What does Psalms 79:5 mean?
"How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?" - Psalms 79:5
The verse Psalms 79:5 from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible reads: "How long, Lord? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?" This verse is part of a lament from the psalmist about the destruction of Jerusalem and the desolation of the land of Israel. The psalm as a whole is a cry for mercy and restoration in the face of the devastation that has befallen the people.
The theme of the verse revolves around the psalmist's plea for God's anger to cease and for His mercy to be extended to the people. The use of the word "jealousy" in the verse refers to God's fierce protective love for His people and His desire for their exclusive worship and devotion. The psalmist is questioning whether God's anger and jealousy will last indefinitely, or if He will eventually show mercy and forgiveness. This touches on the dual nature of God's character - His wrath and His mercy - and the tension between these two aspects.
The context of this verse is important to understand the depth of the psalmist's lament. The psalm as a whole depicts the destruction of Jerusalem, the desecration of the temple, and the killing of God's people by enemy nations. The psalmist, likely a leader or representative of the people, is crying out to God in the midst of this devastation, seeking His intervention and restoration. The psalmist is displaying a deep sense of hopelessness and despair, and is questioning whether God's anger and jealousy will consume the people forever.
In terms of symbolism, the imagery of God's jealousy burning like fire is a powerful and evocative one. Fire is often used in the Bible as a symbol of God's purifying and refining presence, but it can also represent His consuming wrath. The psalmist's use of this imagery conveys the intensity and unrelenting nature of God's anger, as well as the destructive power it holds. The mention of God's jealousy also underscores His passionate love for His people and His desire for their loyalty and worship.
In a broader theological sense, this verse raises important questions about the nature of God and His relationship with His people. It delves into the tension between God's justice and His mercy, and grapples with the age-old theological question of how a just God can also be a merciful God. The psalmist's plea for God's anger to cease and for His mercy to be extended reflects a profound understanding of the complexities of God's character and the human experience of suffering.
Overall, Psalms 79:5 is a poignant and deeply emotional plea for mercy and restoration in the face of devastation and despair. It captures the raw human experience of grappling with suffering and questioning God's intentions. The verse's themes, context, and symbolism all contribute to its profound and timeless significance within the broader narrative of the Bible.
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Psalms 79:5 - "How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?"
"How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?" - Psalms 79:5
Psalms 79:7 - "For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place."
Psalms 79:3 - "Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them."
Psalms 79:4 - "We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us."
Psalms 119:79 - "Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies."
Psalms 79:12 - "And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord."
"Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies." - Psalms 119:79
Psalms 79:11 - "Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;"
Psalms 79:1 - "O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps."
Psalms 79:6 - "Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name."
"And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord." - Psalms 79:12
Psalms 79:8 - "O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low."
"For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place." - Psalms 79:7
Psalms 79:13 - "So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations."
Psalms 79:10 - "Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed."
"Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name." - Psalms 79:6
"O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low." - Psalms 79:8
Psalms 98:5 - "Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm."
"Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." - Psalms 79:9
"We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us." - Psalms 79:4
"Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them." - Psalms 79:3
"Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm." - Psalms 98:5
Psalms 98:5 - "Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm."
Psalms 98:5 - "Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm."
Psalms 98:5 - "Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm."
"Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;" - Psalms 79:11
"O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps." - Psalms 79:1
Psalms 98:5 - "Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm."
Psalms 98:5 - "Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm."