Psalm 79
This is a Psalm of Asaph, I'm not sure who he was, but from context it appears to have be written after the fall of Jerusalem.
The Psalm starts with a call for God to observe what has happened, Jerusalem, the city where God has his dwelling on earth, has been defiled, the dead are lying with nobody to bury them, being slowly consumed by birds.
Jerusalem has become an object of scorn and contempt the people abandoned by God.
How long will the anger of God burn against his people?
How long will it be before God turns his attention to the other nations that do not know or acknowledge him? For they have invaded the land promised of old to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
God is implored to overlook the sins of the past, of previous generations, and come quickly to the aid of the suffering people now for the Glory of his name so that people would not ask "where is their god?"
I don't know that I totally agree with the sentiments of this Psalm - the Psalmist asks God to visit the fate of Jerusalem seven fold on their enemies for the contempt they have shown.
Then Israel will rejoice and praise God forever.
When bad things happen (and trust me, they do), I think it is better to trust God that he knows what he is doing and that he will eventually bring it to an end.
I don't necessarily think that suffering of others is required for us to praise and worship God, even if they are not very nice people.
Certainly justice should be carried out and there is a definitely place for justice, but not for vengeance or gloating.
This is a Psalm of Asaph, I'm not sure who he was, but from context it appears to have be written after the fall of Jerusalem.
The Psalm starts with a call for God to observe what has happened, Jerusalem, the city where God has his dwelling on earth, has been defiled, the dead are lying with nobody to bury them, being slowly consumed by birds.
Jerusalem has become an object of scorn and contempt the people abandoned by God.
How long will the anger of God burn against his people?
How long will it be before God turns his attention to the other nations that do not know or acknowledge him? For they have invaded the land promised of old to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
God is implored to overlook the sins of the past, of previous generations, and come quickly to the aid of the suffering people now for the Glory of his name so that people would not ask "where is their god?"
I don't know that I totally agree with the sentiments of this Psalm - the Psalmist asks God to visit the fate of Jerusalem seven fold on their enemies for the contempt they have shown.
Then Israel will rejoice and praise God forever.
When bad things happen (and trust me, they do), I think it is better to trust God that he knows what he is doing and that he will eventually bring it to an end.
I don't necessarily think that suffering of others is required for us to praise and worship God, even if they are not very nice people.
Certainly justice should be carried out and there is a definitely place for justice, but not for vengeance or gloating.
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