Psalm 79

Authorship

This psalm was authored by Asaph.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. What the heathen had done. (1-3)

A. They had stolen the inheritance of God’s people.

B. They had defiled the holy temple.

C. They had laid Jerusalem in heaps.

D. They had given the dead bodies of God’s servants as meat to the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of His saints unto the beasts of the earth.

E. They had shed the blood of God’s people, and there was none to bury them.

II. What God’s people had become to the heathen. (4)

A. A reproach.

B. A scorn.

C. A derision.

III. Questioning concerning the heathen. (5)

A. How long, Lord?

B. Will You be angry for ever?

C. Will Your jealousy burn like fire?

IV. Responding to the heathen. (6-7)

A. Pour out Your wrath upon the heathen that have not known Thee.

B. Pour our Your wrath upon the kingdoms that have not called upon Your name.

C. They have devoured Jacob and laid waste his dwelling place.

V. Help us in the midst of the heathen. (8-9)

A. Don’t hold our former iniquities against us.

B. Let Your tender mercies help us, for we are brought low.

C. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name.

D. Deliver us.

E. Purge away our sins for Your name's sake.

VI. Let God be known among the heathen. (10-12)

A. Why should the heathen say, Where is their God?

B. Let Him be known among the heathen by the revenging of the blood of God’s servants which is shed.

C. Let the sighing of the prisoner come before You and according to the greatness of Your power preserve those that are appointed to die.

D. Render unto our neighbors sevenfold for the reproach they have made against You.

VII. The response of God’s people. (13)

A. We, Your people and the sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks for ever.

B. We will shew forth Your praise to all generations.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 79,9 וְהַצִּילֵנִי {B} MT, G?, Hebr, S, T // facil-styl: g1 praem κύριε, g2 add κύριε

Ps 79,11 הוֹתֵר {A} MT, G, α', σ', Hebr // exeg-ctext: S, T