1 O God, why do you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old,
which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!
Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.
3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;
the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!
4 Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place;
they set up their own signs for signs.
5 They were like those who swing axes
in a forest of trees.
6 And all its carved wood
they broke down with hatchets and hammers.
7 They set your sanctuary on fire;
they profaned the dwelling place of your name,
bringing it down to the ground.
8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”;
they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs;
there is no longer any prophet,
and there is none among us who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?
Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!
Summary: Asaph is a talented leader of worship of the Israeli people. He commences by recognizing that God is their God and acknowledging that God is the One in Charge. ‘We are your people, saved by You and come look what You are allowing to happen!’, he says. ‘The enemy have entered your house the temple! They have taken axes to the beautifully built “House of You, our God”. They have hacked, destroyed and set the beauty on fire! They have thrown out the prophets, claiming absolute victory and scoffing at both us and more importantly You, our God!‘ Why, oh Why, don’t You do something?
Prayer: Lord, we often feel the same when we see Your world messed up by so many. Sadly we confess sometimes by us as well!
As I read it! 