Psalm 79:6
Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge You, on the kingdoms that refuse to call on Your name,
Pour out Your wrath
The phrase "Pour out Your wrath" invokes a vivid image of divine judgment and justice. The Hebrew word for "wrath" here is "chemah," which signifies a burning anger or fury. In the context of the Old Testament, God's wrath is often depicted as a righteous response to sin and rebellion. This plea reflects a deep understanding of God's holiness and justice, acknowledging that His wrath is a necessary response to the pervasive evil and idolatry among the nations. Historically, this reflects the Israelites' experiences of oppression and their longing for divine intervention against their enemies.

on the nations
The term "nations" translates from the Hebrew "goyim," which generally refers to non-Israelite peoples or Gentiles. In the historical context of Psalm 79, the psalmist is likely referring to the surrounding nations that have invaded and desecrated Jerusalem. This plea is not just for personal vengeance but for the vindication of God's name and the restoration of His people. It reflects the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, where the nations' actions against Israel are seen as direct affronts to God Himself.

that do not acknowledge You
The phrase "that do not acknowledge You" highlights the spiritual state of these nations. The Hebrew root "yada" means to know intimately or to recognize. This is not merely an intellectual acknowledgment but a relational and covenantal recognition of God's sovereignty and authority. The psalmist is pointing out that these nations live in defiance of God's revealed will and character, which justifies the call for divine retribution. This reflects a broader biblical theme where true knowledge of God leads to worship and obedience.

and on the kingdoms
"Kingdoms" here refers to organized political entities or realms. The Hebrew word "mamlakot" emphasizes the structured and powerful nature of these entities. In the ancient Near Eastern context, kingdoms often represented human pride and opposition to God's rule. The psalmist's invocation against these kingdoms underscores the belief that no earthly power can stand against the divine authority of God. It is a reminder of the ultimate sovereignty of God over all human institutions.

that refuse to call on Your name
The phrase "that refuse to call on Your name" indicates a deliberate rejection of God. The act of calling on God's name is an expression of worship, dependence, and submission. The Hebrew word "qara" means to call out or proclaim. This refusal is not just passive ignorance but an active decision to reject God's lordship. In the biblical narrative, calling on God's name is associated with seeking His presence and favor, and thus, the refusal to do so is seen as a grave offense deserving of judgment. This highlights the psalmist's desire for God's justice to be manifest against those who persist in rebellion.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Asaph
The author of Psalm 79, Asaph was a prominent Levite singer and seer in David's court, known for his role in temple worship and his contributions to the Psalms.

2. Nations
Refers to the Gentile nations surrounding Israel, often seen as adversaries to God's chosen people and His covenant.

3. Kingdoms
These are the political entities that do not recognize or worship Yahweh, representing opposition to God's rule and authority.

4. Wrath of God
A divine response to sin and rebellion, often depicted as a righteous and just reaction to the rejection of God.

5. Israel
The chosen people of God, who are often in conflict with surrounding nations and seeking God's protection and justice.
Teaching Points
Acknowledging God
Recognizing God as sovereign is essential for individuals and nations. This acknowledgment is not just intellectual but involves worship and obedience.

The Consequences of Rejection
Ignoring or rejecting God leads to His righteous judgment. This serves as a warning to both individuals and nations to turn to God.

Prayer for Justice
Believers can pray for God's justice in the world, trusting that He will address evil and vindicate His name.

God's Sovereignty Over Nations
God is in control of all nations and kingdoms. Believers should find comfort in His ultimate authority and plan.

Call to Evangelism
The reality of God's wrath should motivate Christians to share the Gospel, inviting others to know and call upon the name of the Lord.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the plea for God's wrath in Psalm 79:6 reflect the broader biblical theme of divine justice?

2. In what ways can we acknowledge God in our daily lives, and how does this acknowledgment impact our relationship with Him?

3. How do the consequences of rejecting God, as seen in Psalm 79:6 and other scriptures, inform our understanding of God's character?

