Reflections from the Psalms

"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....But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise."

~ Psalm 79:9,13

This psalm was written in desperate times.  For that reason, it is very relatable.  We have all found ourselves in a spot that we could describe as desperate...perhaps you are there now.  It is very fitting to look to this psalm and see what this writer (Asaph) drew his attention to and what we too should be drawing our attention to.  

We see here that we should be pleading with God; pleading for him to glorify his Name, even in desperate times.  Our desire should be that God would do so counter to what our instincts, desires or expectations may be (such as the outpouring of his anger on the godless nations [v.6] or godless individuals [v.12]).  Primarily, we should long that God would be glorified in his salvation of sinners and his atonement for our iniquity [v.8-9].  

Desperate times are not the time for self-pity [v.13].  Salvation, atonement, redemption has been provided in Jesus Christ.  As a believer, if you are in a desperate place (suffering, taunted, derided, brought low) because of your faithfulness to the LORD, remember that ultimately it is God that is being mocked [v.6,10,12].  We should consider it all joy to suffer as our Savior did, and because he is our Savior!