Psalms 79 - Introduction

This psalm, also, purports to be a psalm of Asaph; that is, it was either composed by him or for him; or it was the composition of one of his descendants who presided over the music in the sanctuary, and to whom was given the general family name, Asaph. The psalm pertains to the same general subject as Psalms 74, and was composed evidently in view of the same calamities. Rudinger, DeWette, and some others, suppose that the reference in the psalm is to the persecutions under Antiochus Epiphanes. To this opinion, also, Rosenmuller inclines. The most common, and the most probable supposition, however, is that it refers to the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans.

The contents of the psalm are as follows:

I. A statement of the calamity which had come upon the nation. The pagan had come into the heritage of God; they had defiled the sanctuary; they had made Jerusalem desolate; they had murdered the inhabitants; and the nation had become a reproach before the world, Psalms 79:1.

II. A prayer for the divine interposition, Psalms 79:5.

III. Reasons for that prayer, or reasons why God should interpose in the case, Psalms 79:7. These reasons are,

(a) that they had devoured Jacob, Psalms 79:7;

(b) that the people, on account of their sins, had been brought very low, Psalms 79:8;

(c) that the divine glory was at stake, Psalms 79:9;

(d) that they were in a suffering and pitiable condition, many being held as captives, and many ready to die, Psalms 79:11 :

(e) that justice demanded this, Psalms 79:12; and

(f) that this interposition would lay the foundation for praise to God, Psalms 79:13.