Psalm 79 (78):5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Secondly, the expression of a direct supplication reveals that the reference to past tribulations comes not through mere acknowledgment, but through prayer. He inquires, "How long, O Lord, will You remain angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?" (Psalm 78:5). It is clear that he implores the Lord not to be wrathful indefinitely, meaning that this significant oppression, distress, and desolation should not persist till the end; rather, he seeks a reduction of His chastisement, as stated in another Psalm: "You have fed us with the bread of tears, and given us tears to drink in measure." How long, O Lord, will You remain angry forever? This is expressed in a way that implies, "Do not retain Your anger to the end." Shall Your jealousy burn like fire eternally?

Your fervor shall ignite like flames. He assures you to take heart in Your name, which is reviled by Your foes.

God instructed in the commandments to worship Him exclusively and not to bow down to any other deities, declaring, I am the Lord your God, a jealous God, a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24). This also echoes the prophetic message: Your fervor shall blaze like a fire. The prophet implores, Be angry no more, O Lord, and do not let Your zeal burn against us for our sins.

How long, O Lord, will You harbor Your anger towards us, Your servants—will it endure forever? How long will Your righteous indignation blaze against us? This righteous indignation, often referred to as jealousy in Scripture, captures God's just wrath. In delivering the law, He proclaimed: ‘I am the Lord thy God, a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children’ (Exodus 20:5). Jealousy is ascribed to God metaphorically, resembling the profound love of a husband who experiences anger when his wife commits infidelity, as noted in Solomon's words: ‘For jealousy is the rage of a man’ (Proverbs 6:34).

The jealousy of God for the Jewish people was also highlighted by the lawgiver Moses, who stated, ‘They have provoked Me to anger with no god, they have angered Me with their worthless idols: and I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation’ (Deuteronomy 32:21), and further declares: ‘for a fire is ignited in My wrath’ (Deuteronomy 32:22). This divine wrath directed at the Jews initiated the calling of the Gentiles, as Paul notes, ‘for just as you were once disobedient to God, but now have received mercy due to their disobedience,’ and he also mentions, ‘if their transgression brought riches to the world, and their diminished state made riches for the Gentiles’ (Romans 11:30, 12).

The Holy Prophet, perceiving the fierce anger of God directed toward the Israelites, which threatened the complete annihilation of the nation, intercedes on behalf of the people of Israel, asking God to cease His fury and redirect His judgment toward their adversaries. He essentially pleads, “Although we are unworthy beings, we are still your children: You alone are the true God whom we know and revere. Instead, let Your anger fall upon those who do not acknowledge You and upon the nations that do not invoke Your name.”

The psalm was written by David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so that he might express a prophetic lament concerning the impending devastation of Jerusalem due to the various assaults from opposing tribes that would eventually occur. This text also contains a heartfelt petition to God from the Church, comprised of the faithful, in times of distress. The term "Gentiles" refers to those associated with idolatry, while "God's treasure" signifies the devoted Christian community.