PSALMS 79

READING CYCLE THREE(see “Guide
to Good Bible Reading“)

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR’S INTENT AT
PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are
responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in
the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in
interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations
above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original
author’s intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one
and only one subject.

1. First paragraph

2. Second paragraph

3. Third paragraph

4. Etc.

 

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 79:1-7
 ¹O
God, the nations have invaded Your inheritance;
 They have defiled Your holy
temple;
 They have laid Jerusalem in
ruins.
 ²They have given the
dead bodies of Your servants for food to the birds of the heavens,
 The flesh of Your godly ones
to the beasts of the earth.
 ³They have poured
out their blood like water round about Jerusalem;
 And there was no one to bury
them.
 ⁴We have become a
reproach to our neighbors,
 A scoffing and derision to
those around us.
 ⁵How long, O Lord? Will You be angry forever?
 Will Your jealousy burn like
fire?
 ⁶Pour out Your wrath
upon the nations which do not know You,
 And upon the kingdoms which do
not call upon Your name.
 ⁷For they have
devoured Jacob
 And laid waste his habitation.

79:1-3 These verses delineate what the
Gentile invaders have done to the covenant people (perfects).

1. invaded Your inheritance (lit. “came in”) – BDB
97, KB 112,
Qal perfect

2. defiled Your holy temple – BDB 379, KB 375,
Piel perfect

3. laid Jerusalem in ruins (lit. “put,” “place,”
“set”) – BDB 962, KB 1321, Qal
perfect

4. given the dead bodies. . .for food to the birds
– BDB 678, KB 733, Qal
perfects, cf. Jer. 7:33; 16:4;
19:7; 34:20

5. poured out their blood – BDB 1049, KB 1629,
Qal perfect, cf. Ps. 79:6, 10

6. there was no one to bury them – BDB 868,
KB1064, Qal participle

The Jews could not understand how their God could allow the
invasion of the land and defilement of the temple (i.e., Habakkuk). It seemed to
question His:

1. power

2. promises

3. purpose for Israel

Psalm 79:8-13 gives the answer (cf. Dan. 9:1-14).

79:1 “O
God“ This is the first of several
vocatives.

1. O God (Elohim), Ps. 79:1

2. O Lord
(YHWH), Ps. 79:5

3. O God (Elyon), Ps. 79:9

4. O Lord (Adonai), Ps. 79:12

The AB adds two more (p. 249).

5. O God, Ps. 79:6

6. O Scribe, Ps. 79:8

 

▣ “Your inheritance” Notice the number
of times the psalmist accentuates that the objects of attack belong to YHWH.

1. Your inheritance, Ps. 79:1

2. Your temple, Ps. 79:1

3. Your servants, Ps. 79:2, 10

4. for the glory of Your name, Ps. 79:9

5. for Your name’s sake, Ps. 79:9

6. Your people, Ps. 79:13

7. sheep of Your pasture, Ps. 79:13

 

▣ “in ruins” This is a rare term (BDB
730) which is used twice in Micah.

1. for the destruction of Samaria, Mic. 1:6

2. for the destruction of Jerusalem, Mic. 3:12
(quoted in Jer. 26:18)

This Psalm seems to reflect the fall of Jerusalem to
Nebuchadnezzar in 586 b.c. (see 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36 and
Lamentations).

79:2 To be improperly buried was a
horror to ANE people. To be eaten by animals was a fearful prospect (cf. Jer.
7:33; 8:2; 34:20; Ezek. 29:5; 32:4-6; 33:27; 39:4-5,17-20). Psalm 79:2 is a
fulfillment of the curse for disobedience in Deut. 28:26!

SPECIAL TOPIC: BURIAL PRACTICES

79:3 The first line of this verse
alludes to the ritual procedure where the blood of sacrifices was poured out at
the base of the altar of sacrifice after a small amount was smeared on the horns
of the altar (i.e., Lev. 4:7). Jerusalem was destroyed as a ritual sacrifice and
the bodies of the dead as a banquet for the wild animals.

