September 19th Reflection - The Battle is Won - by Bill Lynch

Psalm 79:1-9
Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem
A Psalm of Asaph.

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
   they have defiled your holy temple;
   they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
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.
They have poured out their blood like water
   all around Jerusalem,
   and there was no one to bury them.
We have become a taunt to our neighbours,
   mocked and derided by those around us.

How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever?
   Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?
Pour out your anger on the nations
   that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
   that do not call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob
   and laid waste his habitation.

Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;
   let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
   for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
   for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins,
   for your name’s sake.

Reflection
We cry out to God from the depths of our despair, knowing that we have failed and cannot save ourselves. We cry out, sometimes wanting God to redirect that anger and hatred God has for our actions to our enemies. What desires we have as we cry out to God. Yes, we admit we need God, but do we need to ask God to punish our enemies? Do, we need to request that God would pour out anger upon the nations that do not know him?

We are wicked at heart, but we are also God's children. God comes to us and takes our anger towards our enemies and moves us towards his grace. God's grace for all people to save and make all things new. There will be that day when we will hear from the one seated on the throne... "See, I am making all things new (Revelation 21:5)." These are the words that God wants us to hear. This is the praise and honor and glory due to the God of all creation. This is the grace of God who comes to us in our own flesh to live and die for us and to bring us to him. This is the God of anger against the sin, and the death and the devil that separate us from him. This is our saving brother, Jesus Christ who saves us and brings us together as one in a new creation. This is the God that delivers us and forgives our sins.

Psalm 79 is written as an expression of a people in exile in Babylon. They were separated from their home land and in agony. This psalm was written in distress. This is a cry to God for help among those that came and defeated a nation and moved a people to a place that they did not wish to go to. This is a people who have just witnessed their family members strewn dead around Jerusalem. Memories that haunt and torment. A people desiring that God judge their enemy harshly.

These were a people that considered the events that unfolded were the hand of God for punishment on themselves and their ancestors for years of rebellious actions. Yet in all of this the appeal comes down to an appeal for forgiveness and salvation.

How we all need God to save us, his people. How we need God's saving grace and forgiveness. We can't continue without God to save us. Our battles, our greed, our inconsiderate actions and selfish ways cannot save us from ourselves. We need God!

Prayer
Lord God, you have shown your mercy and grace through what you have already done in Jesus. As you come to us and we turn to you, redirect our lives to live in harmony with you and with one another in a new creation as a forgiven and redeemed people... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen