Psalm 79

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
    they have defiled your holy temple,
    they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
They have left the dead bodies of your servants
    as food for the birds of the sky,
    the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
They have poured out blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there is no one to bury the dead.
We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,
    of scorn and derision to those around us.
How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
Pour out your wrath on the nations
    that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name;
for they have devoured Jacob
    and devastated his homeland.
Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.
Help us, God our Savior,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.
Why should the nations say,
    “Where is their God?”
Before our eyes, make known among the nations
    that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
    the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
    will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.

• Psalm 79:1-13

Type of Psalm

Psalms of Affliction: Psalms where the psalmist is crying out in pain or distress, asking God where He is in the psalmist’s time of need.  But no matter how dire the circumstances or how long the lament, there seems to always be a word of praise.  Otherwise, why do we go to God in such times, other than to recognize Him as the only one who can help us?

Imprecatory psalms: Asking for vengeance against enemies.  From the two examples above, these requests for vengeance are usually not specific in how God does it.  I have written about this type of psalm or prayer in that they are legitimate requests to God.  We know that God will eventually stamp out all evil in the world.  Praying that God would do as He promises that He will eventually do is legitimate, but when a face is applied to that evil, our first reaction should be one of forgiveness and mercy.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“This psalm, if penned with any particular event in view, is with most probability made to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the woeful havoc made of the Jewish nation by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar. It is set to the same tune, as I may say, with the Lamentations of Jeremiah, and that weeping prophet borrows two verses out of it (ver. 6, 7) and makes use of them in his prayer, Jer. 10:25. Some think it was penned long before by the spirit of prophecy, prepared for the use of the church in that cloudy and dark day. Others think that it was penned then by the spirit of prayer, either by a prophet named Asaph or by some other prophet for the sons of Asaph. Whatever the particular occasion was, we have here, I. A representation of the very deplorable condition that the people of God were in at this time, ver. 1-5. II. A petition to God for succour and relief, that their enemies might be reckoned with (ver. 6, 7, 10, 12), that their sins might be pardoned (ver. 8, 9), and that they might be delivered, ver. 11. III. A plea taken from the readiness of his people to praise him, ver. 13. In times of the church’s peace and prosperity this psalm may, in the singing of it, give us occasion to bless God that we are not thus trampled on and insulted. But it is especially seasonable in a day of treading down and perplexity, for the exciting of our desires towards God and the encouragement of our faith in him as the church’s patron.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 79:13 “Sheep aren’t smart. They tend to wander into running creeks for water, then their wool grows heavy and they drown. They need a shepherd to lead them to ‘calm water’ (Psalm 23:2). They have no natural defense-no claws, no horns, no fangs. They are helpless. Sheep need a shepherd with a ‘rod and shepherd’s staff’ (Psalm 23:4) to protect them. They have no sense of direction. They need someone to lead them ‘on paths that are right’ (Psalm 23:3).
“So do we. We, too, tend to be swept away by waters we should have avoided. We have no defense against the evil lion who prowls about seeking whom he might devour. We, too, get lost.
“We need a shepherd. We need a shepherd to care for us and to guide us. And we have one. One who knows us by name.”

• Max Lucado, A Gentle Thunder

My Thoughts

We’ve had more than one psalm attributed to Asaph, but then people argue that Asaph lived in the times of King David and King Solomon.  Yet, his prophetic words are as if he was right there when Nebuchadnezzar had Jerusalem leveled and burned.  But King David assigned Asaph the job of being a prophet to the people.  The concept of “prophet” in the job title was that he could be a prophet as we might have the spiritual gift, not to add to the Scripture that is already provided by God but to explain and provide understanding.  Yet, could God take someone who is already given the job of prophet, and is already writing music for worship, and make him a prophet of things to come in a future time?  If we say ‘no’ we limit God and God has no limits.  But some think there could be more than one Asaph who wrote psalms, and the psalms were lumped together.

I prefer Asaph being inspired by God to not just write the psalm but include prophecy.  Since there is a question about the time that the psalm was written, it is not listed as a prophetic psalm.  Odd how you can be so specific, and people cannot believe the prophecy.  But since Jesus said no one knows the time of His return, when someone says that it is next Tuesday, I will agree with those that do not believe it.

The verses that Jeremiah copied (Jeremiah 10:25, ver. 6, 7) should always be a warning to all nations.  It applies as much today as it did in the times of David and Solomon and the times when Judah fell and Jerusalem burned.  If you do not acknowledge God, God’s wrath will one day be poured out upon you.  And in countries that waffle back and forth on the subject, that can probably be said of political parties – but I have none in mind at the time.  But, in accordance with the previous paragraph, I will not say it will happen next Tuesday.  For one reason, I have no idea when you will read this…

The imprecatory verses, ver. 10, 12, start with a common lament in many psalms of affliction.  And it is God’s Mercy that holds back God’s wrath.  Why does God put up with nations that mock Him?  While the nation mocks, while people parade in the streets with sinful slogans and evil thoughts on their minds, there are those people who have not bowed a knee to the debauchery that the nation has adopted.  Remember Abraham’s bartering with God.  When the Lord agreed to not destroy Sodom if only ten righteous people could be found, then the Lord left Abraham’s presence.  So, God has His limit, but He is long-suffering, enduring the debauchery for the sake of that limit.

