John Gill Commentary Psalms 79:5

"How long, O Jehovah? wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire?" — Psalms 79:5 (ASV)

How long, Lord, will you be angry? for ever ?
&c.] That is, how long will you be angry? shall it be for ever? see (Psalms 85:4Psalms 85:5) , 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 your jealousy burn like fire ?
so jealousy does; its coals are coals of fire, (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:``And there was very great wrath upon Israel.'' ``When this was done, and they had made a common supplication, they besought the merciful Lord to be reconciled with his servants for ever.''