Day 278: Psalms 79-81

Summary

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The Bible Dept. — Day 278: Psalms 79–81

Host: Dr. Manny Arango (with Co-hosts)
Date: October 5, 2025

Episode Overview

On Day 278 of The Bible Dept. podcast, Dr. Manny Arango and team walk listeners through Psalms 79, 80, and 81, all psalms associated with Asaph. The episode unpacks these chapters through historical, contextual, and practical lenses, focusing on lament, unity, restoration, and celebration. Notably, the team contrasts psalms of corporate mourning over national tragedy with a psalm of festivity and hope, drawing out lessons for contemporary faith and community.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Context of the Psalms

• Three Asaph Psalms Covered: Psalms 79 and 80 (corporate lament) and Psalm 81 (celebration).
• "Asaph Rocky" Segment: The team playfully refers to this cluster of psalms, highlighting their intensity and recurring themes.
• Encouragement to Read: Listeners are urged to read the psalms themselves first, as the episode is designed to enhance, not replace, personal Bible reading.

  “Our goal here at the Bible department is not to replace your daily Bible reading. It’s actually to enhance your daily Bible reading.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 00:59)

2. Psalm 79: Mourning Jerusalem’s Fall

• Occasion: Written in response to Jerusalem’s destruction, akin to Psalm 74 and the exilic perspective of Psalm 137.
  • Psalm 79: From the perspective of survivors left in Jerusalem post-destruction—not those exiled (03:07).
• Linkages:
  • Strong literary parallels with Jeremiah, Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Obadiah (07:29).
  • The psalm revisits the recurring question: How long will God be angry? (07:05).
  • Reference to Jeremiah 29:10-11 as God's already-given answer to the exile period—a verse often quoted out of context (08:12–09:16).

    “‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares Yahweh…’ But actually, here’s what God says in verse 10: ‘When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you...’ So the plans that God has is that he’s gonna bring the people out of Babylonian exile after 70 years and bring them back to Jerusalem.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 08:27–08:59)

• Petitions: The psalmists ask God to judge other nations and not hold ancestral sins against them (09:16).
• Insight:
  • Though the psalmist asks for answers, these were already provided through prophets.
  • Contemporary application: Sometimes we still ask God questions He’s already answered through Scripture.

  “There are people who ask God for questions that he’s already answered... I pray that that’s why you’re spending a year with the word of God and with us, so that you could know what the Bible says.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 10:56–11:22)

3. Psalm 80: Lament for the Northern Kingdom

• Setting: Mourning the fall of Samaria (the northern capital) by the southern kingdom, Judah.
  • Timeline: Samaria fell 722 BC; Jerusalem fell 586 BC (03:49–03:53).
• Perspective:
  • Judah mourns for Israel (the "lost tribes"), reflecting unity and brotherhood (04:18–04:52).
  • Even after a history of division and conflict, Psalms express desire for restoration and divine favor for the whole nation (13:03–13:51).
  • The refrain “Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we might be saved” echoes Aaronic blessing and underscores hope for reunification.
• Hezekiah’s Response: After Samaria’s fall, Hezekiah invites remaining Israelites to join Passover in Jerusalem, showing continued longing for unity (14:23–15:03).

4. Psalm 81: From Mourning to Celebration

• Transition: After two psalms of lament, Psalm 81 signals joyful praise and is associated with the Feast of Tabernacles (05:58–06:01).

  “It’s almost like in the middle of a cloudy day, the sun breaks through and begins to shine...” (Dr. Manny Arango, 05:06)

• Festival Context:
  • Psalm is a “festal” song celebrating God’s faithfulness during the Exodus, but also includes a challenge to heed God’s voice (15:28–16:33).
  • “Tabernacle” denotes God’s dwelling with people—emphasizing community and divine presence.

  “It’s kind of like God’s tent where he dwells... Like he’s camping with us... He’s dwelling with us.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 16:01–16:14)

• Dual Theme: The psalm mixes joyful remembrance with warnings against dissatisfaction and the dangers of ignoring God’s provisions (16:33–17:48).

