Today’s passage: Psalm 79
Helpful thoughts:
- This psalm was most likely written after Babylon conquered Judah and destroyed the Temple.
- Verses 5 and 6 are difficult to hold together:
- The Lord’s anger and jealousy were against Judah. They had rejected Him. They had been unfaithful.
- To ask God to pour out wrath against pagan nations, in a very real way, should have included Israel and Judah.
- There was a remnant of the Jewish people who called on the name of the Lord. They cried out for mercy.
- Asaph’s cry for mercy acknowledges:
- They needed saving. Not just internal reform.
- Not just improvement, atonement.
- If Jerusalem were to be restored it would be according to God’s power and mercy, not the power of any people.
- God’s people exist for the glory of His name.
- They needed saving. Not just internal reform.
Questions to consider:
- Nations who worshiped false gods (And probably also citizens of Judah) would believe that the false gods of the Babylonians were more powerful than Yahweh (Verse 10) after this defeat. Why is that idea so foolish? Why did Babylon win this “victory”?
- With the history of Israel, how would the commitment of verse 13 feel like an empty promise? In what way is it true? When will God’s people give thanks to Him forever?
- If God was not merciful, what would be the right answer to the questions of verse 5? How does this make a verse like 1 John 1:9 so very special? How can God’s abundant mercy and future gracious promises encourage you to walk in righteousness today…for the glory of His name?