Focus

DEVOTION

PSALMS

FOCUS

 Ps 79

O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. 2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead. 4 We are objects of reproach to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us.

5 How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you,on the kingdoms that do not call on your name; 7 for they have devoured Jacob and destroyed his homeland. 8 Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers; may your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need.

9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake. 10 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants. 11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you; by the strength of your arm preserve those condemned to die.

12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times the reproach they have hurled at you, O Lord. 13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

NIV

This would most likely be considered a psalm of lament, seeking God to relieve Israel of the pain and suffering they are experiencing from who they think are enemy kings. But their suffering comes from the hand of the Lord, because they have left him for idols and other gods. Well, maybe not left him completely, but have added all the other gods to their list to worship. We know that is the reason for their situation. But yet they cry out to God to save them. They ask him how long he will allow this to go on. They arrived at the truth of the whole of all truth. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name. Forgive our sins for your name’s sake. There it is. The reputation of God should be in the forefront of every petition. We ask for healing because we hurt. We ask for relief from the pain. We ask for things because we want things. We ask for protection because we are afraid of something, or what we are about to do that might be a little dangerous. We do not want to get hurt. But looking at this truth should turn our heads. All the purpose for any pray should be for His name’s sake, for His reputation. Whenever something good happens to us, do we always give a word of testimony, giving God all, not partial, but all the praise? It was not by our power, but by his. Sometimes we might get a little confused, especially when we quote that verse that says I can do all things through Christ Jesus who gives my strength. We really need to get rid of the I. When we examine Philippians 4:13 it seems it is taken a bit out of context, plus in the Greek the word I is not used, it is implied, because this is a letter from Paul to the Saints in Philippi. But he is talking about having the power through the strength of the gospel to live in plenty or in need. The strength of the gospel. He gives the Lord Jesus Christ all the authority and praise for all things. This is the truth for our lives today. We forget to give him praise for all things which come into our life. We might even think some of the things that we have are a result of our efforts. We get a little proud of ourselves, even about how much we know about the bible, or how much knowledge we have. We could see a lot of things as a result of our ability. But, we need to know that it is God’s reputation which is at stake. We need to show the world no matter what happens in our life, God is our God and we will always give him all the honor and praise for everything that happens in our life. If we need some correction, some rebuking, some instruction, it is because we are in need so he can bring us to the place he needs us to be. So we can praise him, give him the honor for his direction in our life. When it gets down to it, can we really ask him how long we have to suffer through a situation? The psalmist did, but it was not about his suffering that was the issue, it was about God’s reputation among the other nations. Even having our sin forgiven is not so we can feel good about ourselves, not feeling guilt or shame, but it is about his name’s sake. Everything is about him. We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and get them focused on Jesus. Maybe we need an adjustment of our focus.