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Memorable Quotes & Notable Moments

• On Asking God Questions Already Answered:

  “The people were crying out to Yahweh for answers he had already given them... There are people who ask God for answers when God’s already given us answers to said questions in the Bible.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 10:55–11:22)

• On Unity and Prodigals:

  “Unity is one of them. And then the desire to see prodigals return home is the second one.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 18:02)

• Challenging Personal Attitude Toward the Fallen:

  “Sometimes I think we can have this attitude... if anybody rejects Jesus, then forget him. Like I can kind of have like a, you’re Judas to me. You’re dead to me... But that’s not the heart that the psalmist have in Psalm 80.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 19:55–20:50)

• Encouragement to Pray for Restoration:

  “God loves unity, that we should be praying for unity and doing everything in our power to make unity possible. And then number two is that we should be praying for those who have fallen away from the faith and actively engaging them, because nobody is beyond hope.” (Dr. Manny Arango, 22:25)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:29] – Introduction to Psalms 79–81
• [03:07] – Distinction between post-destruction survivors vs. exiles
• [04:18] – Judah’s mourning for lost Israel and the theme of unity
• [07:05] – Psalm 79: Parallels with Lamentations; theme of “How long, Lord?”
• [08:12–09:16] – Jeremiah 29 as historical context for exile duration
• [09:16–10:55] – Petition for judgment on other nations; God’s pre-existing answers through prophets
• [13:03–13:51] – Psalm 80: The longing for all 12 tribes and unity
• [15:24–17:48] – Psalm 81: Feast of Tabernacles, context, and challenge to heed God’s voice
• [18:02–22:25] – Timeless truths on unity and praying for prodigal believers

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Timeless Truths & Application

• Unity in Faith:
  The remnant’s lament over Israel’s fall models a godly longing for unity in the people of God—a call to seek reconciliation rather than revel in division or the downfall of others.
• Praying for the Prodigal:
  Christians should pray for and engage those who have left the faith, maintaining hope rather than judgment.
• Knowing God’s Answers:
  Rather than repeatedly asking God for what’s already revealed in Scripture, believers are encouraged to immerse themselves in God’s word for real-life guidance and context.

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Conclusion & Takeaways

Dr. Arango leaves listeners with the challenge to cultivate unity and compassion within the faith community, especially for those who have wandered away, “because nobody is beyond hope.” The psalms not only offer scriptural richness but invite practical, grace-filled responses to hardship, division, and celebration.

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Next Episode Preview:
Day 279 covers Psalms 82-84.

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Connect & Explore Further:

• Download the reading plan at thebibledept.com/plan
• Join the conversation or access free courses at thebibledept.com

Transcript

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Hey, Bible nerds. This is Dr. Manny Arango and I'm your host for the Bible Department podcast powered by Arma. This podcast follows a Bible reading plan we created to help you read the.

[Co-host 1]

Entire Bible in a year.

[Co-host 2]

You can head to the show notes.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Or thebibledepartment.com to download our reading plan and join the Journey.

[Co-host 2]

Family. Welcome to day 278 here on the Bible Department podcast. Today we are looking at Psalms 79, 80, and 81. We got three more Psalms of Asaph.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Asaph Rocky, come on. We have a whole segment. It's called Asaph Rocky. I. I started saying it a couple days ago. Now I can't stop saying it.

[Co-host 2]

Anyway, we're going to be looking at three psalms today.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

If you haven't done the reading, this.

[Co-host 2]

Is a good spot spot to stop.

[Co-host 1]

The video, pause the audio, go get the reading done.

[Co-host 2]

All right.

[Co-host 1]

Our goal, our desire here at the.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Bible department is not to replace your daily Bible reading. It's actually to enhance your daily Bible reading.

[Co-host 2]

We want people connecting with the word.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

So get the reading done. We got three psalms that we're gonna be looking at today. If you have read these three psalms, then hopefully I can provide context, some nerdy nuggets, and a timeless truth that will help bring what you read to life. With no further ado, let's dive in Psalm 79.

[Co-host 2]

As soon as you start reading Psalm 79, I'll.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I'll start reading it for you.

[Co-host 2]

It says, oh, God, the nations have invaded your inheritance.

[Co-host 1]

They have defiled your holy temple.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

They have reduced Jerusalem to rubble immediately. It is clear what this is about. There's a psalm of corporate lament concerning what? The fall of Jerusalem, the destruction of Jerusalem. We just had a psalm like this in Psalm 74.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

If you remember whether that was yesterday.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Or the day before that, I think.

[Co-host 2]

It was two days ago.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Okay, we had. Psalm 74 was a Psalm of corporate lament over the fall of Jerusalem.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

So Psalm 79, very, very, very similar in content and in context to Psalm 74. And this is a twin Psalm to Psalm 137.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

So what happens is Jerusalem Falls and Psalm 137 is going to be the exiles who are now in Babylon.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

They are going to write a corporate psalm of lament lamenting the fall of Jerusalem from their vantage point while they are off in exile. Now, this is a twin psalm to.