And then, in the end, we will be like sheep who come back to the Good Shepherd.  Yes, sheep.  Such weak and needy animals, but give us something shiny to follow and we will stray from the Lord.  We must hear the Good Shepherd’s voice and go to Him.

Psalm 80

Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock.
You who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
    shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
    come and save us.
Restore us, O God;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.
How long, Lord God Almighty,
    will your anger smolder
    against the prayers of your people?
You have fed them with the bread of tears;
    you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.
You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors,
    and our enemies mock us.
Restore us, God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.
You transplanted a vine from Egypt;
    you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it,
    and it took root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered with its shade,
    the mighty cedars with its branches.
Its branches reached as far as the Sea,
    its shoots as far as the River.
Why have you broken down its walls
    so that all who pass by pick its grapes?
Boars from the forest ravage it,
    and insects from the fields feed on it.
Return to us, God Almighty!
    Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,
    the root your right hand has planted,
    the son you have raised up for yourself.
Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
    at your rebuke your people perish.
Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
    the son of man you have raised up for yourself.
Then we will not turn away from you;
    revive us, and we will call on your name.
Restore us, Lord God Almighty;
    make your face shine on us,
    that we may be saved.

• Psalm 80:1-19

Type of Psalm

Psalms of Affliction: Psalms where the psalmist is crying out in pain or distress, asking God where He is in the psalmist’s time of need.  But no matter how dire the circumstances or how long the lament, there seems to always be a word of praise.  Otherwise, why do we go to God in such times, other than to recognize Him as the only one who can help us?

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“This psalm is much to the same purport with the foregoing. Some think it was penned upon occasion of the desolation and captivity of the ten tribes, as the foregoing psalm of the two. But many were the distresses of the Israel of God, many perhaps which are not recorded in the sacred history some whereof might give occasion for the drawing up of this psalm, which is proper to be sung in the day of Jacob’s trouble, and if, in singing it, we express a true love to the church and a hearty concern for its interest, with a firm confidence in God’s power to help it out of its greatest distresses, we make melody with our hearts to the Lord. The psalmist here, I. Begs for the tokens of God’s presence with them and favour to them, ver. 1-3. II. He complains of the present rebukes they were under, ver. 4-7. III. He illustrates the present desolations of the church, by the comparison of a vine and a vineyard, which had flourished, but was now destroyed, ver. 8-16. IV. He concludes with prayer to God for the preparing of mercy for them and the preparing of them for mercy, ver. 17-19. This, as many psalms before and after, relates to the public interests of God’s Israel, which ought to lie nearer to our hearts than any secular interest of our own.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 80 ”Israel dwelt up to the mountains’ summits, cultivating every foot of soil. The nation multiplied and became so great that other lands felt its influence. ‘The hills were covered with its shadow, and the mighty cedars with its boughs.’ The nation itself was so great that even its tribes were powerful and worthy to take rank among the mighty. A more correct rendering describes the cedars as covered with the vine, and we know that in many lands vines climb the trees and cover them. What a vine must that be that ascends the cedars of God and even tops them! It is a noble picture of the prosperity of the Israelite people in their best days. In Solomon’s time the little land of Israel occupied a high place among the nations. There have been times when the church of God also has been eminently conspicuous, and her power has been felt far and near.”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon and the Psalms

My Thoughts

Sitting between the cherubim refers to where God was said to sit on the Ark of the Covenant.

You can look back to the discussion on Psalm 79:10, 12 to see how many psalms have the same theme.  The psalmist asks for God to save us.  But the reason for God to save them is that the nations, that are oppressing the people at the moment, are essentially laughing at the God of the Chosen People who are being oppressed.

Then the psalmist used a metaphor of a vine.  The vine grew from the Sea to the River.  The common slur against the Jews today is “From the river to the sea” meaning that Palestine will only be free when all the Jews are dead, yet the Jews are considered the ones who are guilty of ethnic cleansing and genocide while they try to remove just the terrorists.  But the terrorists prompt the people to chant for ethnic cleansing.  The world has gone insane when they cannot see this inconsistency.

But the vine provided shade.  It cover the great cedars. The vine provided food for wild animals and insects.

But now, the vine is cut down and burned.

The psalmist ends with a plea for God to restore the people to the land.

