Psalm 79 (78):4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The death of God's faithful ones holds great value, not in the eyes of those who mock, but in the sight of the Lord. This ridicule and contempt, as interpreted by some, comes from those surrounding us. Here, we encounter a reiteration of earlier sentiments. What was previously referred to as disgrace has now manifested as derision; and what was once directed at our neighbors is echoed in the mockery we face from those close to us. Furthermore, regarding the earthly Jerusalem, other nations are certainly seen as neighbors to those residing within this community. However, concerning the heavenly Jerusalem, our mother, as noted in Galatians 4:26, there exist neighbors within its embrace, among whom the Church resides, even though they may act as adversaries, in the realm of light.

Because of this, those who live nearby scorn us; this reason has rendered us targets of mockery from those in our vicinity. The prophet refers to the Philistines, Idumeans, Ammonites, Moabites, and other neighboring peoples who have consistently opposed the Jews.

He notes that this once-respected nation of Judah has now become a subject of ridicule among neighboring peoples who have long envied us and plotted against us. The term “imitation and reviling” indicates that our adversaries echoed our words, which is a common phrase in the Hebrew tongue. The Gentiles mocked the Jews, pointing to their vulnerabilities and the desolation of their cities, deriding them for their unwavering faith in the one true God. This scorn should be understood as the derisive laughter of the Gentiles directed at the Jews, often presented in jest; these mocking Gentiles included the Moabites, Ammonites, Idumeans, and others.

Neither poverty, nor lack of physical beauty, nor illness, nor any other affliction carries the weight of shame that sin does, for sin is an arbitrary ailment, a wound stemming from the will's corruption. Observe the wisdom expressed by the prophet: he states that the afflictions fell upon those who sinned; yet, he acknowledges his own participation in those afflictions. If he was a prophet, he felt embarrassment for those who doubted the prophecy; if he was a priest, he felt shame for those whom he had consecrated but who later transgressed the law and faced punishment. What caused the Jews to become a source of ridicule, and what led to their surrounding shame? The prophet refers to the demons, who became close companions of the Jews because of their evil deeds; they are termed surrounding because of their persistent attacks against them.

In this passage, he expresses sorrow over the disrespect and indignation that often accompany persecution. The term "neighbours" refers to surrounding nations like the Idumeans, Moabites, Ammonites, and others, who, when they slandered the Hebrews, also condemned them as powerless individuals deserving of scorn. In this manner, the faithful, by voicing their grievances, invoke God's mercy. The more vehemently the wicked assail us, the nearer our hope for salvation becomes, for God's patience cannot endure their arrogance, particularly when it is paired with blasphemy. As stated in Isaiah, “Whom they have blasphemed and insulted, they have insulted thee the virgin of the women of Zion, and thee the women of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 37:22).

David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote this psalm and entrusted it to Asaph, the leader of the singers, to proclaim a prophetic lament about the impending devastation of Jerusalem due to the invasions from stubborn nations that would later unfold. It also carries the heartfelt supplications of the faithful Church in distress. The term “Gentiles” refers to the people of abomination, while “God's treasure” signifies the devoted Christian community.