Psalms 79:1-13·~1 min

A Prayer for Deliverance

Asaph laments that the nations have invaded God's inheritance, defiled his holy temple, and reduced Jerusalem to ruins. The bodies of God's servants have been left exposed and their blood has been poured out with no one to bury them. The surviving community has become a reproach, scorn, and derision to the surrounding peoples.

A¹ Psalm of Asaph. ²They have given the corpses of Your servants ³They have poured out their blood like water ⁴We have become a reproach to our neighbors,

The psalmist asks how long the LORD's anger and jealousy will continue to burn. He pleads that wrath be poured out instead on the nations and kingdoms that do not know God or call on his name. These enemies have devoured Jacob and laid waste his dwelling place.

⁵How long, O LORD? ⁶Pour out Your wrath on the nations ⁷for they have devoured Jacob

The prayer asks that former sins not be held against the present generation and that God's compassion come quickly because the people are brought very low. They ask the God of their salvation to help, deliver, and forgive for the sake of the glory of his name. The psalmist also asks why the nations should be allowed to mockingly ask where their God is, and he requests that God's vengeance for the blood of his servants be made known before their eyes.

⁸Do not hold past sins against us; ⁹Help us, O God of our salvation, ¹⁰Why should the nations ask,

The psalmist asks that the groans of prisoners reach God and that those appointed to die be preserved by his great power. He also asks that the neighbors' reproach against the Lord be repaid sevenfold into their laps. The psalm concludes with a vow that God's people, the sheep of his pasture, will give thanks forever and proclaim his praise to all generations.

¹¹May the groans of the captives reach You; ¹²Pay back into the laps of our neighbors ¹³Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,

Section summaryThe psalm begins by describing the invasion and desecration of Jerusalem: the nations have defiled God's inheritance, ruined the temple, shed the blood of his servants, and left the people a reproach to their neighbors. It then asks how long the LORD's jealous anger will burn and petitions him to pour out wrath instead on the nations that do not know him and that have devoured Jacob. From there the prayer turns inward, asking God not to remember former sins but to help, forgive, and deliver for the sake of his name. The closing requests ask that captive groans be heard, reproach be repaid, and God's people be restored to lifelong praise.

Role in the chapterThis section teaches God's people to bring national ruin before him with both confession and covenant appeal, seeking mercy that will honor his name in the sight of hostile nations.