on the godless empire which defeated Israel. Here the psalmist asks for salvation. Earlier passages noted that many Israelites were killed (Psalm 79:1–4). In this section, attention turns to those taken away as captives (Jeremiah 52:29). Israel is beaten down and humiliated, so the psalmist asks God to avenge His chosen people.

Psalm 79:12–13 concludes a prayer inspired by the terrible destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. The psalmist once again asks God to avenge the humiliating defeat of Israel. The enemy has wrecked the city and the temple, insulting the God of Israel as they did so. This final plea for vengeance comes with a promise to praise and honor the Lord, in anticipation of His response.

In 586 BC, the Babylonian Empire broke the defenses of Jerusalem. The city was burned and Solomon's temple was destroyed. Death and misery were everywhere. Many Israelites were taken captive. The psalmist struggles to grasp what has happened. He begs God for rescue and forgiveness. The song pleads for God to enact vengeance for Israel on the pagan nations that have humiliated His chosen people.

This psalm grieves over Jerusalem's ruin and the temple's destruction at the hands of Babylon in 586 BC. Similar emotions were also expressed in Psalm 74. Other psalms associated with Asaph (Psalm 73; 74; 77) tend to move from angst into assurance. This one, however, only barely includes a sense of confidence in God's eventual rescue.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.