79:4 The covenant people have become

1. a reproach (lit. “a taunt,” BDB 357) to their
Gentile neighbors, cf. Ps. 44:13; 69:9,19; 80:6; 89:41

2. a scoffing (lit. “mocked,” BDB 541), cf. Ps.
44:13; Ezek. 23:32; 36:4

3. a derision, cf. Ps. 44:13; Jer. 20:8 (noun
, BDB 887, used only three times and the
verb form four more in the OT)

This was exactly opposite to YHWH’s purpose for Israel, which was to help the
nations know Him and come to Him (cf. Ezek. 36:22-23).

79:5 These three questions,

1. How long? (cf. Ps. 13:1; 74:10; 80:4; 89:46;
90:13; 94:3)

2. Will You be angry forever? (cf. Ps. 44:23 74:1;
77:7; 85:5; 89:46)

3. Will Your jealousy burn like fire? (cf. Ps.
89:46)

are the focus of Israel’s confusion and prayer. Has YHWH’s special
relationship with the descendants of Abraham changed (cf. Ps. 89:1-4)?

YHWH has an unchanging purpose for Israel (cf. Leviticus 26;
Deuteronomy 27-30, see
Special Topic: YHWH’s Eternal Redemptive Plan), but they
must remember that the promises of protection, provision, and presence are
conditional (see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT). Each generation must embrace and live
out the covenant. Remember the Psalms are part of the OT’s “two ways” (cf. Deut.
30:15-20; Psalm 1).

79:6-7 This is a prayer (“pour out,”
BDB 1049, KB 1629,
Qal imperative) for YHWH to
act in judgment and deliverance (cf. Ps. 79:9) for His covenant people (cf. Jer.
10:25). Notice how the nations (BDB 156) are characterized.

1. which do not know You (see
Special Topic: Know)

2. which do not call upon Your name (see
Special
Topic: Shadow as a Metaphor for Protection and Care)

It must be remembered that the nations

1. do not have true revelation

2. are controlled by the demonically inspired
pagan idols

Israel was to be “the” channel of YHWH’s revelations about Himself. It is not
surprising that the nations act in inappropriate ways (cf. Ps. 79:7). What is
surprising is that Israel, with all the spiritual benefits (cf. Rom. 9:4-5),
acts the way she does (cf. Luke 12:48)!

79:7 “For they have” The MT has “for
he has,” but the ancient versions have “they” (LXX, Syriac, Vulgate). The change
involves only a revocalization.

NASB, NRSV“habitation”
NASB margin“pasture”
NKJV“dwelling places”
TEV“country”
NJB, JPSOA“home”
REB“homeland”

This root (BDB 627) has several meanings.

1. abode of a shepherd (i.e., Jer. 33:12) or
person (i.e., Job 18:15)

2. habitation of a nation (i.e., Jer. 31:23 –
Judah; 49:20 – Edom; 50:45 – Babylon)

3. a city (cf. Isa. 33:20)

4. remote military outposts (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p.
55, i.e., Ps. 79:7; Isa. 27:10; Jer. 10:25; 25:30)

5. habitation (i.e., the earth, cf. Jer. 25:30)

6. place of rest (BDB 628, cf. Isa. 32:18
parallels)

Psalm 79:7 follows the usage of #2.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 79:8-13
 ⁸Do not remember
the iniquities of our forefathers against us;
 Let Your compassion come
quickly to meet us,
 For we are brought very low.
 ⁹Help us, O God of
our salvation, for the glory of Your name;
 And deliver us and forgive our
sins for Your name’s sake.
 ¹⁰Why should the
nations say, “Where is their God?”
 Let there be known among the
nations in our sight,
 Vengeance for the blood of
Your servants which has been shed.
 ¹¹Let the groaning
of the prisoner come before You;
 According to the greatness of
Your power preserve those who are doomed to die.
 ¹²And return to our
neighbors sevenfold into their bosom
 The reproach with which they
have reproached You, O Lord.
 ¹³So we Your people
and the sheep of Your pasture
 Will give thanks to You
forever;
 To all generations we will
tell of Your praise.

79:8-9 Two significant issues emerge
in these verses.

1. Israel’s prayer for God to remember His
covenant

2. Israel’s prayer for God to not remember their
continual covenant rebellion and disobedience

They base their prayers on the fact that the nations will misunderstand YHWH
(cf. Ps. 79:10).

These two verses have four
imperatives of entreaty and two
imperfects used as jussives.

