Read Psalm 79

“Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us! Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us, For we have been brought very low.” (Psalm 79:8)

This is a shocking psalm. One which is full of heartache, uncertainty, and sorrow. While the exact historical event is not named in this psalm, all of the events line up with the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians which led Judah — the two southern tribes of Israel — into captivity for 70 years. This is one of the most devastating events in Jewish history which is well recorded in the Bible (read 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 36:11-21; Jeremiah 39:1-14).

Oddly enough, the authorship of this psalm is attributed to a man named Asaph, who was a prominent musician and composer of music for King David and King Solomon (see 1 Chronicles 16:4-5). But this means that Asaph would have been dead for hundreds of years already, as the events of the Babylonian captivity took place hundreds of years after King David’s rule. So how could this psalm belong to Asaph? The most likely answer is that Asaph is a reference to his ministry within the temple that had continued all the way up to the point of the invading Babylonians. We have evidence that the sons of Asaph were still functioning late into Israel’s history even up to King Josiah (see 2 Chronicles 35:15).

Whether it be a direct descendant of Asaph, or a group of musicians within that ministry, this psalm poetically displays and prayerfully unfolds the tragedy of Israel’s fall to Babylon. And just as the prophet Jeremiah so passionately interceded for Israel on this exact same occasion, we see the same sentiment flowing out of the words of the psalmist.

There is something for us to learn about humility in the midst of tragedy from this psalm — we must continue to cling to God no matter what. Before their eyes the people of Israel were being slain and the city of Jerusalem was being demolished. Piece by piece their sacred place of worship — the temple of Solomon — was broken apart and ransacked. It's hard for us to fathom just how gruesome this invasion was. And while a godless and prideful man might shake his fist at God during such a tragedy, the psalmist displays the humility required of all of us. He cries out for God's mercy and help, recognizing the sin of his nation and acknowledging the glory of God.

Beloved, whatever tragedy you face today, you must do the same. We must run to God and seek His help in all circumstances. It is our pride and our sinful hearts that resort to blaming God, rather than praising God, in the face of sorrow. And it tickles Satan’s ears to hear a Christian accuse God of tragedy in a broken world under his sway which we all helped create by our own sinful hands.

We must, rather, remember that every good and perfect gift comes from God alone, in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (see James 1:17). And He is the answer to our sorrows — not the source. And He can transform our mourning into dancing, and our sadness into joy. He has not only promised as much, but will fulfill that promise permanently on the Day that every tear will be wiped away from our eyes.

But until that glorious day: Will you trust God when tragedy comes?

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:15–16)

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