April 22, 2009

• the pagans have entered your heritage

  Psalms 79:1-13  A psalm of Asaf: God, the pagans have entered your heritage. They have defiled your holy temple and turned Yerushalayim into rubble.  (2)  They have given the corpses of your servants as food for the birds in the air, yes, the flesh of those faithful to you for the wild animals of the earth.  (3)  All around Yerushalayim they have shed their blood like water, and no one is left to bury them.  (4)  We suffer the taunts of our neighbors, we are mocked and scorned by those around us.  (5)  How long, ADONAI? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?  (6)  Pour out your wrath on the nations that don’t know you, on the kingdoms that don’t call out your name;  (7)  for they have devoured Ya’akov and left his home a waste.  (8)  Don’t count past iniquities against us, but let your compassion come quickly to meet us, for we have been brought very low.  (9)  Help us, God of our salvation, for the sake of the glory of your name. Deliver us, forgive our sins, for your name’s sake.  (10)  Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Let the vengeance taken on your servants’ shed blood be known among the nations before our eyes.  (11)  Let the groaning of the captives come before you; by your great strength save those condemned to death.  (12)  Repay our neighbors sevenfold where they can feel it for the insults they inflicted on you, Adonai.  (13)  Then we, your people and the flock in your pasture, will give you thanks forever. From generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

  The Babylonians slaughtered the people and left their bodies to be eaten by the animals.

  Jeremiah tells us the captivity was to last 70 years. The reason for their captivity was their idolatry, the length of time in captivity was the result of not letting the land have its Sabbath rest. You see, El-Shaddai (Almighty G-d) commanded them that when they entered the land they were to let the land rest every 7th year, and He would provide food for them during that time. But they refused to obey for 490 years and now HaShem (G-d) was taking those 70 years back, the 70 years they refused to give Him, but now they had no choice.

  HaShem brought judgment upon His people for their refusal to turn back to Him and He is holding them more accountable than the Babylonians because they should have known better.

  Judah has been living in rebellion against HaShem for years, refusing to hear the prophets and turn form their evil ways. And now that judgment has come upon them they are crying out for HaShem’s mercy, but He is silent, why? Because He is trying to teach them lessons so that they may grow. He allows consequences of our actions to affect us so that we may not travel down that same path of destruction again.

  When we ask HaShem for forgiveness, when we ask Him for a new life, He will indeed to that, but He may not change some of our circumstances. An inmate on death-row for murdering someone may still be put to death. A drug user may still have to go through withdrawals. A person engaging in sexual sin may still have a disease.

  Praise Him because He is El-Shaddai and not only because of what He is going to do or what you want Him to do.

  Hallelu et Adonai

  Shalom

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