Psalm
79:9 – This verse, “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!” happens to be the inspiration for the hymn of the
week for Proper 7 “Lord of our life and God of our salvation.” {LSB 725}.
David is desperate he says, literally, “Hasten; let thy tender mercies anticipate us.”
Taken from a prayer for God to heal and forgive His
people and to redress the violent acts of their enemies. When we are attacked
by slander, persecution, and the temptations of the devil, our world, and our
own sinful self, we turn to Him who is our safe refuge, the Rock of our
salvation, Jesus Christ the righteousness one.
Context, especially when reading Scripture is
essential. The Psalmist pleads in verse 8, “Do
not hold past sins against us; let Your compassion come quickly, for we are
brought low.” The accuser is good a
pointing out our former sins. He can name chapter and verse where we have
wronged and offended God and our neighbor. Have there been instances in our
lives when we have not acted as becomes a child of God? Have you had to be
reminded of that moment only to relive it once again?
Each of us can recall those moments in our lives in
which we are not proud! Peter’s’ denial that long Thursday night crushed him –
but what he found was restoration by the Savior!
Peter’s freedom came at a price – the price of
Jesus’ life. To be crushed by conscience and the Law is never a pleasant thing.
But Christ’s redemption leads to recovery – to be reconciled to the Father and
also to each other – all has been made possible by the Savior’s amazing grace!
Kyrie Eleison! Lord, Have Mercy!
Christ, Have mercy! Lord, Have mercy!
Father of mercy,
your Son told his enemies that, if they should destroy the temple of his body,
you would raise it again in three days. By his death and resurrection demolish
our pretensions of strength, and on the ruins build a temple worthy of your
name, so that all the world may know the glory of your transforming power,
shown in Jesus Christ our Lord,
Image of Good Friday, copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
Prayer for Psalm 79, For All
the Saints – A Prayer Book For and By the Church Year 1 © 1994American Lutheran
Publicity Bureau, Delhi NY
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