Psalm, Chapter 79
A Lament over the Destruction of Jerusalem, and Prayer for Help.
A Psalm of Asaph.
79 O God, the nations have [a]invaded Your inheritance;
They have defiled Your holy temple;
They have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
The title of this message is a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem, and prayer for help
there are two components of this title
o the first is a lament over the destruction of Jerusalem
§ This is certainly something to lament to over!
§ Sometimes the things we lament over are not so important
o The second part is a prayer for help
§ This is interesting considering Jerusalem had already been destroyed and obviously God allowed it
o This is a song of Asaph (to gather or collect)
§ This was meant to be a song so we would remember it – so its important
o The nations of the peoples and power of this earth (not from heaven)
o They invaded Your inheritance (God’s people; God’s land – from heaven)
o Sometimes it seems the earthly, worldly powers are winning (but keep reading)
o This is a spiritual warfare (it always is)
o Jerusalem is determined to be the home of God by God
o Man came it and destroyed it in defiance of God
2 They 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.
3 They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem;
And there was no one to bury them.
Man took bodies and spilled blood
In contrast, God gave His body and shed His own blood
Failure to bury someone within 3-days was against Jewish religion and had eternal implication according to their custom
4 We have become a reproach to our neighbors,
A scoffing and derision to those around us.
Asaph wants God to know that people are scoffing at the Jews
These were supposed to be God’s people (not people are making fun of them)
o It’s like God do you hear and see what people are saying about your people!
o It was so loud eve the neighbors heard about it (neighboring countries)
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