4. What role does prayer play in seeking God's justice, and how can we incorporate this into our spiritual practices?

5. How can the reality of God's sovereignty over nations encourage us in times of political or social unrest?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Jeremiah 10:25
This verse echoes the plea for God's wrath to be directed at nations that do not know Him, highlighting a consistent theme of divine justice against those who reject God.

Romans 1:18-32
Paul discusses the wrath of God revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, emphasizing the consequences of not acknowledging God.

Revelation 16:1
The pouring out of God's wrath in the end times, illustrating the ultimate judgment against those who refuse to honor Him.
An Imprecatory PsalmS. Conway Psalm 79:1-13
Good Men God's InheritanceHomilistPsalm 79:1-13
Prayer for Deliverance from SufferingC. Short Psalm 79:1-13
The Inhumanity of Man and the Mixture of Good and EvilHomilistPsalm 79:1-13
Praying Against Our EnemiesR. Tuck Psalm 79:6, 7
People
Asaph, Jacob, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Acknowledge, Anger, Fury, Heathen, Kingdoms, Nations, Pour, Prayer, Wrath
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 79:6

     5367   kingdoms
     6183   ignorance, of God
     8620   prayer, practicalities
     8640   calling upon God

Psalm 79:5-6

     5790   anger, divine

Psalm 79:6-7

     5339   home

Library
The Attack on the Scriptures
[Illustration: (drop cap B) A Greek Warrior] But troubled times came again to Jerusalem. The great empires of Babylon and Assyria had passed away for ever, exactly as the prophets of Israel had foretold; but new powers had arisen in the world, and the great nations fought together so constantly that all the smaller countries, and with them the Kingdom of Judah, changed hands very often. At last Alexander the Great managed to make himself master of all the countries of the then-known world. Alexander
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

How they are to be Admonished who Lament Sins of Deed, and those who Lament Only Sins of Thought.
(Admonition 30.) Differently to be admonished are those who deplore sins of deed, and those who deplore sins of thought. For those who deplore sins of deed are to be admonished that perfected lamentations should wash out consummated evils, lest they be bound by a greater debt of perpetrated deed than they pay in tears of satisfaction for it. For it is written, He hath given us drink in tears by measure (Ps. lxxix. 6): which means that each person's soul should in its penitence drink the tears
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Period ii. The Church from the Permanent Division of the Empire Until the Collapse of the Western Empire and the First Schism Between the East and the West, or Until About A. D. 500
In the second period of the history of the Church under the Christian Empire, the Church, although existing in two divisions of the Empire and experiencing very different political fortunes, may still be regarded as forming a whole. The theological controversies distracting the Church, although different in the two halves of the Graeco-Roman world, were felt to some extent in both divisions of the Empire and not merely in the one in which they were principally fought out; and in the condemnation
Joseph Cullen Ayer Jr., Ph.D.—A Source Book for Ancient Church History

The Formation of the Old Testament Canon
[Sidenote: Israel's literature at the beginning of the fourth century before Christ] Could we have studied the scriptures of the Israelitish race about 400 B.C., we should have classified them under four great divisions: (1) The prophetic writings, represented by the combined early Judean, Ephraimite, and late prophetic or Deuteronomic narratives, and their continuation in Samuel and Kings, together with the earlier and exilic prophecies; (2) the legal, represented by the majority of the Old Testament
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

A Summary of the Christian Life. Of Self-Denial.
The divisions of the chapter are,--I. The rule which permits us not to go astray in the study of righteousness, requires two things, viz., that man, abandoning his own will, devote himself entirely to the service of God; whence it follows, that we must seek not our own things, but the things of God, sec. 1, 2. II. A description of this renovation or Christian life taken from the Epistle to Titus, and accurately explained under certain special heads, sec. 3 to end. 1. ALTHOUGH the Law of God contains
Archpriest John Iliytch Sergieff—On the Christian Life

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Psalm 79:6 NIV
Psalm 79:6 NLT
Psalm 79:6 ESV
Psalm 79:6 NASB
Psalm 79:6 KJV

Psalm 79:6 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Psalm 79:5
Top of Page
Top of Page