READ IT! - Introduction to Psalms 79-85

Readings for this week

Monday: Psalm 79

Tuesday: Psalm 80

Wednesday: Psalm 81

Thursday: Psalm 82

Friday: Psalm 83

Saturday: Psalm 84

Sunday: Psalm 85

Introduction to Psalms 79-85

Psalm 79

The writer of this Asaphic psalm says, “O God, the nations have invaded and shed blood like water. How long, O LORD? Save us for your name's sake. Make your vengeance known!”

Psalm 80

The note to the director of music at the beginning of this Asaphic psalm states that it is set to the tune of a popular song at the time called “The Lilies of the Covenant.”

The writer says, “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel! How long will you be angry? Restore us, O God. Watch over the vine that you planted. Restore us, O God.”

“Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh” likely represent the northern kingdom. Although Benjamin literally belonged to the northern kingdom, part of the tribe must have remained with the southern kingdom since its territory bordered Jerusalem itself, and the southern kingdom continued to control the region around Jerusalem. This suggests that the disaster suffered was the Assyrian campaign that destroyed the northern kingdom. Archaeological surveys of the region sow that Jerusalem and the surrounding area experienced a dramatic population increase at this time, probably the result of a massive influx of displaced persons from the north fleeing the Assyrians. This would explain the presence of “Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh” at the Jerusalem sanctuary and the national prayer for restoration with special focus on these tribes.

Psalm 81

The writer of this Asaphic psalm says, “Sing aloud to God our strength. I hear a voice: "I am the LORD. Oh, that my people would listen to me! I would subdue their enemies."

Psalm 82

The writer of this Asaphic psalm says, “God judges among the gods: ‘How long will you judge unjustly? Defend the weak. You are all gods, but you shall die.’ Arise, O God!”

Early Rabbinic tradition saw the “gods” as unjust rulers and judges in Israel. Today many identify them as kings of surrounding nations, who ruled with lofty disregard for justice. Others view them as supposedly divine beings in whose name these kings claimed to rule.

Psalm 83

The writer of this Asaphic psalm says, “O God, do not keep silent! Your enemies make plans against your people. Edom, Moab, Amalek and Philistia. Let them be put to shame.”

To pray for someone else’s well-being is to make intercession for that person, but to pray for someone’s destruction is to make an imprecation. The Bible contains a number of examples of imprecations; one of the clearest is Psalm 83. Here the psalmist called on God to take action against his enemies, the Gentile nations all around who were plotting harm against Israel. The prayer minces no words; the psalmist asked God to destroy them.

Psalm 84

This psalm is attributed to the Sons of Korah. The writer says, “How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD! A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. For the LORD is a sun and shield.”

Psalm 85

This psalm is attributed to the Sons of Korah. The writer says, “O LORD, you forgave the iniquity of your people. Restore us again! Surely his salvation is at hand. Love and faithfulness will meet.”

These verses may refer to the returning exiles and the hardships they experienced. Verse 12 suggests that a drought had ravaged the land, a possible reflection on the drought with which the Lord chastened his people during the time of Haggai.