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1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. 5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? 6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call on your name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. 8 Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for your name's sake. (Psalm 79:1-9 NRSV)
We read today that prophets are not the only ones who pray or cry out to God when things have gone exactly as God had said would happen. It's like the spouse who just signed divorce papers after insisting on a marriage a father/mother had said would not work. Stubbornness won, then lost. Or, the alcoholic who sees everything he earned for the week go to pay his bar tab. He fears having to face the wife for not having anything left for rent, food, or other payments that are due. And the illustrations could continue on, but we get the point. The psalmist is lamenting that what God had said and still praying in hopes that God would indeed comfort those in need.
As we have visited this in weeks past, all that God says will happen, happens. And it is usually our fault, not God's/. It is our willful disposition towards disobedience that gets us right where we know we should not be. The psalmist is sounding like the prophet, for he knows the heart and will of God and has tried his best to keep the people focused on the things of God; but the people have chosen to follow the wrong things. And here yet again, the prophet prays on behalf of the people asking God to come and comfort us. The psalmists and the prophets are the believers, who intercede on behalf of the fallen and the lost. It is you and me, and all who believe in God's mercy, who can't give up caring and praying for others. The prayer is already written here by David and can be prayed by us: "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Your name; deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Your name's sake," Amen.
Friend, your heart and mind know someone who needs to have that prayer lifted up for them in their name. It is worth offering that prayer on behalf of that family member or family friend who needs someone caring and loving enough to lift up a prayer in faith for their deliverance.
PRAYER: Loving God, as this dear reader and I pray, we name the person to You in our minds. We pray that You help this person, for the glory of Your name; deliver them, and us, and forgive us our sins, for Your name's sake, in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Pray again and again for people who come to mind as having that need.
Blessings of love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
