Sighings of the Prisoners

[Ps. 79: 1] O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.
[4] We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us.
Asaph, of the tribe of Korah, was worried about his forefather’s rebellion against Moses. Korah had been swallowed by an earthquake (Num. 16:31-33). Upon learning that the Temple would someday be destroyed and its gates swallowed beneath the Temple Mount, he rejoiced, and wrote this psalm in hopes that whoever descends into the bowels of the earth to retrieve the gates will also raise his father. The psalm rehearses the exiles of Israel, giving the real reason for Gentile oppression. The nations had directed all their hatred at the place where G-d had chosen to dwell among His people. All persecution of Jews is in reality as attempt to rid the planet of Israel’s
G-d.
All Jewish hearts long for the day when the Temple will be rebuilt and the shekinah returns. They wait. Years turn into centuries. The Egyptian exile lasted 210 years. The Babylon exile was concluded after 70 years. But this Roman exile has continued until century. When will it end?
[5] How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?
Back in their land, in 1979, Israel waited for a sign from heaven that G-d will redeem Israel – that their national identity would be recognized by their cousins, the Arabs, and that they can proceed with plans for reviving Temple worship. And it came! Anwar Sadat and Menachem Begin signed an historic peace treaty on the White House lawn in Washington D.C. The ranks of Arab solidarity were broken. Israel was at last recognized by an Arab neighbor. The world was moving closer to the predicted last Great War. G-d is about to pout out His wrath upon a wicked and sinful world.
[6] Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.
An important step toward the day of vengeance (Isa. 61:2) occurred with the signing of the treaty. Sinai would be given back to Egypt. Israel’s attention would then be focused on the north. The PLO in Lebanon would be their next target. Syria would push for war. A Russian invasion must be anticipated. But through the rough years ahead, Israel will not forget the promise that the Messiah will appear to save the day and set up His kingdom. This verse is a request for G-d to pour the vials of His wrath upon the nations. The seven vials (bowls or cups) are explained in Rev. 16.
[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;
Early in January of 1979 the Israeli Parliament voted to accept 100 Vietnamese refugees. Within three weeks 101 boat people arrived in Israel. In October, another 197 destitute Vietnamese were resettled. It seems that the tiny nation of Israel heard the sighings of the prisoner.
In March, seventy-six Palestinian terrorists were exchanged for only one Israeli soldier. One month later, the Soviets unexpectedly relaxed seven Soviet Jewish Prisoners of Zion. Meanwhile in New York more than 100,000 Jews turned out for Solidarity Sunday in a march urging the release of Soviet Jewry. It seems that 1979 was a year to attend to the sighing of the prisoner.
[12] And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.
This could be a reference to the future seven years of Tribulation, which, if allowed to continue any longer,…there should no flesh be saved: (Matt. 24:22),
[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.
This verse alludes to the reign of the Messiah. He will save the world from destruction at the conclusion of those seven dreadful years, set up His kingdom and rule over the earth for a thousand years. Jerusalem will be His capital, and Israel will be set at the head of the nations. Grateful Israel will show forth His praises to each succeeding generation.