July 11, 2023 — Psalm 80

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers? You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches; it sent out its branches to the sea, and its shoots to the River.” Psalm 80:1-11

As we read the cries of the Psalmists, like: “…O God, how long must we wait to see your face and live…? O that you would tear the heavens asunder! Come down to us, O God…come…” we soon realize that ourcries and needs are just as relevant today as were those original people who wrote and sang these same concerns somany centuries ago. We can’t help but feel that maybe G-d is not hearing our prayers;or that we don’t pray the right words; or even that G-d is angry. After a while we begin to fear that perhaps G-d does not care about us anymore; that G-d does not care anymore if we are faithful ornot.

But we soon realize that through all the laments of the people of G-d, like the Psalmists and the Israelites, we are comforted in knowing that their and our past experiences of G-d assures us that we are wrong. The G-d weworship is compassionate and holy, generous and gracious towards us – whoever we areand whatever are our circumstances. We need to hold on to that reminder and trust that G-d is slow to anger and abounds in steadfast love for all people.

Prayer

Lord God, you so tend the vine you planted that now it extends its branches throughout the world. Keep us in Christ as branches on the vine, that, grafted firmly in your love, we may show the whole world your great power and bear the fruit of righteousness; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

July 10, 2023 — Psalm 79

“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 believed that the Covid-19 virus was sent upon our world as a punishment from G-d – G-d was 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.