*Psalm Category:** Community Lament

Central Thought: When circumstances bring us doubts and questions, looking ot God will bring us peace and perspective

In a sermon entitled, “A Christian’s Exercise under Desertion,” a young Scottish preacher named Andrew Gray observed, “It is ordinary for God’s people to reason from dispensation to relation,” (Gray, Loving Christ and Fleeing Temptation, p. 178). He meant that we tend to define our relationship to the Lord on the basis of the dispensation (circumstances) of the moment. So, when bad things happen, we are tempted to wonder if God really loves us, if He has forgotten us (Isa. 49:14), and even if He exists at all. At the very least, we reproach Him with an aggrieved, “Why?” We seem to expect God to guarantee us a long and untroubled life. “Where is our God,” we ask, when hit by setbacks.

How are we to deal with these circumstances and the temptations that lead us to doubt the promises and the goodness of God? Psalm 79 addresses this problem and suggests the remedy in four steps.

First, face the facts before the Lord (vv. 1-4). The psalm fits with the Egyptian plundering of Jerusalem (1 Kings 14:25-26). Thus was the church made a “reproach” and “a scorn and derision” before the watching world (v. 4). This was a judgment on her spiritual backslidings. You can see this today in the decline of churches that preach a different gospel, which is not the gospel at all (Gal. 1:6-7). We are also reminded that the sins of professed believers have often “given great occasion for the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Sam. 12:14). If the shoe fits, we need to wear it—and honestly examine ourselves as to whether we are in the faith: (2 Cor. 13:5).

Second, accept that God is justified in His judgments (vv. 5-8). The bedrock truth here is that God is just and has His good reasons for everything He permits to happen in our lives (v. 5). Accepting that, however, does not make bad things good, or exempt those who did these bad things from God’s justice, or make it improper to pray for justice and relief. The Old Testament church brought a lot of trouble upon itself, but the nations who attacked them were not innocent. That they “do not know” God means they consciously and willfully deny him (vv. 6-7). For ourselves, we pray for the Lord to have mercy upon us. These were the dying words of the great Puritan John Owen on Aug 24. 1683: “Let your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low”(v. 8). See 1 Peter 4:17-19 for pointed practical application to your soul and your pattern of life.

Third, seek forgiveness by God’s appointed means (vv. 9-12). Cry to the Lord, pleading the glory of His name as a motive for His help (v. 9a). Plead also His provision of atonement for sin, since you cannot earn forgiveness by even your best efforts (v. 9b). Plead for His presence and power, that He would preserve those “appointed [by enemies] to die.” Why should the godless have successes to boast about, to fortify their hostility to God and His people (vv. 10-12)?

Fourth, commit yourself to faithful worship and witness (v. 13). With this final verse, says Andrew Bonar, “melody from freed souls bursts upon our ears.” The sad embattled tones of the previous verses are overwhelmed by a powerful anticipation of God’s gracious answer to prayer. “We, Your people and sheep of Your pasture” exult in union with the Lord as the covenant God who loves us. That God’s people can say, “we…will give You thanks forever” testifies to the fact that the prayer is already beginning to be answered in their hearts, even before it is completed! Furthermore, “we will show forth Your praise to all generations” answers the taunting of the godless when they sneer, “Where is your God?” The Lord is indeed with us—Now and forever!

The psalmist has turned full circle. Now he is arguing from his Savior to his circumstances, instead of the other way around.

Andrew Gray died in 1656, aged 22, after only 27 months of ministry. This was a tragedy for his wife and their two little children. For the church, it meant the loss of a promising minister. What was God thinking of, to take away someone so needed by so many? It surely seemed a terrible waste to all who knew and loved him. Though his life was short, his fragrant testimony lived on and has blessed countless lives for 350 years! His life is an illustration of Psalm 79, since what might seem to be the waste of a life has multiplied God’s grace to many generations. Where is our God? He is with us still. Jesus says, “I am with you always” (Matt. 28:20).

—Gordon J. Keddie