Journal Through the Bible: Week 77 Saturday

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Psalm 79

This is a psalm requesting that God avenge Jerusalem. It is attributed to Asaph, a psalmist and musician during the reigns of David and Solomon, in which case it would predate the Babylonian siege by many years. If that be so it would make sense that the people knew this song and sang it to each other during their time of exile. Or perhaps it was written by another Levite named Asaph. There are at least 2 men in the Bible that had that name who are listed in I Chronicles and perhaps there were others, including one at a later date. The psalm seems to accurately describe the total destruction of Jerusalem.

This psalm is written as an anguished prayer.

Does God issue any commands?

• God does not speak.

Does God make any promises?

• God does not speak.

Does this psalm teach anything about Jesus?

• The psalmist requests that God not remember former iniquities. We have the promise of God that when we repent of our sins and trust that they are paid by the shed blood of Jesus Christ God will remember them no longer.

Does this psalm teach anything about yet-future events?

• The bodies of the Hebrews were scattered everywhere. Their bodies were preyed upon by scavengers. In future times the bodies of the Israeli enemies will be scattered everywhere and they will be preyed upon by the scavengers. In other words, when the psalmist requests that God render unto their neighbors sevenfold we find the answer to this petition in Revelation.