For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 79

1 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
    they have defiled your holy temple,
    they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2 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.
3 They have poured out blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there is no one to bury the dead.
4 We are objects of contempt to our neighbours,
    of scorn and derision to those around us.

5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry for ever?
    How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations
    that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name;
7 for they have devoured Jacob
    and devastated his homeland.

8 Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
    for we are in desperate need.
9 Help us, God our Saviour,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
    for your name’s sake.
10 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.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbours seven times
    the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
    will praise you for ever;
from generation to generation
    we will proclaim your praise.

A. Find Out:    

1. What has the enemy done? v.1-3
2. How does the world look and what do they think? v.4,10
3. What question does the psalmist ask? v.5
4. What does he ask about enemy nations? v.6,12
5. What does he ask about Israel ? v.8,9
6. What does he want as an outcome? v.13

B. Think:

1. What has obviously happened?
2. How is the psalmist asking for judgement?
3. How is he asking for mercy?

C. Comment:

The description of verse 1 suggests this is the time of the Exile for at no other time was Jerusalem reduced to rubble. The devastation is extensive and many have been killed (v.2) and there is no one left to bury the dead (v.3). That seems to be the background for this psalm.

Then comes the psalmist’s concern for WHAT OTHERS THINK. Surrounding nations look on and see what has happened to Israel and deride them (v.4) and say, so where is this God who has supported you all these centuries? (v.10). The honour of the Lord’s name is at stake here, through Israel.

There is also a PLEA FOR MERCY for Israel. He ask that the Lord will not hold their past sins against them (v.8) and that the Lord would forgive them on the basis of what it says about Him (v.9).

The other side of this particular coin is that the psalmist wants the Lord to come and deal with the nations that have done this, nations that don’t acknowledge Him (v.6), that don’t have a relationship with Him (implied), This is an outright desire for judgement on these nations.

But there is also a further plea that we haven’t covered yet, a PLEA FOR THE PRISONERS (v.11). There ARE survivors. These, we know, were the ones going into exile. They too need the Lord’s help.

D. Application:

1. When God disciplines it can seem final. It isn’t.
2. God is always working to bring good in the days ahead.