Bible Chapter Summary
Psalms 79 Summary
Plea for Deliverance and Restoration of God's Favor
The psalmist grieves that heathen have defiled God's holy temple, laid Jerusalem in heaps, and left the dead bodies of God's servants unburied for birds and beasts, with their blood shed like water around Jerusalem. The people have become a reproach to their neighbors, and the psalmist urgently asks how long God's anger will burn and begs Him to pour out His wrath on nations that do not know Him. He pleads that God forget past iniquities and let His tender mercies speedily come, so that His name is glorified and known among the heathen, and His servants who are appointed to die are preserved, with the blood of the slain avenged sevenfold.
Key themes
Key verses
Psalms 79:1
“O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.”
Psalms 79:5
“How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?”
Psalms 79:9
“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.”
Psalms 79:13
“So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.”
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