Psalm 79:13
Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever; from generation to generation we will declare Your praise.
Then we Your people
This phrase identifies the speaker as part of God's chosen people, Israel. The Hebrew word for "people" here is "עַם" (am), which often denotes a group bound by a covenant relationship with God. Historically, Israel was set apart as God's own possession, a theme that runs throughout the Old Testament. This covenant relationship is foundational, reminding us of the special bond and responsibilities that come with being God's people. In a broader Christian context, this can be seen as a foreshadowing of the Church, the body of believers who are also called to be set apart for God's purposes.

the sheep of Your pasture
The imagery of sheep and shepherd is rich in biblical tradition, symbolizing care, guidance, and provision. The Hebrew word for "sheep" is "צֹאן" (tso'n), and it often conveys vulnerability and dependence on the shepherd. This metaphor emphasizes God's role as a protector and provider, guiding His people through life's challenges. The "pasture" signifies a place of nourishment and safety, reflecting God's provision and sustenance. This imagery is echoed in the New Testament, where Jesus is described as the Good Shepherd, highlighting the continuity of God's care from the Old Covenant to the New.

will thank You forever
The act of thanksgiving is central to worship and relationship with God. The Hebrew root for "thank" is "יָדָה" (yadah), which implies a deep, heartfelt acknowledgment of God's goodness and mercy. This expression of gratitude is not temporary but eternal, indicating a perpetual state of worship and recognition of God's enduring faithfulness. In the Christian life, thanksgiving is a response to God's grace and salvation, a theme that resonates throughout the Psalms and the New Testament.

to all generations
This phrase underscores the timeless nature of God's relationship with His people. The Hebrew word for "generations" is "דּוֹר" (dor), suggesting a continuity of faith and worship across time. It speaks to the responsibility of each generation to pass down the knowledge and love of God to the next. This concept is deeply rooted in the biblical narrative, where the faithfulness of God is recounted and celebrated through successive generations. In the Christian tradition, this is reflected in the Great Commission, where believers are called to make disciples of all nations, ensuring the perpetuation of the faith.

we will declare Your praise
The declaration of praise is an outward expression of an inward reality. The Hebrew word for "declare" is "סָפַר" (saphar), which means to recount or proclaim. This is not a private act but a public testimony of God's greatness and works. Praise is both a personal and communal activity, drawing others into the worship of God. In the Christian context, declaring God's praise is part of the believer's witness to the world, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and the transformative power of the Gospel. This act of declaration is a fulfillment of the call to be a light to the nations, reflecting God's glory to all people.

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. Israelites
Referred to as "Your people" in the verse, the Israelites are God's chosen people, often depicted as sheep under God's care.

3. Sheep of Your Pasture
This metaphor represents the Israelites as dependent on God for guidance, protection, and sustenance, emphasizing their relationship with Him as their Shepherd.

4. Generations
The verse speaks to the continuity of faith and worship, highlighting the importance of passing down the knowledge and praise of God through successive generations.

5. Jerusalem
While not directly mentioned in this verse, the context of Psalm 79 involves the destruction of Jerusalem, which is the backdrop for the lament and plea for restoration.
Teaching Points
God as Our Shepherd
Recognize and embrace the role of God as our Shepherd, who provides, guides, and protects us in all circumstances.

Perpetual Gratitude
Cultivate a heart of gratitude that extends beyond immediate circumstances, committing to thank God forever.

Generational Faithfulness
Emphasize the importance of passing down faith and the accounts of God's faithfulness to future generations.

Praise as a Testimony
Understand that our praise is not only an act of worship but also a testimony to others of God's goodness and faithfulness.

Community Identity
Acknowledge our identity as part of God's people, which calls us to live in unity and purpose as His flock.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the imagery of God as a shepherd in Psalm 79:13 enhance your understanding of His relationship with His people?

2. In what ways can you incorporate gratitude into your daily life, reflecting the commitment to thank God forever as mentioned in the verse?

3. How can you actively participate in passing down the knowledge and praise of God to the next generation?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's guidance and protection. How can sharing this testimony encourage others in their faith journey?

5. Considering the broader context of Psalm 79, how does the promise of future praise and gratitude provide hope in times of distress or difficulty?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 23
This well-known psalm also uses the imagery of God as a shepherd, providing a comforting and guiding presence for His people.

John 10:11-16
Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, drawing a direct connection to the Old Testament imagery of God as the shepherd of His people.

1 Peter 2:25
Peter speaks of believers as sheep who have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls, reinforcing the theme of divine guidance and care.

Exodus 34:30-31
The Israelites are described as God's people, His inheritance, emphasizing their special relationship with Him.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
The command to teach God's commandments to future generations aligns with the call in Psalm 79:13 to recount God's praise from generation to generation.
Divine Relationships Our Best Plea in PrayerR. Tuck Psalm 79:13
God's People Should Speak God's PraiseAmos R. Wells.Psalm 79:13
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
People
Asaph, Jacob, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
80, Asaph, Chief, Eduth, Flock, Forever, Forth, Generation, Generations, Glory, Musician, Pasture, Praise, Praising, Psalm, Recount, Sheep, Shew, Shoshanim, Thanks
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 79:13

     1220   God, as shepherd
     4684   sheep
     5694   generation
     7141   people of God, OT

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

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