Psalms 79: Help Us, God of Our Salvation

Psalm 79 is a Psalm by Asaph, as the title says. The nations have defiled God's temple and laid Jerusalem in heaps. The people cry, How long, Yahweh? They ask, Help us, God of our salvation. Forgive our sins, for your name's sake. They end, We, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever.

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Bible:

Read Psalms 79

World English Bible · 13 verses

¹ A Psalm by Asaph. God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² They have given the dead bodies of your servants to be food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your saints to the animals of the earth.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem. There was no one to bury them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and derision to those who are around us.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ How long, Yahweh? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call on your name,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ for they have devoured Jacob, and destroyed his homeland.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Don’t hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us, for we are in desperate need.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let it be known among the nations, before our eyes, that vengeance for your servants’ blood is being poured out.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Pay back to our neighbors seven times into their bosom their reproach with which they have reproached you, Lord.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Psalms 79 · Preschool

God's Sheep

Name Date

Color the sheep in the pasture. We are God's sheep. We will thank him forever.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.”

Psalms 79:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: We are like God's sheep. He takes care of us. Let's say, Thank you, God, forever!

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Psalms 79 · Grade 4

For the Glory of Your Name

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 79 calls it a Psalm by Asaph. It is a lament after the nations defiled the temple and laid Jerusalem in heaps. God, the nations have come into your inheritance. They have defiled your holy temple. They have laid Jerusalem in heaps. The people's neighbors mocked them.

The people ask, How long, Yahweh? Will you be angry forever? They admit their need for forgiveness. Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake. They want rescue for God's honor, not only their own comfort.

The people ask God to judge the nations who devoured Jacob. Instead of taking revenge, they leave justice to God. They pray for prisoners and those sentenced to death. The psalm ends with hope: we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever.

Show What You Know

What kind of song is Psalm 79?
Why do the people ask for help?
What do the people do instead of taking revenge?
How does the psalm end?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

HelpGodsheepJerusalem

It is a lament after the nations defiled the temple and laid in heaps.
, the nations have come into your inheritance.
us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name.
The psalm ends with hope: we, your people and of your pasture, will give you thanks forever.

Think About It

Why is it important to ask God for forgiveness even when others have hurt us?
How can you leave justice to God when someone treats you unfairly?

Memory Verse

“Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.”

Psalms 79:9 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for forgiving us. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

The people confessed they needed God's compassion quickly. How can you bring urgent needs to God honestly?
How can you pray when you feel angry about evil?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Psalms 79 · Grade 5

Sheep of Your Pasture

Name Date

Read and Think

The title of Psalm 79 calls it a Psalm by Asaph. Like Psalm 74, it laments the ruin of Jerusalem and the temple. The psalm does not name the enemy. The scene is grim: the temple defiled, the city in heaps, bodies left unburied, and neighbors scoffing. The people cry, How long, Yahweh? Will you be angry forever?

Their prayer mixes confession with appeal. Don't hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us. Let your tender mercies speedily meet us. They ground every request in God's reputation: Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Forgive our sins, for your name's sake. They also ask, Why should the nations say, Where is their God?

Verses 6, 10 and 12 ask God to pour out wrath and repay their neighbors sevenfold. These are imprecatory lines: the people hand their anger to God rather than acting on it, trusting him to set things right. They pray too for the sighing of the prisoner. The psalm closes in thanksgiving: So we, your people and sheep of your pasture, will give you thanks forever. We will praise you forever, to all generations.

Show What You Know

Which psalm is Psalm 79 similar to?
On what do the people ground their requests?
What are imprecatory lines?
How does the psalm close?

Crossword

Across

Your people and sheep of your ____.
On the kingdoms that don’t call on your ____.

Down

Your people and ____ of your pasture.
They have shed their blood like water around ____.
And ____ our sins.

Think About It

Why might it be healthier to bring anger to God than to act on it?
How does praying for God's name's sake change what we ask for?

Memory Verse

“Help us, God of our salvation, for the glory of your name. Deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.”

Psalms 79:9 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for forgiving us. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What should you do with your temper when someone wrongs you?
The people asked God not to hold their ancestors' sins against them. How does God's mercy free you from the past?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Psalms 79: Help Us, God of Our Salvation

Read Psalms 79

Worksheets

God's Sheep

Prayer

Take It Home

Thank You Forever

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Help Us, God

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Help Us, God

Prayer

Take It Home

We Are God's Sheep

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

How Long, Yahweh?

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Help Us, God

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

For the Glory of Your Name

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Sheep of Your Pasture

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options