1 O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed— Mount Zion, where you dwelt. 3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary. 4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards as signs. 5 They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets. 7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name. 8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land. 9 We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be. 10 How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever? (Psalm 74:1-10)
(cross at Ground Zero that some have sued to remove)
Thoughts: The enemies of God tried to wipe out every trace of God from the land. They burned the Temple, trying to utterly destroy and erase God. Today, there are people, out of fear and misunderstanding, wish to eliminate the Christian faith from the land. Even some believers are hiding their faith by not praying in the name of Jesus, or not inviting others to worship. Some wish to hide any sign of faith from life. So some sue to eliminate the cross of melted steel beams found under Ground Zero; or setting a clergy-free zone (as Mayor Bloomberg did); or pull crosses from national cemeteries; or eliminate "under God" in the pledge- which came from the Lincoln's Gettysburg address; or various efforts to stop prayer, poetry, art and expression of Christian faith in the public square. The Psalmist asks how long God will put up with this? Truth is, we may try to erase God, but He cannot be erased, or even ignored. Sometimes, even in the enthusiasm to erase God- God's presence is called forth.
Prayer: O Lord, come to us to save us from those who would erase you from life.
they set up their standards as signs. 5 They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets. 7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name. 8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land. 9 We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be. 10 How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever? (Psalm 74:1-10)
(cross at Ground Zero that some have sued to remove)Thoughts: The enemies of God tried to wipe out every trace of God from the land. They burned the Temple, trying to utterly destroy and erase God. Today, there are people, out of fear and misunderstanding, wish to eliminate the Christian faith from the land. Even some believers are hiding their faith by not praying in the name of Jesus, or not inviting others to worship. Some wish to hide any sign of faith from life. So some sue to eliminate the cross of melted steel beams found under Ground Zero; or setting a clergy-free zone (as Mayor Bloomberg did); or pull crosses from national cemeteries; or eliminate "under God" in the pledge- which came from the Lincoln's Gettysburg address; or various efforts to stop prayer, poetry, art and expression of Christian faith in the public square. The Psalmist asks how long God will put up with this? Truth is, we may try to erase God, but He cannot be erased, or even ignored. Sometimes, even in the enthusiasm to erase God- God's presence is called forth.
Prayer: O Lord, come to us to save us from those who would erase you from life.
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