Psalm 79

A psalm of Asaph.

1 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple,
they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your servants
as food to the birds of the air,
the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the earth.

3 They have poured out blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there is no one to bury the dead.

4 We are objects of reproach to our neighbors,
of scorn and derision to those around us.

5 How long, O LORD ? Will you be angry forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your wrath on the nations
that do not acknowledge you,
on the kingdoms
that do not call on your name;

7 for they have devoured Jacob
and destroyed his homeland.

8 Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers;
may your mercy come quickly to meet us,
for we are in desperate need.

9 Help us, O God our Savior,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us and forgive our sins
for your name's sake.

10 Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
Before our eyes, make known among the nations
that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants.

11 May the groans of the prisoners come before you;
by the strength of your arm
preserve those condemned to die.

12 Pay back into the laps of our neighbors seven times
the reproach they have hurled at you, O Lord.

13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you forever;
from generation to generation
we will recount your praise.

I think that the circumstances surrounding the psalmist as he wrote the psalm were really hopeless. In today's context, verses 1-4 probably looked something like this: The HDB flats of Singapore levelled to the ground because of aerial bombardments. Animals and birds are feasting on the dead bodies of Singaporeans. Nations around us laugh and heap insults at us.

The nation of Israel (during the time of the psalmist) went through such hardships mainly because her people had been disobedient to God time and again. Despite witnessing the wonders and blessings of God, generations of Israelites chose to disregard Him and do their own things.

Today, as I read Psalm 79, I suddenly have this thought that Singapore can end up like the nation of Israel. Without a doubt, Singapore's economic success today is a miracle. In the 1960s, no one envisioned Singapore can make it. But we did. All thanks to God.

But right now, as a nation, we have become proud. Complacent. To sustain and improve our economy, we chose gambling (IR or casinos or whatever you call it). More and more broken marriages, resulting in fatherless or motherless children. Pre-martial sex is no longer an issue (just do it).


If Singapore continues on like this, I really believe that God will shake us up, the same way as He did to the nation of Israel. We Christians have to really cry out to God for mercy and grace for the nation. We have to pray that revival happens soon.


Things to ponder
1. Pray a prayer of repentence on behalf of Singapore.
2. Pray for the government of Singapore to make decisions that are pleasing to the Lord.
3. Pray for revival to happen in Singapore. And that verse 13 will happen to us: "Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise."