Redeeming Sadness – Psalm 79

Asaph rises in defense of God's honor even as he expresses the anguish of his people's sufferings. He recognizes whatever his enemies have done to take advantage of him, they are infinitely more culpable for provoking the Lord God of Israel. Psalm 79 appears to be a song written for or after 586 B.C.. This date marked the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by Babylon. It would seem Asaph was well familiar with these times as this Psalm shares similar motifs with some of his others, Psalm 74 and 78 among them. One important point of application immediately presents itself. The Lord and Asaph have the same enemies. Asaph is testimony to the principle: If you stand with the Lord, you will inherit His adversaries. Acts 5:41 Echos this theme from the New Testament: “Then they left the presence of the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.” If the church continues to ally herself with culturally popular concerns which assume the authority and priority of Christ's enemies... we will provoke Him to our own demise. “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons – you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? (I Cor 10:21-22)