Day 472: Psalm 79- For The Glory Of God's Name

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. 2 They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. 3 They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. 4 We have become a taunt to our neighbors, mocked and derided by those around us. 5 How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever? Will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name! 7 For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. 8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake! 10 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!
 
11 Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! 12 Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord! 13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
 
Meditation
Cries and questions of faith within moments of perplexity are not the same as fundamental doubts of faith. Life can spin out of control, questions can outweigh understanding, and fears can overtake faith. The goal of God’s glory comes from hearts secure in a reality greater than our circumstances.
 
The glory of God’s name outshines all our problems and pain. As an eyewitness of the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar, the Psalmist is sinking in fear and questions, including “how long” will this go on (1-7) !? The problems lead to humble penance and a plea for the glory of God’s name.
 
God is sovereign over our situations, deepening identification with the lament, “We are brought very low.” When life brings us low we must lift our hearts to the Lord.
 
Our hearts cry with the Psalmist, “Help us, O God of our salvation…!” Why? So our circumstances change? No. So our comfort increases? No. So we can win? No. It is for the glory of His name (9). We have nothing to offer, needing forgiveness for our sin. Deliverance must come “for the sake of (God’s) name” (8-10).
 
The goal of God’s glory comes from hearts secure in a reality greater than our circumstances. We are the sheep of God’s pasture and He is our shepherd (13). Secure in God’s covenant love we can be content in all circumstances through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:11-13). Secure sheep can seek God’s glory during storms because we trust the sovereign grace of our Good Shepherd.
 
Richly Dwelling
- Can you identify with storms of life when things seem out of control, having more fear than faith and more questions than answers?
 
- Is the glory of God’s name the motive for your prayers for rescue and salvation or are you more driven by your desire to change circumstances and be more comfortable?
 
-God’s compassion leads Him to speedily meet us, as a shepherd seeks a stray sheep in a storm. In Christ we can be content in all circumstances, trusting God’s sovereign grace and crying out to Him for help. Take time to pray, crying out to our Sovereign Shepherd. He hears you. You can trust Him.
 
Key Verse
9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!