Bible TimePsalm 79: Protests in Jerusalem over USA
Outside of Netanyahu's residence was a large protest over US intervention in Jerusalem. This at the start of a week with a stream of US visitors to Jerusalem who were demanding the Jews stop building houses in Jerusalem.
Psalm 79
Theoretical Time:
- 13000-07-07 24:1:02 AA
- 2009-07-27 17:00:17 TMMT
- 2009-07-27 14:39:23 GMT
- 2009-07-27 10:39:23 EDT
Psalms 79
1God, the heathen have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy house; they have laid Jerusalem in heaps.
2The dead bodies of your servants, they have given to be meat, to the birds of the skies, the flesh of your saints, to the animals of the land.
3Their blood, they have shed like water around Jerusalem; and there was no one to bury them.
4We have become a disgrace to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to those who are around us.
5How long, Yahvah? Will you be angry forever? Will your anger burn like fire?
6Pour out your wrath on the heathen that have not known you, and on the kingdoms that have not called on your name,
7for they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.
8Do not remember against us our former sins; let your tender mercies speedily overtake us; for we are brought very low.
9Help us, god of our salvation, for the glory of your name; and deliver us and purge away our sins, for your name's sake.
10Why 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 your servants, which is shed.
11Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you; according to the greatness of your power, free those who are appointed to die.
12And render to our neighbors 7-fold into their embrace, their disgrace, with which they have disgraced you, master.
13So we your people, and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever; we will tell your wonders to all generations.
US Officials To Jerusalem
The week started with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates visiting Jerusalem. The week promised to be interesting with a series of additional visits from the US administration including James L. Jones, Dennis Ross, and George Mitchell who were expected to arrive across the following few days.
There were a series of contentious issues being brought up by the US officials, including attempts to stop Jews from living in parts of Jerusalem. There were also discussions dealing with how to address Iran. US attempts at dealing with Iran have been stalled since the massive protests in the streets of Tehran. The Israelis have recently moved ships through the Suez Canal in order to defend themselves from Iran.
The procession and US position on Jerusalem generated a protest of over 1000 people outside the resident of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The protest was essentially at the expected fulfillment time for this Psalm on Monday evening in Jerusalem.
This Psalm is written from the perspective of the city of Jerusalem, mentioned by name in verse 1. It calls the city's visitors, in this case US officials, heathens. The problem is that Obama, as any Muslim president would, has taken the side of the Palestinians since coming to office.
Verse 4 picks up the attitude of the average citizen of Jerusalem to the taunts of the Iranians. Modern Israel is scorned an nobody is stepping in to help. In verse 5 the Psalmist turns his address to God, and asks how long will this last. He even asks God if this will go nuclear as some fear.
Continuing his address to God, the Psalmist then asks for God to pour out his wrath on those same heathen visitors and the cause as stated is for having blocked the construction of houses. (See verses 6 and 7.)
The Psalm then turns to the need for visible deliverance from God as a sign of his favor on modern Israel. Verse 10 asks it for the heathen, and verse 12 for the neighboring countries.
The Psalm ends with the general redemptive purpose of the tribe of Benjamin (modern Israel) to carry forward the Hebrew scriptures, see verse 13. This helps to confirm the match of this Psalm to headlines in Israel.
Notes
This Psalm puts to voice in clear text a general pattern where US interference in Israeli affairs can be seen in US disasters. In this case it adds insult, claiming the US administration officials are heathens, a dramatic change that has come with recent changes in the US administration.
The Psalm is basically a veiled request of God that if this US and Arab interference in Israel does not stop that God's hand of wrath be poured out.