Message Notes

SSS 4 9 July 2023
Book 3
Psalms 73-89

Text: Psalm 79

A Psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance;
Your holy temple they have defiled;
They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

2 The dead bodies of Your servants
They have given as food for the birds of the heavens,
The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

3 Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,
And there was no one to bury them.

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbours,
A scorn and derision to those who are around us.

5 How long, LORD?
Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,
And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.

7 For they have devoured Jacob,
And laid waste his dwelling place.

8 Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
For Your name’s sake!

10 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Let there be known among the nations in our sight
The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your power
Preserve those who are appointed to die;

12 And return to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom
Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

13 So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,
Will give You thanks forever;
We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Psalm 79:1-13

THE PLIGHT OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM

1 O God, the nations have come into Your inheritance;
Your holy temple they have defiled;
They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.

2 The dead bodies of Your servants
They have given as food for the birds of the heavens,
The flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.

3 Their blood they have shed like water all around Jerusalem,
And there was no one to bury them.

4 We have become a reproach to our neighbours,
A scorn and derision to those who are around us.

Psalm 79:1-4

1. Judah

God’s inheritance had been invaded

2. Jerusalem, the capital
The city lay in heaps, utterly devastated

3. The Temple
It was defiled

4. The servants of God

a) Priests

b) Levites

c) They were killed

d) Their corpses were left unburied

e) They were food for the scavengers

f) Their blood was shed like water all around Jerusalem

5. The name of Judah

a) A reproach

b) A scorn

c) A derision

PRAYING TO THE LORD I

5 How long, LORD?
Will You be angry forever?
Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You,
And on the kingdoms that do not call on Your name.

Psalm 79:5-6

1. Dealing with the problem of God’s wrath

a) Asaph was aware of God’s wrath

b) The word “jealousy” was used with reference to “idolatry”

c) Pleading for God’s wrath to be set aside

2. Outpouring of God’s wrath

a) On the nations that do not acknowledge God

b) On the kingdoms that do not call on God’s name

PRAYING TO THE LORD II

7 For they have devoured Jacob,
And laid waste his dwelling place.

8 Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
For Your name’s sake!

Psalm 79:7-9

1. Jacob was being “devoured”

a) The dwelling place of Jacob was laid waste

b) The people are brought very low

2. Dealing with the Iniquities of Jacob

a) That former iniquities not be remembered

b) That tender mercies be granted

3. Pleading for salvation (deliverance)

a) Help to be given

b) Deliverance

c) Atonement to be provided

d) For the sake of God’s glory and His name

PRAYING TO THE LORD III

10 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Let there be known among the nations in our sight
The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

11 Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your power
Preserve those who are appointed to die;

12 And return to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom
Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

13 So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,
Will give You thanks forever;
We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Psalm 79:10-13

1. The mockery of the nations

Why should the nations say
“Where is their God?”

Psalm 79:10a

2. Avenging the blood of God’s servants

Let there be known among the nations in our sight
The avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.

Psalm 79:10b

3. The groans of those who are dying

Let the groaning of the prisoner come before You;
According to the greatness of Your power
Preserve those who are appointed to die;

Psalm 79:11

4. Judging of the wicked

And return to our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom
Their reproach with which they have reproached You, O Lord.

Psalm 79:12

5. Giving of Thanks

So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture,
Will give You thanks forever;
We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Psalm 79:13