Psalms 79:5

“How long, Lord, wilt thou be angry? for ever? etc.] That is, how long wilt thou be angry? shall it be for ever? (see <198504>Psalm 85:4,5), for though what was done, or to be done, as before related, was or will be done by the enemies of the Lord’s people, yet by his permission, and as a token of his anger and displeasure against them: at least it might be so understood, both by them and by their enemies; and hence this expostulation, shall thy jealousy burn like fire? so jealousy does; its coals are coals of fire, (<220806>Song of Solomon 8:6), there were, at the times referred to, such among the people, who did evil things, and provoked the Lord to jealousy and wrath: see the Apocrypha:…”

“How long, Lord? - See Psalms 74:1, note; Psalms 74:10, note; and Psalms 77:7-9, notes. This is the language, not of impatience, but of anxiety; not of complaining, but of wonder. It is language such as the people of God are often constrained to employ under heavy trials - trials which continue so long that it seems as if they would never end. Shall thy jealousy, burn like fire? - That is, Shall it continue to burn like fire? Shall it utterly consume us? On the word jealousy, see the notes at Psalms 78:58. return to 'Top of Page'”

“79:5-8 The intensity of God’s judgment surprises the people; they cry out in despair for compassion, forgiveness, and relief. Verses 6-7 are repeated almost verbatim in Jer 10:25.”

“How long: Psa 13:1, Psa 13:2, Psa 74:1, Psa 74:9, Psa 74:10, Psa 80:4, Psa 89:46; Rev 6:10 wilt: Psa 85:5, Psa 103:9; Isa 64:9; Mic 7:18 jealousy: Deu 29:20, Deu 32:16, Deu 32:22; Eze 36:5; Zep 1:18, Zep 3:8 Psalms 79:6”

“Out of the plaintive question how long? and whether endlessly God would be angry and cause His jealousy to continue to burn like a fire ( Deu 32:22), grows up the prayer ( Psa 79:6) that He would turn His anger against the heathen who are estranged from the hostile towards Him, and of whom He is now making use as a rod of anger against His people. The taking over of Psa 79:6-7 from Jer 10:25 is not betrayed by the looseness of the connection of thought; but in themselves these four lines sound much more original in Jeremiah, and the style is exactly that of this prophet, cf. Jer 6:11; Jer 2:3, and frequently, Psa 49:20. The אל, instead of על, which follows שׁפך is incorrect; the singular אכל…”