Welcome back! Today, we’ll delve into Psalms 78 and 79, two powerful passages that offer profound insights into God’s relationship with humanity and the enduring history of Jerusalem. Psalm 78 stands as one of the Bible’s longest psalms, surpassed only by the expansive Psalm 119, which we’ll explore over two days.
Echoes of the Past
The Bible recounts past events, serving as a powerful reminder of God’s unfailing goodness and our own human depravity. By examining historical patterns, we gain a clearer understanding of our present circumstances. Beyond reflecting on the past, the Bible also reveals glimpses of the future. A significant portion of prophetic utterances has already come to pass. The fulfillment of 80% of the Bible’s 2,500 prophecies provides a firm foundation for understanding future events.
Asaph penned Psalm 78, a maskil, and provides a sweeping historical overview of God’s intricate relationship with Israel. This journey through their past sets the stage for Psalm 79, which both reflects on past tribulations and looks ahead to future hope.
Jerusalem’s Enduring Struggle
Psalm 79 opens with a stark declaration in verse 1: “O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble” (NIV). This verse reminds the people of Israel how often their actions have led God to permit Jerusalem to be attacked and destroyed.
Historically, this verse likely references the catastrophic destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II in 586 BCE, an event that led to the Jewish exile. As J. Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible references, subsequent attacks also marked the city’s history. These include the assault by the Syrians under Antiochus around 160 BCE, an event documented in the Apocrypha, in the Book of Maccabees. Decades later, the Romans would besiege Jerusalem under Hadrian, and again, more famously, in 70 CE under Titus, destroying the Second Temple.
Jerusalem’s history is indeed a long and tumultuous one, characterized by periods of falling out of God’s favor, being subjected to foreign oppressors who suppressed its people, and then, through miraculous interventions, being restored.
Discerning the Times
Fast forward to current events, and news reports continue to show Jerusalem under attack, most recently by Iran. This raises questions about whether these events align with biblical prophecies concerning the end times found in the Book of Revelation, which foretell attacks on Jerusalem by surrounding nations. What remains uncertain, however, is whether this is the definitive fulfillment of those prophecies.
The Book of Revelation itself was most likely written around 95 CE, during the reign of Emperor Domitian, according to most scholars. Some, however, propose an earlier date of around 68 CE, suggesting it foretold the Roman invasion and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Regardless of the precise dating, Jerusalem has endured over 50 military attacks throughout its history. It’s a reasonable and secure conclusion that people in every generation since writing Revelation have believed they were seeing the end of times.
Faith and Diligence
Given this ongoing tension, how should we live? We are called to live as if Christ’s return is imminent, yet prepare as if it is not. This practical wisdom echoes Paul’s counsel to the Thessalonians in his second letter. He addressed believers who, in their fervent expectation of the end, had ceased working. Paul commanded them to “work in quietness and eat their own bread” (2 Thessalonians 3:12), reminding them that a diligent life is part of their faith.
Satan, aware of Israel’s prominent role in the last days, remains eager to undermine it. His ultimate miscalculation believed that killing Jesus would thwart God’s plan of salvation. Instead, by dying for sinners who could never atone for their transgressions, Jesus secured the ultimate victory. It seems the devil has learned little from history.
Confession, Forgiveness, and Enduring Hope
When we witness Jerusalem or even our own cities under attack, it’s easy to become dismayed. We may recognize our sins and acknowledge God’s righteous anger. Yet, His faithfulness to forgive anchors us. This leads us to cry out, as in Psalm 79:5, “How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?”
Like the psalmists, in our distress, we are tempted to blame our heritage for our suffering (Psalm 79:8). Feeling punished, we may ask God to turn His wrath against our enemies (Psalm 79:6). However, the deeper truth is that our trials often stem from our own transgressions and our turning away from God.
Therefore, the path to salvation begins with admitting our sinfulness. The Bible assures us that “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). We may observe those who tear apart our cities and ask God to intervene against them, much as the Jews did in Psalm 79. The question of why God allows His people to suffer often leads back to our own pursuit of idols and our turning our backs on Him.
Let us find profound hope because God has always prevented Israel’s complete destruction. He permits chastisement only until we return to Him. As Psalm 79:13 concludes: “Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise” (NIV).
