Psalm 79-83
Asaph wrote all these psalms. Psalm 83 is the last psalm written by Asaph.
Psalm 79
READ PSALM 79. The occasion for the psalm is after the destruction of Jerusalem This is Asaph's communal lament. He complains that the nations have defiled the Temple in Jerusalem and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (verses 1–4). He cries out to God because pagans have overrun Jerusalem and the Temple and slaughtered the people. Asaph calls on God to vindicate His people and punished Israel's enemies.
Verses 1-4 tell of Israel's pain. Verses 5-13 is a prayer for Israel. Asaph asks God to "Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to recognize you." Concerning God's people, the psalmist asks God to be merciful and not hold His own people guilty for their sins. He also asks God to save His people. Asaph says God's people will thank and praise Him forever.
Psalm 80
READ PSALM 80. Like the previous psalm, this one is also classified as a communal lament. The division is as follows:
Verses 1–2: a call to God for help (refrain in verse 3)
Verses 4–6: an urgent plea and complaint at God's treatment of his people (refrain in verse 7)
Verses 8–13: a description of God's past care of Israel
Verses 14–17: a renewal of petition with a vow to return to God in verse 18, and a repetition of the refrain in verse 19.
Remember David complained about his personal enemies. Asaph cries out to God because His people are scorned by their enemies. He recalls God's past goodness to them and asks for favor once again. He uses three images to describe God's people and their relationship to Him.
Three images:
1. Sheep and Shepherd
2. Vine and Vineyard
3. Sinner and Savior
Psalm 81
READ PSALM 81. The themes of this psalm are celebration and repentance. The beginning of the psalm is like a hymn (verses 1–5b), which is followed by an oracle (verses 5c–16). Verses 6-10 describe God's deliverance of His people from Egypt, whereas verses 11-16 recall the past disobedience of the people and promise to give victory over their enemies if they obey God.
Asaph exhorts Israel to praise God for delivering them from Egypt. He complains about the people's ingratitude. Then he portrays Israel's forfeited blessings. The psalmist exhorts the people to rejoice (81:1-4) and to remember (81:5-16).
Psalm 82
READ PSALM 82. Asaph denounces Israel's corrupt judges who oppress the people. He reminds them of God's role and says God will judge them.
Notice God's judgment upon earthly judges (82:1-7).
Notice God's judgment upon the nations (82:8).
Jesus quotes verse 6 in John 10:34, "I said, "You are gods." Jesus uses this text to assert that he is not blaspheming when he calls himself the Son of God. Jesus alludes directly to Psalm 82, where the gods receive the word of God in the form of judgment and condemnation.
Psalm 83
READ PSALM 83. This psalm is the last of the Psalms of Asaph, which include Psalms 50 and 73 to 83. It is generally seen as a national lament provoked by the threat of an invasion of Israel by its neighbors.
In this psalm, Asaph petitions God for divine help. He describes the violence of Israel's enemies, and he prays for deliverance as in ancient days that God may be shown supreme.
This last psalm of Asaph can easily be divided into two distinct parts.
1. The plot against Israel (83:1-8)
2. The petition by Israel (83:9-18)
What does Asaph say as he concludes his psalms (83:18)?
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