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Psalm 79

At the time of this psalm, the people's sin had led to their severe chastisement. The walls of Jerusalem were demolished, the temple was destroyed, and the city was in ruins.  There was nothing but silence in the streets.  The few meagre huts left standing contained a shepherd here, a very poor farmer there, all of whom were scratching the earth to make a living and waiting - waiting day after day, week after week, month after month, until waiting became just barely living without hope of change.

The Babylonians had come, had besieged Jerusalem, had breached its defenses and had overrun the city, torching whatever would burn, tearing down and destroying on every hand.  They had defiled the temple and its grounds, packed away all its valuables, and then destroyed what was left until not one stone was left upon another.  Then they were gone, and only silence and desolation remained.

The psalmist had plenty of time to contemplate the sin and rebellion that had brought about this destruction, plenty of time to fully realize that his home, his friends, his community, his nation, and his worship - were all gone.  He composed this mournful song, not with any hope that it would actually be used some day in Israel's restored worship, but more as an epitaph to be placed upon the grave of what he had known and a wailing cry to the God Who had done exactly as He said He would do in response to His people's continued rebellion.

Sin had run its course.  God had warned repeatedly, over and over again sending prophets to call His people to repentance, chastising them often, urging them to turn and do what was right before God. But nobody listened, and the promised judgement had come.  The psalmist had to say, "How long, Lord?  Will You be angry forever?  Will Your jealousy burn like fire?"  In other words, simply, is it all over, Lord?

Then, knowing the wonderful and merciful works of God in Israel's past, he prayed for mercy now, for miraculous intervention of the merciful and longsuffering God – that He would come, cast out their enemies once again, restore everything, and provide atonement for the awful and continued sin that had brought about such terrible judgement.  He says, "Oh do not remember former iniquities against us!  Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, for we have been brought very low.  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; and deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins for Your names sake!"

He begs God to save this wreck of a nation so that its neighbors won't be able to taunt them and say, "Where is their God?"  He pleads, he cries to God to "let the groaning of the prisoner come before You; according to the greatness of Your power preserve those who are appointed to die."

The psalm is a sorrowful wailing and a funeral dirge for the death of a nation, but it is not the final cry of complete hopelessness - because the gracious God does not change.  He was still the merciful and forgiving God He always was.  He was still the God Who could turn ashes into palaces and death into life.  And as the psalmist cries for atonement, atonement that takes into account the worst, the most persistently committed sins, so the answer came. Atonement was made.  Jesus Christ has "given Himself, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."

The psalmist can look forward, and we can look back - on the atonement that turns hopelessness and desolation into joyful hope.  Have you sinned?  Have you repented, then gone right back to the same sin again?  Have you done it over and over again, until your only expectation is that God will finally reject you?  If that's you, then observe the atonement of your Lord Jesus Christ! See that the atonement of Jesus Christ is your answer, and see that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

What a powerful message!

QuoteThe psalmist can look forward, and we can look back - on the atonement that turns hopelessness and desolation into joyful hope.  Have you sinned?  Have you repented, then gone right back to the same sin again?  Have you done it over and over again, until your only expectation is that God will finally reject you?  If that's you, then observe the atonement of your Lord Jesus Christ! See that the atonement of Jesus Christ is your answer, and see that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."

Oh that some will see that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Thanks Al!

Al - I have really enjoyed reading your messages on the Psalms!

Aren't they wonderful, Judy?  I print them out and read them down in Hamilton while I'm waiting for Larry.

Thank you for your encouragement, ladies!  It is encouraging to hear that this ministrty is helpful to some.

Hello Alan...

Another wonderful Psalm today.

Can you give me a bit of history on this?  Is it what we are to expect in the future or did this happen?  (All of this destruction in Jerusalem)

sp? judgement.

Pat - the destruction of the temple occurred in 586 (or 587) BC when the Babylonians came and utterly defeated Judah and Jerusalem.  In a very similar vein, the visible Church will be destroyed by Satan and his minions at the end of the present age.  But then will come the "New Jerusalem, coming down from Heaven."  This is all somewhat figurative and somewhat literal.  The Israel of God (the Church) is now under seige, and bit by bit it is being destroyed - or at least the Devil thinks it is.  But the "remnant will be saved," and the true Jerusalem and temple are already partially come.

Thank you Al