Psalm 81

Sing for joy to God our strength;
    shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the timbrel,
    play the melodious harp and lyre.
Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
    and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival;
this is a decree for Israel,
    an ordinance of the God of Jacob.
When God went out against Egypt,
    he established it as a statute for Joseph.
I heard an unknown voice say:
“I removed the burden from their shoulders;
    their hands were set free from the basket.
In your distress you called and I rescued you,
    I answered you out of a thundercloud;
    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear me, my people, and I will warn you—
    if you would only listen to me, Israel!
You shall have no foreign god among you;
    you shall not worship any god other than me.
I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.
Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.
“But my people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.
“If my people would only listen to me,
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
how quickly I would subdue their enemies
    and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

• Psalm 81:1-16

Type of Psalm

Psalms of thanksgiving for God’s goodness to Israel:  Giving God thanks as noted.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“This psalm was penned, as is supposed, not upon occasion of any particular providence, but for the solemnity of a particular ordinance, either that of the new-moon in general or that of the feast of trumpets on the new moon of the seventh month, Lev. 23:24; Num. 29:1. When David, by the Spirit, introduced the singing of psalms into the temple-service this psalm was intended for that day, to excite and assist the proper devotions of it. All the psalms are profitable; but, if one psalm be more suitable than another to the day and observances of it, we should choose that. The two great intentions of our religious assemblies, and which we ought to have in our eye in our attendance on them, are answered in this psalm, which are, to give glory to God and to receive instruction from God, to ‘behold the beauty of the Lord and to enquire in his temple;’ accordingly by this psalm we are assisted on our solemn feast days, I. In praising God for what he is to his people (ver. 1-3), and has done for them, ver. 4-7. II. In teaching and admonishing one another concerning the obligations we lie under to God (ver. 8-10), the danger of revolting from him (ver. 11, 12), and the happiness we should have if we would but keep close to him, ver. 13-16. This, though spoken primarily of Israel of old, is written for our learning, and is therefore to be sung with application.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 81:10 “Like the seasons, sometimes our spiritual lives go through dry spells.  Enter into God’s presence to quench your thirst for Him …
“Give God some time right now to speak into your life and fill you with His presence.”

• Ken Petersen, General Editor, PrayerPoints, Praying God’s Promises at your point of need, Spiritual Drought

My Thoughts

If you are reading through these psalms, you can often find a couple of psalms of affliction in a row.  It is wonderful to cheer people up and sing a psalm of praise.  After all, God has already gained the victory.  We may be in the middle of suffering now, but even then, there is reason to praise God.

This psalm is in three parts.  The opening verses are the preparation at a full moon to have a festival and worship the one true God.

But then an “unknown voice” is heard.

The middle part of this psalm speaks of how the people were given a heavy burden and they cried out to God from Egypt.  God would lift the burden in the baskets.  This sounds odd, but today bricks are placed in a hod.  The hod is trough shaped and can carry the brick or the mortar.  Thus, the heavy burden was the making of bricks and then making the structures for their slave masters.

But God rescued them and brought them out of Egypt.  And with all the rules that came from the Mosaic Law, God simply wanted them to worship Him instead of the false Gods.

Then in the final part of the psalm, it says that the people could not do that one thing, to worship God in the way God prescribed in the Law.  And all the affliction that they had received boiled down to that one failure.

But all the promises of restoration hinge on repentance and returning to God and the worship of Him alone.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

Psalm 79

“1. How would you react if the events recorded in verses 1-4 were happening in your church or community? Has. distress ever given your church, family or friends the opportunity to pull together?
“2. In what ways does the world ask ‘Where is your God?’ What answer can you give? Where can you point to the power of God?
“3. Are you saying ‘How long!’ right now? What makes you impatient? Can the group step in for you?
“4. Do you have a responsibility to preserve those ‘condemned to die’?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 80

“1. What do you do in times of trouble and need: (a) Pray for God’s restoration? (b)·Turn to other people? (c) ‘Go it on your own’? (d) Retreat in frustration? Does God want you to respond differently?
“2. What is your ‘bowl of tears’? Is there any relief in sight? How can you keep from being overwhelmed? Can the group help?
“3. Can you talk when you’re angry? How do you work through conflicts when you are angry at someone? Do you let anger out or hide it inside? Do you prefer to act like nothing happened?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 81

“1. What excites you about your relationship with God? Have you experienced the freedom and spontaneity expressed in this psalm? If so, how? If not, why not?
“2. Does your church have festivals that commemorate or even act out events of the past? What such festivals are coming up? What truths is God trying to teach in them?
“3. Has God ever lifted a burden from your shoulders? What was it? What happened? Are you carrying a burden now?
“4. Are you stubborn? Is it a good quality or does it trap you in ‘your own devices’? How do stubbornness and persistence differ?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

There is one set of questions for each of these psalms.

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.