What a Chutzpah! #2

I have written on what the enemies of the people of God do unto the nation, the temple, and the people of Israel which they cannot do anything about.

However, when they were carried away6 captive, it is unarguably certain that they were groaning and one of them penned chapter 79 of the book of Psalms down, talking to the Lord of what he should do on those enemies.

In this article we shall see some of the reasons why God sold them into the hands of their enemies. It is for those reasons that the enemies could penetrate their abode without fear while they helplessly look on.

The steps that the leaders take would be followed by the followers. The leaders have been doing what is not in agreement with the will of God and his covenant for their lives and this the citizens of the country also started doing.

“O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.” (Psa 79:8)

The author acknowledges that though their leaders have led them through sinful paths, but they have been dwelling there, and he asks that God looks down and purge away their sins.

“… and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.” (Psa. 79:9b)

It is good to acknowledge our sins before the Lord, we shouldn’t be passing the bulk of it to people, that it was person A that leads us into this path. If someone leads us on a path that is not good, we have the right to say we do not want to follow, we can turn back from the person. But when we follow the path we have become an accomplice in the sin, it shows that we have such in our minds before the person comes around.

Joseph too could have said it was Potiphar’s wife that lure him into the act and would have missed the blessings God has for him. But despite being led along such sinful path, he chose not to follow the path.

The sin of their leaders and theirs’ (the followers) allow what should negatively not happen to them to happen to them.

Having confessed to God that they are sinners including their leaders, the author pled with Yahweh for assistance. His plea could be divided into two: deliverance and vengeance

(i) Plea for Mercy:

Free bible commentary says mercy means being kind when you do not have to be kind. The author has asked for God’s mercy though he knows they are not worthy to receive God’s mercy because of what they have done to make him annoyed.

“O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.” (Psa 79:8)

(ii) Plea for Assistance: He knows that they are helpless and hopeless, but he desires that God would help them out of their situation.

“Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.” (Psa. 79:9)

In our hopelessness we can also call unto God for assistance and he will assist us because of his lovingkindness.

(iii) Plea for Liberation: Apart from those who have been killed and the blood flowing in the street like water, there are people who are also assigned to death by the people. He called unto God to look on them and set those people who have been assigned to die free.

“Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die;” (Psa 79:11)

At a time we have also be assigned to death by the sins of our fore parents, but Jesus came and deliver us from that death, the second death.

There are people who the enemies and devil have marked for death today, painful death if they can look unto the Lord and call unto him by faith, the power of God is available to deliver them.

The second request that his plea comprises of is vengeance. He asks that God avenges them of those enemies.

(i) Get Annoyed with Them: He knows that God was merciful unto them, God has not been looking on them that was why they could do all that was done on the nation and the temple of God. He however, pleaded that God would be annoyed with them and would arise in his anger to deal with those enemies ruthlessly.

“Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name.” (Psa 79: 6)

(ii) Return Shame Unto (Their Enemies) Them: They have been covered with shame with what betide them, but he asks that the Lord return the shame that has befallen them on their enemies. He should turn the table around.

“And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.” (Psa. 79:12)

When they see God perform all these he says what they shall continue to do as people and nation is praising Elohim forever.

“So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.” (Psa 79 v 13)

It is certain that we shall also praise him forever if he brings deliverance unto us and cover our enemies with shame.

Wrapping this up we shall see that the people of Israel were kept aback by what the enemies did unto them and especially the nation which they couldn’t counter because of their sins. This made them groan to the Lord and prayed that God delivers them and visit those enemies in his wrath.

When we remove sins from our paths God would also do these for us, deliver us from our enemies, avenge us of our enemies.