Psalms 79:1-3
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just a historical account of destruction; it's a profound spiritual statement. Notice how the psalmist doesn't just say "nations" invaded, but "your inheritance" and "your holy temple" and "your Jerusalem." This emphasizes that the attack wasn't merely on Israel, but a direct assault on God's own possession and presence, highlighting the deep spiritual implications of the physical devastation.
This psalm opens with a raw cry of anguish, painting a grim picture of conquest. Invading nations have overrun God's chosen land, desecrated His sacred Temple, and reduced Jerusalem to rubble, a devastating scene following the destruction of their nation and homes.
The psalmist cries out to God, not just about an attack on a city, but an invasion of 'your inheritance.' What does this deep connection mean?
The opening words of Psalm 79 immediately establish a profound theological reality: the land of Israel, and indeed the people themselves, are presented as God's special possession. The term 'inheritance' here isn't just about ownership; it speaks to a covenantal relationship where God chose and set apart this land and people for Himself.
When the 'nations' (often translated as 'heathen' when they oppose God) invade, it's not merely a geopolitical conflict. It's an assault on God's own designated space and people. The invaders aren't just conquering territory; they are trampling on something sacred, something that belongs entirely to the Lord.
This perspective shifts the focus from human suffering alone to the dishonor brought upon God's name and His chosen people. The devastation is a reflection on God's perceived power (or lack thereof) in the eyes of the world.
The invaders didn't just conquer; they defiled the holy temple and laid Jerusalem in ruins. What does this destruction signify?
The psalm details a two-pronged devastation: the desecration of the holy temple and the utter ruin of Jerusalem. These aren't just physical damages; they are symbolic assaults on the heart of Israel's spiritual and national life.
The Defiled Temple:
Defiling the temple means more than just entering it. It signifies a profound disrespect for God's dwelling place. Sacred vessels might be looted, idols possibly set up, and the very presence of God insulted. This act is a direct affront to God's holiness and His covenant promises.
Jerusalem in Ruins:
Laying Jerusalem 'on heaps' (or ruins) signifies complete destruction and subjugation. This beloved city, the center of God's worship and the seat of David's kingdom, is reduced to rubble. It represents not only the collapse of a city but the shattering of a people's hope and security, leaving them vulnerable and exposed.
Understand the original words
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
The Hebrew term used for God as the supreme Ruler and Judge, often used in prayer to invoke His power and authority. It signifies His covenant relationship with His people and His role as Creator.
goy · Hebrew Noun
A term used in the Old Testament to refer to all people groups outside of the covenant nation of Israel. It often implies those who do not know the one true God or who stand in opposition to His people.
nachalah · Hebrew Noun
A possession, portion, or property handed down, often used to describe Israel as the people whom God chose as His own special possession. It reflects the idea of divine ownership and intimacy.
tama' · Hebrew Verb
This psalm vividly captures the anguish of Jerusalem's destruction by the Babylonians, an event so devastating that the very land, the Temple, and the city were reduced to ruins, fulfilling earlier prophecies and leaving survivors to question God's presence.
Late 8th century BC
Prophecy of Jerusalem's Ruin
The prophet Micah warns that Jerusalem will become heaps and the temple mount like a forest, indicating a prophecy of destruction that would resonate with later generations.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's forces capture Jerusalem, taking some of the royal family and elite into exile in Babylon, including the prophet Daniel. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more of Jerusalem's skilled workers and nobility to Babylon, further weakening the kingdom.
587/586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's army breaches Jerusalem's walls, loots and burns the Temple, and destroys the city. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon, fulfilling prophecies of devastation.
This passage directly describes the Chaldeans' plundering of the Temple and removal of its vessels, which is a specific historical event alluded to in Psalm 79:1.
Micah 3:12This verse prophesies that Jerusalem will be 'plowed over as a field,' echoing the Psalmist's lament that the city was 'laid in ruins' or 'heaps.'
Ezekiel 7:21-22Ezekiel describes a similar desecration of the Temple, where God's glory departs and the people's treasures become plunder, reflecting the violation mentioned in Psalm 79:1.
Lamentations 1:10The Book of Lamentations, likely written after the fall of Jerusalem, speaks of foreigners entering the sanctuary and profaning it, mirroring the deep pain expressed in Psalm 79:1.
2 Chronicles 36:17-19This historical account details the Babylonian invasion, the burning of the Temple, and the destruction of Jerusalem's walls, providing the historical context for the Psalmist's cry in Psalm 79:1.
pulpitPsalms 79:1: "<> O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps."
Verse 1. - O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance (comp. Psalm 74:2; Psalm 78:62). Israel - alike the people and the land - is "God's inheritance." Thy holy temple have they defiled. The Babylonians defiled the temple by breaking into it, seizing its treasures and ornaments (Jeremiah 52:17-23), and finally setting fire to it (Jeremiah 52:13). Th…
poolePsalms 79:1: "A Psalm of Asaph. O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps."
THE ARGUMENT This Psalm was doubtless composed upon the sad occasion of the destruction of Judea and Jerusalem, either by Antiochus, or rather by the Chaldeans; as may be gathered from /APC 1Ma 7:16,17 , where, in the relation of the persecution of Antiochus, the second and third verses of this Psalm are cited. The psalmist, complaining of th…
This verse isn't just a historical account of destruction; it's a profound spiritual statement. Notice how the psalmist doesn't just say "nations" invaded, but "your inheritance" and "your holy temple" and "your Jerusalem." This emphasizes that the attack wasn't merely on Israel, but a direct assault on God's own possession and presence, highlighting the deep spiritual implications of the physical devastation.
This psalm opens with a raw cry of anguish, painting a grim picture of conquest. Invading nations have overrun God's chosen land, desecrated His sacred Temple, and reduced Jerusalem to rubble, a devastating scene following the destruction of their nation and homes.
This psalm opens with a raw cry of anguish, painting a grim picture of conquest. Invading nations have overrun God's chosen land, desecrated His sacred Temple, and reduced Jerusalem to rubble, a devastating scene following the destruction of their nation and homes.
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To make ceremonially or morally impure, specifically referring to the violation of sacred space or objects dedicated to God. It highlights the desecration of that which is set apart for divine use.
hekal · Hebrew Noun
The earthly dwelling place of God’s presence among His people; it represents the center of worship and the place where heaven meets earth. It is considered sacred and inviolable.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
In the Old Testament, those who are consecrated to God and serve Him; the term implies both status and responsibility in fulfilling God’s purpose.
chasid · Hebrew Noun/Adjective
Those who are loyal and devoted to God, often characterized by their covenant-keeping character and steadfast love for Him. It refers to those who trust in God’s promises.
dam · Hebrew Noun
The life force of a living being; in the Old Testament, it is sacred because it belongs to God. Its shedding often signifies death, judgment, or the price of sin.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus's Decree of Return
After the Babylonian Empire falls to Persia, King Cyrus allows the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple, marking the end of the exile.
"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, th…" — This verse isn't just a historical account of destruction; it's a profound spiritual statement. Notice how the psalmist doesn't just say "nations" invaded, but "your inheritance" and "your holy templ…