[Co-host 2]

That psalm because in Psalm 79, this.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Is not written by exiles who got out.

[Co-host 2]

This is written by survivors who were.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Locked in or Trapped in.

[Co-host 2]

So these are people who are going.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

To remain in Jerusalem. They survived the fall of Jerusalem, but they have not gotten carted off into exile. And so these are twin psalms written.

[Co-host 2]

About the same event from two different groups of people. All right, Psalm 80, okay? Psalm 80 is very similar in tone and timbre to Psalm 79.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And Psalm 80 is all about the fall of Samaria. Remember, Jerusalem is the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah, and Samaria is the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. So Psalm 80 is about the fall of Samaria in the north. Remember, Jerusalem is going to fall 160.

[Co-host 2]

Years after Samaria falls. Samaria is going to fall in 722.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

BC and then Jerusalem is going to fall later in 586 BC. Now, Psalm 80 is written by the southern Judahites, really? Or Jews, okay?

[Co-host 2]

Those people who live in Judah who.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Are mourning the destruction of their northern neighbors.

[Co-host 2]

And really, they're the same ethnic people group.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

The monarchy or the kingdoms have been split into two. They were united under David and Solomon. But then by the time we got to that third generation, the kingdom is split with Judah in the south and Israel, the lost northern tribes, essentially, in the north. And so Psalm 80 is not written from the perspective of northern Israelites. It's written from the perspective of the southern tribe of Judah mourning the loss.

[Co-host 1]

Of their northern brother.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

They are sad that Samaria has fallen up in the north. All right? And then last, we're gonna get Psalm 81, okay? And this psalm is a psalm of celebration.

[Co-host 2]

So we get two Psalms of Mourning, two Psalms of Lament.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Psalm 79 and Psalm 80 are both gonna be psalms of lament. But then it's almost like in the middle of a cloudy day, the sun breaks through and begins to shine. And we're gonna get a psalm of celebration. Not just any psalm of celebration, any. A psalm that is to be sang during the feast of tabernacles.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And it starts out as such.

[Co-host 2]

Starts out with these words, okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Psalm 81, verse 1.

[Co-host 2]

Sing for joy to God, our strength.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

Shout aloud to the God of Jacob.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

So we go from mourning, lamenting, grieving, sadness for two psalms, right into sing for joy.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

So this psalm is not just a random psalm, but it's connected to the feast of tabernacles.

[Co-host 2]

All right, let's. That's context for the three psalms that.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

We'Re looking at today. Let's dive into some nerdy nuggets. All right, let's tackle. Psalm 79 is a Psalm of corporate lament.

[Co-host 2]

Okay, we are going to get very, very, very similar language, okay?

[Co-host 1]

In Psalm 79, as we are going.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

To get in the book of Lamentations.

[Co-host 2]

Which, if you think about it, I mean, that makes sense. Psalm 79 is a Psalm of corporate lament limitations, is a psalm of maybe individual lament, but it's still lament.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I mean, most people think it's written by Jeremiah, okay? And Jeremiah is lamenting the fall of Jerusalem.

[Co-host 2]

Psalm 79 sounds very, very similar to Lamentations. Let's actually compare a verse, okay? Psalm 79 verse says these words, how.

[Co-host 1]

Long, O Lord, will you be angry forever?

[Co-host 2]

Okay, Psalm 79, verse 5 is questioning.

[Co-host 1]

Like, well, Lord, like, how long?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Like, how long are you going to.

[Co-host 2]

Be angry with us?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

It says it like this in my Bible. How long, Lord, will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

[Co-host 2]

And then we're going to read Lamentations.

[Co-host 1]

Chapter 5, verse 22 says this. Unless you have utterly rejected us and you remain exceedingly angry with us, you.

[Co-host 2]

Can see just questions around, how long are you going to be angry with us?

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 1]

Don't be angry with us forever, okay? This literally, echoes of Lamentations are all over Psalm 79. Now.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

There's also echoes of Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Obadiah.

[Co-host 1]

Now, one of the things that begins.

[Co-host 2]

To happen, asaph, in Psalm 79 is asking Yahweh questions.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 1]

The writing of this time all share this theme. The acknowledgement of the sin of Israel and Judah, the acceptance of God's wrath on them as punishment, but then the.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Cry out of, how long?

