Psalm 79
Justice for Blood. Justice in Blood.
The blood that poured out on the streets of Jerusalem in 586BC pours into this Psalm.
And the question this Psalm poses to God is: “What will you do about the blood that has been shed?”
It’s a question many of us ask at different points in our lives. Especially as our newsfeeds are filled with stories of wars with no end in sight. Maybe you’re asking it right now. It is right to be concerned by the injustice and death throughout the world.
This Psalm invites you to bring this question to God, pray for him to intervene, but also consider that through the blood of his Son, God will do something even more extraordinary.
A psalm of Asaph.
1 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2 They have left the dead bodies of your servants
as food for the birds of the sky,
the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
3 They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.
4 We are objects of contempt to our neighbours,
of scorn and derision to those around us.5 How long, LORD? Will you be angry for ever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
that do not call on your name;
7 for they have devoured Jacob
and devastated his homeland.8 Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.
9 Help us, God our Saviour,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name’s sake.
10 Why should the nations say,
‘Where is their God?’Before our eyes, make known among the nations
that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.
11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.
12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbours seven times
the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you for ever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.
This Psalm is sung on streets stained by blood (v3). This song, like Psalm 74, is prayed in the ruins of Jerusalem after the attack orchestrated from Babylon. Here the particular concern is for God to display his justice in the punishment of the wicked.
“Your inheritance”
“Your holy temple”
“Your servants”
These three ‘yours’ in the opening couple of verses highlight that the damage and trauma done to the city, temple, and people are ultimately acts against God. The cruelty in the murder of inhabitants of the city, vividly captured in this opening section (vv1-4) is then placed before God as something he must deal with in justice. This is a demand for God to demonstrate he is just.
In v5, it is recognised and acknowledged that God has been angry with Jerusalem. The Psalmist knows God is jealous. For the fall of the city and exile was a result of the idolatry and disobedience of the people. They were meant to be faithful to God alone. Yet they had betrayed him, chasing after false gods.
And so the prayer of v5 is followed on and filled out in vv8-10. Here is an anguished plea for pardon, a grasping for grace. But do you notice once more where the emphasis lies? He implores God for mercy, not for their sake but God’s. For if God forgives them, delivers them from their enemies and defeats their foes, God is glorified. No longer will they be able to taunt, “Where is their God?” He will be shown as righteous and will be justly glorified.
The Psalm then culminates with three final petitions and one commitment.
We pray that God’s justice will be seen and known by all the nations (v10). We pray God would deliver those in captivity to the enemy (v11). And we pray that God would turn back the schemes of the evil on their own heads, receiving their just desserts (v12).
In praying for God to step in, we follow in the footsteps of the widow of Christ’s parable. She was persistent in petitioning and pleading with the judge for justice (Luke 18.1-8). And so we follow her in not giving up but persevering in prayer to God for justice.
And ultimately this justice comes through Jesus. He is the resurrected Lord who will judge all the earth (Acts 17.31). But Jesus is also the one through whom our prayers for forgiveness find their fulfilment. Jesus is the true temple who was destroyed on the cross (John 2.19) and whose blood was poured out from his side (John 19.34). The blood he shed is the ransom for our sins (Romans 5.6-11; Hebrews 12.24).
And so our commitment is to worship the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his people (v13). Now and forever, we sing praise to our Lord, from generation to generation.
Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
-Hebrews 13.20-21
Glory be to God the Father, who is perfectly righteous in all his ways and decrees.
Glory be to God the Son, who blood has atoned for our sins.
Glory be to God the Spirit, who intercedes for us in our wordless groans for justice.
Ever three and ever One.
Home Group: Healthy Church Week 8
Read Ephesians 4.1-16
Paul says in verse 11 that it is Christ himself who gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to his people. What difference might that make in how we might relate to those in leadership roles in our church?
What does Paul say in v12-13 is the role or purpose of these particular leaders and teachers?
If they fulfil their role, what will be the end result for God’s people and church?
Read 1 Peter 5.1-9
Peter talks about elders being eager to serve (v2). Do you think leading and serving are compatible? Why?
Why is humility important for leaders and also for members of the congregation?
Do you think that leadership is an area that is particularly vulnerable to the devil’s attacks? Why or why not?