O God, pagan nations have conquered your land, your special possession. They have defiled your holy Temple and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins. They have left the bodies of your servants as food for the birds of heaven. The flesh of your godly ones has become food for the wild animals. Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem; no one is left to bury the dead. We are mocked by our neighbors, an object of scorn and derision to those around us. O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you— on kingdoms that do not call upon your name. For they have devoured your people Israel, making the land a desolate wilderness. Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors! Let your compassion quickly meet our needs, for we are on the brink of despair. Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?” Show us your vengeance against the nations, for they have spilled the blood of your servants. Listen to the moaning of the prisoners. Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die. O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times for the scorn they have hurled at you. Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation.
Psalms 79:1-13 NLT
Even when we deserve punishment, we can still call out to the Lord for help. The psalmist (likely one of Asaph’s descendants) is writing after the Temple had been destroyed (vv.1-3; cf 2 Kings 25), and the author is struggling with what has happened—even though he knows that Jerusalem was destroyed because of the sins of God’s people. The psalmist is asking for the Lord’s anger to end (v.5), for forgiveness (v.8), and for God’s help (v.9). He wants God’s enemies to be punished and God’s name to be praised (vv.12-13).
Sometimes when we sin against God, we run ever farther away from Him, which only makes matters worse. We experience shame, sadness, and self-condemnation. Yet the Lord welcomes us with open arms—even when we have sinned, even when He is punishing us for our sin. Jesus Himself bears the full punishment for our sins, and He can walk with us even as we experience punishment. When you mess up, don’t run away from God; run into His open arms.
When you sin, do you run to God or away from Him? How do you understand the Lord’s punishment?
