Psalm 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.
This Psalm is a heart-breaking reminder of the destruction of Jerusalem, led by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
Asaph describes the defilement, death and derision brought about by God’s judgment on His people, due to their sin of idolatry.
The Psalmist begs God for an end to His anger, and for retribution against those who had destroyed the city, killed the multitudes and imprisoned or took hostage almost all the other Israelites.
He asks for forgiveness and mercy. He asks for God to help them for His own Name’s sake. He asks for deliverance.
He ends this cry for help with verse 13, a promise of praise. After all they’d been through, God’s people knew the way through the trial was to turn back to their God. They needed to begin to praise Him again.
My dear friend, life is sometimes devastating; sometimes through no fault of our own, but more often due to our own rebellion, sinful nature and stubborn willfulness.
As soon as we come to our senses, we need to turn in repentance back to our God. As a sheep follows his shepherd, we need to submit in obedience. We need to fill our minds and hearts with gratitude for all God has done for us.
Even in our destruction, we can see the thread of God’s mercy and forgiveness. We need to praise the Lord, even through the pain of correction.
Psalm 103:9-13 “He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.”
Obtaining Mercy 