Father God, Asaph's attitude towards You and the place and people who bear Your name is so refreshing to see. He is so sensitive and upset at all the defilement that happened to Your inheritance, to Your temple, and to Jerusalem.
These defilements and losses were perpetrated by neighboring nations who had brought about the devastation and who taunted, mocked and derided Your chosen people. Asaph asks You to,
"...pour out Your anger..."
on these nations and kingdoms that have no regard for You, Your Name, nor Your people. They do not call on Your name either. Instead they try to rid the earth of what is Yours even to this day!
There is acknowledgement, however, that these things were brought about by the iniquities of those ones who did bear Your Name. Punishment to the extreme but it was serious matter to You, Father.
Now Asaph sought for, and called upon, Your compassion, Your help, Your salvation. You had rescued them before, and he knew You could do so yet again. He deeply felt, why should the nations continue to mock and taunt,
"Where is Your God?"
So, you did rescue them and brought them back to Jerusalem where Your heart is.
Often, we, Your children through Jesus, are beset upon similarly, not always because of our sin and failures but because we bear the Name of Your Son Jesus. May we be sorrowful at all the degradation in our own lives, nations and churches. We too, cry out,
"How long, O LORD!"
We look forward to the day You bring us all up to Glory to be with You.
Until then, as Asaph did, we submit to You, giving thanks that...
"...we Your people, the sheep of You pasture, will give thanks to You..."
...now, and for all time and eternity to come. We will tell our generations to come, of all You have done for us even in those times of great distress. Your 'sheep' praise You, Father, and our Good Shepherd Jesus, whose Name we bear.
In Jesus' Name we praise.
~ERC February 2021~
Based on Psalm 79:1-13 ESV.
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