Proper 23 (Ps)

Psalm 79:1-13
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 heavens for food,
the flesh of your faithful to the beasts 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 jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your anger on the nations
that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
that do not call upon your name!
7 For they have devoured Jacob
and laid waste his habitation.
8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities;
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 atone for our sins,
for your name’s sake!
10 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
be known among the nations before our eyes!
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!
12 Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors
the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Ps 79:1-13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

O Lord How long will you wait to redeem your people. How Long O Lord will you allow these false watchmen corrupt your children. Come O Lord and destroy these false shepherds of your people. O Lord free your sheep from the wolves within the sheep pen. Does this sound anything like the Psalmist?

The City of Jerusalem has been devoured. The Nations have stolen or snatched the people of God. The people can not see their inheritance anymore. They cry out for forgiveness. They desire the Lord to not remember their Sins anymore. The LORD will rescue and deliver his people from the Nations.

The Sheep of the Pasture of been lead away. But God will be their Shepherd and gather them together. First, the Shepherd will down his life for the Sheep. Then the Lord will be their Shepherd and lead them to good pastures. Pastures no longer corrupted by the curse of the Fall. But the People will share in a Great New Inheritance.

When we are brought low, give glory to God. When we are weak he is Strong and Saves us.