1. do not remember – BDB 269, KB 269, Qal imperfect used in a
jussive sense

2. come quickly – BDB 554, KB 553, Piel imperative

3. to meet us – BDB 869, KB 1068, Piel imperfect used in a
jussive sense

4. help us – BDB 740, KB 810, Qal imperative

5. deliver us – BDB 664, KB 717, Hiphil imperative

6. forgive our sin – BDB 497, KB 493, Piel imperative

 

79:8 Line 1 is an allusion to the
theological issue of the transference of sin (and/or blessing/forgiveness) to
future generations. In the Ten Commandments

1. the results of sin are visited to the third and
fourth generations (cf. Exod. 20:5; Deut. 5:9)

2. lovingkindness to many generations of those who
love YHWH and keep His commandments (cf. Exod. 34:7; Deut. 5:10; 7:9)

Both the effects of sin and mercy move through time but each is based on
human choices!

79:9 “O God of our salvation” This
phrase is a repeated title for Israel’s God (cf. Ps. 18:46; 24:5; 25:5; 27:9;
65:5; 85:4).

The BDB lists several ways the term “salvation” (BDB 447) is
used in the OT.

1. feminine

a. welfare, prosperity

b. deliverance

c. salvation from external evils (i.e., Ps. 78:22;
80:2)

d. victory (i.e., Ps. 20:5; 21:1,5; 44:4)

2. masculine

a. safety, welfare, prosperity (i.e., Ps. 12:5)

b. salvation (usage here)

c. victory (i.e., Ps. 20:6)

 

79:10-13 Notice the two kinds of
people (i.e., Israelite – Gentile). The Gentiles are ignorant of YHWH and they
act in inappropriate ways. Israel pleads for judgment in order that His people
may

1. “give thanks” – BDB 392, KB 389, Hiphil imperfect

2. “tell of Your praise” – BDB 707, KB 765,
Piel imperfect

It is shocking to see the pain of the psalmist over the fall of
Jerusalem, the desecration of the temple, and the exile of the Davidic seed.
However, by faith, he can still envision a future time of praise!

79:10 “Where is their God?” The
nations ask a powerful question (cf. Ps. 42:3,10; 115:2). In Psalm 42 it is
asked by other Israelites but in Psalm 115 and here, by Gentiles. Are they
seeking information or ridiculing Israel’s God? The second option is obvious
from the context but the first option is the ultimate purpose of God (see
Special Topic: YHWH’s Eternal Redemptive Plan).

79:11 “those who are doomed to die”
This is a rare phrase (cf. Ps. 102:20). It could refer to

1. those exiled survivors of the invasion

2. those awaiting execution

3. those kept from the temple (JPSOA footnote, cf.
Ps. 79:13)

 

79:12 “sevenfold” The number seven
usually denotes “perfection” (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE)
but here it denotes a complete (cf. Deut. 28:25; Ps. 12:6; Pro. 6:31) judgment
(cf. Gen. 4:15,24).

▣ “into their bosom” The term “bosom”
(BDB 300) is used in many senses in the Bible. Here it denotes the inner part of
a person (cf. Ps. 35:13; Jer. 32:18). The psalmist is praying for a complete
judgment on the Gentile invaders (i.e., Isa. 65:6,7).

▣ “The reproach with which they have
reproached You” The
noun and
verb
“reproach” or “taunt” (BDB 357, cf. Ps. 74:10,18 and a similar root in Ps.
74:22; Lam. 3:30,61; 5:1) is used often in Scripture. The psalmist sees an
attack on Jerusalem as an attack on YHWH.

79:13 “the sheep of Your pasture” It
is interesting that in the Psalms of Asaph this theme concludes Psalms 77, 78,
and 79 (also note how Psalm 80 begins). It reflects the powerful, personal
truth/imagery of Psalm 23!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide
commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of
the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible and the
Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a
commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think
through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be
thought provoking, not definitive.

1. Why is 586
b.c. the best guess at the historical setting of this Psalm?

2. Why was God angry at His people? In this Psalm
who are His people?

3. Does sin move through generations?

4. How is Ps. 79:10 related to God’s eternal
redemptive purpose? (see
Special Topic: YHWH’s Eternal Redemptive Plan).

5. How is Ps. 79:12b related to the prayer for
forgiveness and deliverance?

 

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