Psalms

Psalms 79: God saves for His glorious name

Begin in prayer

Before we hear the prayer from devastated Jerusalem, let us remember both God's holy judgment and the mercy guilty people need. Let us seek forgiveness through Jesus and plead for the saving kindness that brings glory to the name of God.

Lord, hear; Lord, forgive; Lord, listen and do; don’t defer, for your own sake, my God, because your city and your people are called by your name.

Daniel 9:19

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that God hears His devastated people and acts in mercy and justice for His name's glory. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Asaph brings God the devastation of His inheritance, where nations have defiled the temple and left Jerusalem in ruins. The dead lie without burial, their lives treated cheaply while neighbouring peoples mock the survivors. The prayer acknowledges God's anger and asks that His wrath fall on the nations that have destroyed Jacob. In desperate need, the people ask for swift mercy and forgiveness for the glory of God's name. They plead for the prisoners and those sentenced to die, asking God to answer the bloodshed and repay the neighbours' reproach sevenfold. Still calling themselves His flock, they promise to thank and praise Him through every generation.

As you read Psalms 79, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God hears His devastated people, forgiving sin and judging cruelty for the glory of His name.

The ruined land, temple and city are brought before God as His own inheritance, making the invaders' violence an insult to His name. Unburied bodies left for birds and animals show how completely the enemy has dishonoured God's servants and treated their lives as worthless. The survivors also bear the neighbours' mockery, which questions the God whose people have been brought so low. Their first question concerns His anger and jealousy, acknowledging His hand in the judgment before asking Him to punish the cruel nations. The plea about their forefathers' sins admits a long record of guilt and seeks mercy from the God whose compassion they urgently need. Asking forgiveness for His name's sake rests the appeal on His glory and saving character, beyond anything the devastated people can offer. The prisoners' sighs and the plight of those sentenced to death are laid before the strength that alone can preserve them. Repayment sevenfold into the neighbours' bosom pictures full recompense handed back for the reproach they have cast upon God Himself. Their promised thanks as the sheep of His pasture expresses continuing dependence, expecting His mercy to give later generations a song of praise.

How does Psalm 79 show us that God hears His devastated people, forgiving sin and judging cruelty for the glory of His name?

God sees the devastation and hears His people's cry.

The people bring the ruined temple and the deaths of His servants before the God to whom they belong. They recognise His anger while asking Him to pour wrath on the nations that have devoured Jacob. His name's honour gives their grief a reason to appeal.

God's mercy gives guilty people a ground for seeking help.

The survivors ask for old sins to be forgiven and tender mercies to meet their desperate need. They plead the glory of God's name. Their hope rests on His saving character while their own guilt leaves them with no claim to rescue.

God's justice and care give His flock a future of praise.

The prayer seeks preservation for prisoners and those sentenced to death. It asks full repayment for the mockery aimed at God. The flock expects His answer to give them and later generations reason for lasting thanksgiving.

Memorise

Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.

Psalm 79:9

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what guilt must I bring to Jesus while asking Him for help?

The people pray, “Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.” Their ruin has exposed both cruel enemies and their own need for mercy. They look to the God of salvation whose name is their ground for hope.

Our guilt also leaves us without a claim upon God's help. Jesus bore the punishment of His people's sins and gave His life as their ransom, securing the pardon they could not earn. The Father raised Him from death. His people's full pardon rests on an atonement fully accomplished, giving them a secure welcome before the holy God.

Turn from the sins you have hidden and trust Jesus for mercy. His name is honoured in mercy when guilty sinners seek Jesus in faith and receive forgiveness through Him. Bring Him the wounds you have suffered along with the guilt for which you need His forgiveness. The Lord hears His suffering people's cries, so those trusting Jesus can seek His name's honour and care for the afflicted.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God hears His devastated people and acts in mercy and justice for His name's glory. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for mercy that forgives sin and justice that honours His glorious name. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins.”

John 8:24

God of our salvation, please lead us to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins. We bring before You the suffering of Your people, the prisoners and those whose lives are threatened. Hear their cries, judge cruel wrong and honour Your name. Thank You for tender mercy, and give our homes a song of grateful praise to pass on. Amen.