1 O God, why do you cast us off forever?
Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? – God, Are You not the Good Shepherd, and we not Your flock? Ps 23
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. – You’ve done so much for us to make us Your special people!
3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;
the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! – Come and look Your ‘dwelling place’ is trashed!
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; – It is horrible! They’ve shattered, splintered and burnt all the magnificent woodwork and replaced your texts with their blasphemy!
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. – and they plan to destroy the synagogues, the nation, Your nation!
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? – We’ve no prophets or prophecies! They’re just laughing at us AND YOU , OUR GOD! When will it all stop?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them! – Why don’t You do something? Please get Your hands out of Your pockets and help us!
Comment: I’m amazed at how the psalmists combine reverence for God, the Creator, and speaking openly and honestly as man to man, pouring out their innermost feelings. And then I remember that we cannot fool God and He wants us to treat Him as our Father! Yet He is not the same as a human Father, He is our Creator and our Redeemer!
Psalm 69: 5 – O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you. Proverbs 12: 22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Prayer: Please help me to keep my attitude to You reverential. and help me to know that You require and encourage me to be to be open and honest with You!
As I read it! 