Psalm 79- The Devastation We Bring on Ourselves

Look at the problem and turn it over to God

 The writer of this Psalm always understood that the Glory belongs to God. In Matthew  6:13 we hear Jesus say “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever”- but now as then there is trouble in the camp.

 Whether we talk about then, or now, a temple built by hands or a body, the dwelling place of the Temple of God, the problem is the same. That which comes against God and His Temple is attacking and capturing the children of God.

 We are God’s chosen people.  We are His special possession.  Look around how are we any different than verse 1

“O God, pagan nations have conquered your land, your special possession. They have defiled your holy Temple and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.

 We began as a “Christian” nation. Our young people trust Jesus as Savior and Lord and yet the schemes of satan invade, attack and distroy  the Holy Temple of our God.

 V 2 –4 then, the enemy attacks Jerusalem.  The picture is clear, destruction is all around them.  Walk out of your present circumstances in your mind and look at the destruction, the devastation. See the vultures picking away at the flesh of the people and look at all the blood pools around them.  NO ONE is left to bury the dead.

 The enemy, for them the Assyrians mock them, they are scorned. Why?

            They rejected their God.

            They traded Him off for the desires of the flesh

            They traded Him off for the comforts of life

            They did it their way

 Look at it long and hard and ask yourself the question…v 5 O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

 When tragedy strikes, we turn inward and seek God. Israel did the same as they cried out to the God of their fathers.

 5-8 Is a plea much as we would offer when sickness, trials, financial devastion  hits in our boundaries.  God, please do something to them, don’t blame us.  We need you!

 v 9 rings of  Psalm 23, “lead us to the paths of Righteousness for your namesake.”

            Help us- You are our Savior

            Help us –for the glory of Your name

            Save us

            Forgive us-for the Honor of Your name

 The tide changes instead of it being all about me, it is all about God. Our focus quickly changes in times of  trouble. Lord its all about you.

 V 10-12 What will people think

 Perhaps the Psalmist as David stood before the problem and saw that God was so much better than the problem at hand. He sees that God is able to save His people.

 Israel was afraid to attack the Philistine giant all they could see was defeat.

A man of God, David, steps up and says Why?  Show us, Listen and O Lord the victory is in your hands. 

 The if then clause is present here, If you do this for us…

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, WE will thank you forever and ever. We will praise Your greatness from generation to generation.

 The setting for this Psalm is a time of extreme hardship and pain. Destruction of lives, their Temple, their homeland everywhere they look there is a need.

 The people of Israel and Christians today have turned their back on God to do it “their way”.   God is a God of justice.  He will discipline His children.

 When Christians fall to sin, the first things ask, Do you think they were saved?, Where is their God? Why did they sin. What did their parents do wrong?

 The problem is sin.  Numbers 32:23 says Be sure your sins will find you out.

It does, it did but  We serve a God of Grace and Mercy and He hears us when we pray and He answers.

 “I ask you neither for health nor for sickness for life nor for death; but that you may dispose of my health and my sickness, my life and death, for Your Glory.” Blaisé Pascal

 If you gain, you gain all. If you lose, you lose nothing. Wager then, without hesitation, that He exists. Blaisé Pascal

 We live to bring Him Glory… He is Worthy !!!