Psalm 79:5: “How long, LORD? / Will You be angry forever? / Will Your jealousy burn like fire?”

March 25th, 2024 by Pastor Ed in devotional

It is said that this is the verse that Aurelius Augustinus (Augustine) quoted in September 386, at 33 years of age, under a fig tree in Milan. When God’s people are being disciplined, they often cry out, “How long?” As Augustine was crying out to God for forgiveness and spiritual understanding, he heard a voice say, “Take up and read. Take up and read.” He opened a scroll to Romans 13:13–14:

Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Augustine later wrote, “No further would I read nor had I any need; instantly, at the end of the sentence, a clear light flooded my heart and all the darkness of doubt vanished away.” God responds to our confession and repentance just as quickly and completely today as He did for this man in 386.

“Thank You, LORD, that You are not angry with us forever nor do You wipe us from memory. Please forgive us and use us this day.”

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Psalms 79 KJV

¹ O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. 

² The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.

³ Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them .

⁴ We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.

⁵ How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

⁶ Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.

⁷ For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place.

⁸ O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. 

⁹ Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake.

¹⁰ Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. 

¹¹ Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;  

¹² And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

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.