[Co-host 2]

Like, how long is this gonna last? How long are you gonna be angry with us? What's interesting, of course, is that Jeremiah has already answered this question.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Obviously, they're familiar with Jeremiah's writings because.

[Co-host 2]

Psalm 79 sounds so much like limitations.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

Jeremiah answered that question in a quote.

[Co-host 1]

We often use for encouragement.

[Co-host 2]

We love this on the Christian coffee mugs.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

You know what I'm saying?

[Co-host 2]

Put. Put a verse of Scripture on the coffee mugs out of context, of course.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

And It's Jeremiah, chapter 2911. And I'll say Jeremiah, chapter 2911 to.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

You out of context.

[Co-host 2]

And then we're going to add verse 10 says, For I know the plans I have for you declares Yahweh plans.

[Co-host 1]

For welfare and not for evil, to give you hope in a future.

[Co-host 2]

All right, that's verse 11.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

It's the famous verse.

[Co-host 2]

But actually, here's what God says in verse 10. For thus Yahweh, for thus says Yahweh, when 70 years are completed for Babylon.

[Co-host 1]

I will visit you and I will.

[Co-host 2]

Fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have.

[Co-host 1]

For you, declares Yahweh.

[Co-host 2]

Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope in the future. So the plans that God has is that he's gonna bring the people out of Babylonian exile after 70 years and bring them back to Jerusalem. So they're asking a question that God has already provided the answer to this.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Theme is not going to stop.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

The cry to repay their enemies for destroying Jerusalem and their neighbors for betraying them have also already been answered. Okay, this is Psalm 79, verse 6. Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you. It's like God, you used like heathens to, like, punish us. Pour out your wrath on them. They don't know you, they don't call on your name, for they have devoured Jacob and devastated the homeland. Do not hold against us the sins of past generations. So not only are they going to say, please, like, deal with the nations, bring your judgment on the nations, but then it's going to move to pay back verse 12, pay back into the laps of our neighbors. Seven times the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Now, here's what's fascinating, is that God.

[Co-host 2]

Has already answered both of those questions. How am I going to judge the nations? And how am I going to judge your neighbors in. In the prophets? Okay, so I'll read this to you. The cry to repay their enemies for destroying Jerusalem and the neighbors for betraying them have already been answered.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Just like the question of how long.

[Co-host 2]

Are you going to be angry with us? That's already been answered. Habakkuk, decades before, this psalm told of how Yahweh's wrath would fall on Babylon too. And Obadiah was also writing at this time and was clear that Edom, Judah's neighbor and brother, would pay for betraying them. The people were crying out to Yahweh for answers.

[Co-host 1]

He had already given them.

[Co-host 2]

Man, I wish that was the timeless truth for the day. I mean, I guess it could be a bonus timeless truth, because there are people who ask God for questions that he's already answered. This happens all the time, actually, the people who ask God for answers when God's already given us answers to said questions in the Bible. And I pray that that's why you're spending a year with the word of God and with us, so that you.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Could know what the Bible says.

[Co-host 2]

So that you're not asking God redundant questions.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Now, is God gracious and kind and awesome, and does he provide answers even when he's already given those answers?

[Co-host 2]

Yeah, he does. He does.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

But I don't want to be someone who is in a relationship with the Lord where I'm asking him a bunch.

[Co-host 2]

Of stuff that he's already answered.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 2]

I want to know the Word well.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Enough to begin to have to provide context when I talk to God.

[Co-host 2]

Okay, family, the wait is over.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

My brand new book, Crushing Chaos is out now and available everywhere. Books are sold.

[Co-host 2]

Literally.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Today I walked into a Barnes and Noble and I signed a bunch of.

[Co-host 2]

Copies at a physical location.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

So you can grab this book at a physical Barnes and Noble or you can go to a Books A Million or Amazon or anywhere books are sold and grab a copy. If you enjoy reading the Bible from an ancient perspective, if you understand that the beauty of Scripture is actually knowing it in context, then you'll love this book. And if there's any chaos in your personal life, I think that reading the Bible from an ancient perspective can actually help to crush the chaos in your life.

[Co-host 2]

I think this book is going to be a New York Times bestseller. I really do.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I think we wrote a good one. I think you should get a copy today. All right, back to the episode Psalm 80. Okay, some nerdy nuggets from Psalm 80.

