Psalms 79:5

"How long, O Jehovah? Wilt thou be angry forever?

Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?"

"How long ...?" The Jewish people had already been told by Jeremiah that the captivity would last for seventy years; but there were many of the people who did not know this. There can be no doubt that they were in a big hurry to get the tragic experience behind them, as indicated by Psalms 79:8, where they cried for a "speedy" resolution of the problem. However, it was not the will of God that any quick end would come to Israel's punishment.

"Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?" The psalmist here indicates that he knew the reason that lay back of the nation's destruction; it was the jealousy of God, continually provoked by Israel throughout their previous history by their worshipping false gods in the pagan shrines of Canaan. God had already tried every other possible means of curing this shameful "sickness" of Israel, before bringing about their captivity.

The terrible defeat and captivity that followed it accomplished God's purpose; because, Israel never again resorted to the worship of the pagan gods.