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The Presence of God: Hawks

By: John Reiter

Posted: July 23, 2021

Category: Daily Devotional

Psalm 79

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
    they have defiled your holy temple;
    they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
They have given the bodies of your servants
    to the birds of the air for food,
    the flesh of your faithful to the wild animals of the earth.
They have poured out their blood like water
    all around Jerusalem,
    and there was no one to bury them.
We have become a taunt to our neighbors,
    mocked and derided by those around us.
How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever?
    Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?
Pour out your anger on the nations
    that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
    that do not call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob
    and laid waste his habitation.
Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;
    let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
    for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
    for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins,
    for your name’s sake.
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.
Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
    according to your great power preserve those doomed to die.
Return sevenfold into the bosom of our neighbors
    the taunts with which they taunted you, O Lord!
Then we your people, the flock of your pasture,
    will give thanks to you forever;
    from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

Prayer

Merciful God, forgive us. There are times when we act like our ancestors and stray from Your path. We have acted in ways that do not show love, mercy, or kindness. We deserve Your anger…Yet…You continue to love us. You restore us to right relationship and You seek us out to be Your people and to carry Your love into the world. Forgive us. Strengthen us anew this day to be Your people to lift Your name in praise in all that we say and do. In our Savior’s name we pray, Amen.