1 O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;
they have defiled your holy temple;
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.
2 They have given the bodies of your servants
to the birds of the heavens for food,
the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth.
3 They have poured out their blood like water
all around Jerusalem,
and there was no one to bury them.
4 We have become a taunt to our neighbours,
mocked and derided by those around us.
5 How long, O LORD? Will you be angry forever?
Will your jealousy burn like fire?
6 Pour out your anger on the nations
that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
that do not call upon your name!
7 For they have devoured Jacob
and laid waste his habitation.
8 Do not remember against us our former iniquities;
let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
for we are brought very low.
9 Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and atone for our sins,
for your name’s sake!
10 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants
be known among the nations before our eyes!
Comment: Forgive me if you think this is sanctimonious, but I have taken the liberty to rewrite the psalm as an open letter from Asaph to God.
An open letter to God from Asaph, the Jew.
Dear God, we are Yours, You have claimed us for Yourself. But we are taken captive. Your temple and in fact Your capital city have both been made unfit for Your worship! Many of us have been thrown out, dead, into the open fields to be pecked at by birds and eaten by hyenas. Our blood has flowed down the streets like wastewater – decent burial has not been possible. Our captors and our surrounding nations are throwing our state in our faces! I know why You are angry, but is it going to be like this for ever? Your holiness has made You angry because of our sin, but please take your anger and pour it over our captors, they are so evil. They have different gods and don’t even recognize You!
We are destroyed! Our whole nation! Please don’t hold our past against us for ever. We are sorry and beg for your compassion. For Your own Glory, please forgive us. We call on You to please provide atonement!
Please stop them being able to say “Where is your God?” by avenging our deaths and spilt blood! Your victory, for which we as Your people are pleading, will prove that You are the God whom we know you are!
Your Servant Asaph, leader of the temple choir.
James 4: 9&10. – Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Prayer: Please teach me to repent often and live humbly in You sight, my Gracious Saviour and King.