Why Should the Nations Say, “Where Is Their God?” – Psalm 79

Two nations conquered Israel and Judah, the two halves of the nation of Israel, God’s people, in the eighth and seventh centuries before Christ.  Assyria and then Babylon were used by God to punish His people for their idolatry.  Assyria was conquered and destroyed by Babylon and Babylon was subsequently destroyed by Medo-Persia.

A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.  They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.  They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them.  We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us.

How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever?  Will your jealousy burn like fire?  Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name!  For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation.

Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake!  Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”  Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!

Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!  Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!  But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.  (Psalm 79 ESV)

Israel has made God jealous with her idolatry and His judgment on her has been using foreign nations to bring about the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.  But despite this the nations who are perpetrating this disaster are worthy of judgment and the peoples around Israel who are denigrating the name of Yahweh deserve a just recompense.  Israel cries out to God to atone for her sins and promises thanksgiving forever.  Even when we are in the wrong and must experience God’s discipline, the sacred things of God, even us, His people, merit reprisal for defilement.