Year 8, Day 215: Psalms 79-80

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Psalms 79 and 80 can leave a strange taste in the mouth if we don’t take time to understand its history.  If we’re not careful, it easy to come away with one of two messages when we read these words.  First, we can come away with the idea that the Lord is unjust and leads us into dark places intentionally.  Second, we can come away with the idea that we can be angry with the Lord until He proves Himself by acting in a way that we desire Him to act.  For the record, both of these are wrong.

If we look at the history of these psalms, we need to remember that Asaph was a priest under the time of Hezekiah.  Hezekiah was a king who became righteous only after a long period of unrighteousness.  Before Hezekiah came Ahaz, who was not known for his righteousness.  Why is this important?  These psalms are written in the period of Hezekiah’s reign when reform is beginning.  These psalms are written as the people realize their unrighteousness and begin to turn from their evil.  These psalms are written as the people begin to embrace the accountability that God has brought to them.

In this light, Asaph asks God how long He will remain mad.  In this light, Asaph asks God to remember to bless the people.  Asaph isn’t asking God to bless them so that they will believe, Asaph is asking God to recognize that they do believe and they are repenting.  Asaph is asking God that as they repent God show His mercy so that it can be a great witness to the nations around them.  In that light, these psalms become powerful witnesses.

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