[Co-host 2]

This is a corporate lament that gave voice to the shock where in Judah.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Southern kingdom of Judah, when Israel, the.

[Co-host 2]

Northern kingdom of Israel, fell to the Assyrians.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Okay, this is 722 B.C.

[Co-host 2]

It shows that even then the prayer was going out for Yahweh to restore.

[Co-host 1]

Israel, to unite north and south again.

[Co-host 2]

And bring the lost tribes home. It shows that even though the two.

[Co-host 1]

Nations had split long before and had.

[Co-host 2]

Been at war many times, by the way, the last time only a few.

[Co-host 1]

Years before Samaria fell, by the way, there still was this sense in Judah that Israel was still all 12 tribes together, this hope that, that we would all be together. So the refrain throughout the psalm is a corporate one that speaks for all Israel and calls all of Israel back.

[Co-host 2]

Not just the southern kingdom of Judah.

[Co-host 1]

But all of Israel back to the Aaronic blessing given to all 12 tribes at the beginning of the nation story.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

So what we're going to see is.

[Co-host 2]

In Psalm 83, Psalm 87, and Psalm.

[Co-host 1]

80:19, we're going to get the Aonic blessing repeated over and over and over. Restore us, oh God of hosts. Let your face shine that we might be saved. This connection is seen also in the reign of Hezekiah that followed the fall of Samaria. You can read about this or what.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Hezekiah does in the wake of the fall.

[Co-host 1]

Samaria, Second Chronicles 2, Chapter 30, Verse 1, all the way to verse maybe 10.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 1]

It shows that Hezekiah offered the remnant left in Israel the opportunity to join the south. That's Judah in celebrating Passover, but was rebuffed. But also during his reign, the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt and extended, probably to now surround a growing city. A city that grew mostly to house the refugees that had fled from the fall of Israel. The remnant of Israel that listened to.

[Co-host 2]

The prophets and psalms and returned to David, which means moving to Jerusalem. Return to David and Zion.

[Co-host 1]

The choices of Yahweh were spared. Okay, now, Psalm 81.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Love.

[Co-host 1]

Psalm 81.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

This Psalm is a nice break in.

[Co-host 1]

All of the lamenting.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Co-host 1]

This psalm is a festal, festive psalm.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And you can see it in the.

[Co-host 1]

First few verses, okay? Sing aloud to God, our strength. Shout for joy to the God of Jacob. Raise a song, sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

At the full moon on our feast day.

[Co-host 1]

So this is a feast day psalm.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Now, what does the feast of Tabernacles kind of celebrate?

[Co-host 1]

Well, the feast of tabernacles.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Remember, the word tabernacle means to dwell, okay? It means to tent. It's kind of like God's tent where he dwells.

[Co-host 1]

It's called the tabernacle.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And it's like tent kind of becomes a word. Like, not only are we in a tent, but God has set up his tent amongst us. Like he's tenting with us. Kind of like he's camping with us.

[Co-host 1]

He'S dwelling with us.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

So to tabernacle is like a verb, but the tabernacle is the tent that God is tabernacling in.

[Co-host 1]

I hope you get it all right?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And so the feast of Tabernacles celebrates.

[Co-host 1]

God's journey with his people through the.

[Co-host 2]

Exodus or through the desert, everything from.

[Co-host 1]

The Red Sea to Mount Sinai, okay? This psalm of celebration was sung at the feast of Tabernacles, sung to a tune all about making wine, wine that is usually associated with weddings and making the heart glad. And this is a psalm with psalm for celebration, but a serious challenge. It recalls, just like the festival, the time they spent in the wilderness being fed and led by Yahweh. It is a celebration of that past, but also a warning and a challenge. Even then, there were those who did not follow who were not satisfied with the food God fed them. And now the psalmist gives voice to God that again the people do not listen and oh, that they would listen again. This is a psalm, then, that looks back to a time when God led and fed the people and protected them from their enemies and then challenges those who sang it to come back home. It's a call to be led and fed by Yahweh once again or once more.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

All right, let's get into our Thomas Truth for the day. That's all the nerdy nuggets I have for you. Here's our Thomas Truth. Two big themes that I want us to talk about. Unity is one of them. And then the desire to see prodigals return home is the second one.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay.

[Co-host 1]

I am struck by the solidarity that the remnant in Judah show to their.

[Co-host 2]

Brothers and their sisters in the north.

