Psalms 79:1 says, A Psalm of Asaph. This is identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. Asaph spoke of the capture of God's temple by the heathen, those people who did not believe in God. Even if church buildings are damaged or destroyed today, that does not mean that God's people have been defeated. Verse two adds, The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. Not only had the temple been defiled, but many off God's people had been killed and not buried. Even if we are killed for our faith today, as followers of Christ, we are not defeated. We have everlasting life with God in heaven once we leave this life. Verse three continues, Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. Asaph said that the blood of the people of Israel, God's chosen people, flowed like water in the streets of Jerusalem, and there was no one left to bury them. Even if we were to reach that point in the world today, where the blood of Christians flows in the streets like water, the world still has not defeated us. Verse four concludes, We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. God's people had become a reproach to those around them, and we may be reaching that point in the world today, where people question the authority of God and look down on those who put their faith in Jesus Christ. Verse five asks, How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? The psalmist asked how long would God be angry with them, but we must realize that not everything bad that happens to those who put their faith in Jesus Christ is a result of God's anger, and we should not question or blame God when bad things happen to us. Verse six declares, Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. The people of Israel called on God to pour out His wrath on those who did not believe in Him, but this should not be our attitude today. We are not in the vengeance business, but in the love and mercy of God business. We need to simply let God deal with those who do not believe in Him and even those who attempt to destroy the followers of Christ, in His way and in His time. Verse seven adds, For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. The heathen had destroyed Jacob, or God's people, and laid waste to His dwelling place. Still, Jacob and his descendants were still God's people, no matter how much it may have seemed that they had been defeated by the heathen of the world. No matter what happens to us in this lifetime, as long as we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have everlasting life with God. Verse eight continues, O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. The psalmist asked God to not remember their former iniquities, and when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, all our iniquities are washed away by His blood. Verse nine says, Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. Asaph asked God, Who was their salvation, to help the people of Israel and deliver them and purge their sins for His glory. Once we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, our sins are purged, and we should live our life to bring glory to God. Verse ten adds, Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. Asaph said that the heathen questioned where God was when His people were being destroyed. People today equate material success or failure as being a sign of God's people being blessed by God or not, but we do not serve God for material success. We serve Him for spiritual salvation, which has nothing to do with how rich or poor we are in the world. Verse eleven continues, Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; God always is with those who put their faith in Him, even if they die for their faith. Verse twelve states, And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. Asaph called on God to punish the enemies of Israel sevenfold. Again, it is not up to us to ask God to destroy those who are our enemies because of our faith in Him, but we are called on to love and pray for their salvation. Verse thirteen adds, So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations. We as Christians, the sheep of God's pasture, need to give Him the thanks and praise for all generations, no matter what is happening in the world around us.
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