“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 neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? 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. 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. Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power preserve those doomed to die. Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord! Then we your people, the flock of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.” Psalm 79

This Psalm asks us some very challenging questions that can very easily unsettle you and me: “…O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire…?” These are difficult questions — for the individual believer and for the church. There are many who believe that the Covid-19 virus is punishment from G-d who is expressing anger toward the world. Perhaps you have thought that from time to time. Our individual and collective responses during times like these will determine where we are in our faith journey — and will determine whether we abandon our faith or double-down on it. Let me ask you a question: When did you last hand your troubles over to G-d?

In times of trouble the Devil entices us to question G-d’s sovereignty — or tries to convince us that G-d just does not care enough. It is too easy to think G-d is either too busy to care, or just does not care. In all things, we must learn to live into trusting the Lord and believing that, whether times are good, or bad, G-d continues to be good, all the time. Here is a final question to consider: are you willing to give your problems and fears to the Lord and trust that the Lord can handle our life’s messes? We have a lot of time to think about questions such as these — and to immerse ourselves in G-d’s words of grace.

PRAYERS

Gracious God, in times of sorrow and depression, when hope itself seems lost, help us to remember the transforming power of your steadfast love and to give thanks for that new life we cannot now imagine; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

“Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable; I will utter dark sayings from of old, things that we have heard and known, that our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. He established a decree in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach to their children; that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and rise up and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; and that they should not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God. The Ephraimites, armed with the bow, turned back on the day of battle. They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.” Psalm 78:1-10

This psalm has two main purposes: to praise G-d and to instruct the believer. When we tell stories about our past, our love of G-d and the teachings that have informed our faith live in all aspects of our lives. Psalm 78 is an example of how we share our faith within the experience and celebration of our past, present and future. In this Psalm, the writer talks about the good bits of G-d’s help to Israel during the Exodus. But what is missing? If you look back toward the book of Exodus, you realize that all the complaining and ingratitude of the Israelites is missing. And what is the result of this selective recounting of the story from Exodus? Well, it’s a completely different story.

We can become forgetful when we reflect on our past. Sometimes we can live with revisionist history — but that can change how we encounter the present. In other words, even though the Israelites were acting like ungrateful children a lot of the journey in Exodus, without remembering their disobedience, we can forget how unconditionally gracious, loving and compassionate our G-d really is. Most importantly, we must remember how many second chances our G-d is willing to give G-d’s people — that is what Amazing Grace is all about.

PRAYERS

Shepherd of your people, strengthen us on our journey, we pray. Forgive our frequent rebelling, guide us through the wilderness, and feed us with the bread of angels, that we may proclaim the mystery of faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.