[Co-host 1]

So often when this story is told, the focus is on Israel and how.

[Co-host 2]

The northern kingdom of Israel had just gone astray.

[Co-host 1]

They've rejected Yahweh and chosen polluted and corrupted worship that has led to the worship of foreign gods and nations. But here in Psalm 80, we hear the cry of those loyal to Yahweh in the south that were crying out for their wayward brothers and sisters, who even at this point of the destruction, the judgment on the north, were crying out for salvation and that God would restore the whole country. This is a huge lesson for us for how we look to our brothers and sisters that may have gone astray. I know, I personally know tons of people who were strong Christians 5, 7.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

10 years ago and have walked away from the faith. So not only is this, you know, is Psalm 80 a remarkable Psalm, but it's the, it's the cry, it's the song of the tribe of Judah who's just broken about how the northern kingdom of Israel has gone astray. And man, I want to have that same heart when people that I went to Bible college with, people that I went to seminary with, are no longer walking with God, but they sign up not only to love Jesus, but to be in full time ministry. And sometimes I think we can have this attitude. At least I have. I don't want to project this onto you that I'm like, if anybody rejects Jesus, then forget him. Like, I can kind of have like a, you're Judas to me. You're dead to me. Like, if you're a Christian and then.

[Co-host 2]

You stop following God, like, screw you, man.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

Like, you're dead to me. But that's not the heart that that the psalmist have in Psalm 80. And today I was challenged, like as I began to read and I began to go, man, not only do I need to fight for, for unity in church, because that was God's goal, that the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah would be united as one. God's goal was never for them to be divided. Okay, so number one, I think we can take a Thomas truth out of this and say God's heart's unity, God literally has created the body of Christ, the church for unity, and we have to fight to maintain it. Unity doesn't just happen, doesn't happen by default. It has happened by design. But then, second man, am I actively praying for those who have fallen away from the faith? Am I actively trying to reengage or.

[Co-host 1]

Re witness those who have fallen away from the faith?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And sometimes I can just have such a bad attitude when it comes to ex Christians. I can be very gangster like, you never loved God, you know what I'm saying? I don't care. And that's just not the heart that we see on display in Psalm 80. And I want to be more like Psalm 80. I want my heart to break and I want to really cry out to God that he would intervene and that he would show himself strong in the lives of people who were Christians at one point and then for whatever reason.

[Co-host 1]

Walked away from the faith.

[Co-host 2]

That's not only true for the psalmist in Psalm 80, that's true for you and I.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And today, honestly, it's something that's convicting me. Like I in the middle of watching my brothers and sisters in Christ who are walking away from Christ in the.

[Co-host 2]

Middle of seeing their lives fall apart.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I shouldn't be rejoicing. I shouldn't be saying, well, that's what they get for announcing Jesus. My heart should be broken and I should have the heart parsha that says, I know that, that, that that judgment is what they deserve. I know that wrath is what they deserve. But God, would you please, please, please win them back to you.

[Co-host 2]

God, would you please allow me to.

[Co-host 1]

Be a good witness?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And I'm just impressed that the, that the remnant in the southern kingdom of Judah would write a whole psalm about the fall of Samaria up in the north, that, that it impacted them. That it affected them, that it shook them up.

[Co-host 1]

That's just so reputable and I love it.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And so our timeless truth for the day is that God loves unity, that we should be praying for unity and doing everything in our power to make unity possible. And Then number two is that we should be praying for those who have fallen away from the faith and actively engaging them, because nobody is beyond hope.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And if God allowed Psalm 80 to be in the Bible, then maybe God would allow some of my prayers for people who don't know him anymore but that used to know him to go not unanswered, but to be answered.

[Listener/Interjector]

Okay?

[Dr. Manny Arango]

And I've got people in mind, and I bet you do, too. All right. That's our timeless truth for the day, which means we're at the end of the episode. Family. I'll see you tomorrow for day 279.

[Co-host 2]

We're gonna be walking through Psalms 82, 83, and 84.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

It's gonna be fantastic. Love you guys.

[Co-host 2]

So proud of you.

[Dr. Manny Arango]

I'll see you right here, same time, same place, tomorrow for day 279. Peace. Thanks so much for joining us on the Bible Department podcast. You can find us online and learn more about the [e-mail] and on Instagram hebibledepartment. If you enjoyed this episode and wanna dive deeper into the Bible, you can get free access to our library of [e-mail] we'll see you back here tomorrow.