Sep 13, 2024
The 2024 edition of Our Best Thought is inspired by our 2024 Bible Reading Plan and features writings thoughtfully crafted by contributors reflecting on their daily devotions. “Our Best Thought“ is taken from the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision” as a reference to God: “Thou my best thought, by day or by night.”
Reading: Psalm 79
Scripture:
Psalm 79:5,6,13
5 How long, Lord? Will you be angry for ever?
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;
13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will praise you for ever;
from generation to generation
we will proclaim your praise.
Observation:
The surrounding nations have conquered God’s people, destroying their land, possessions, and their holy temple, leaving the Israelites brutally mistreated and in a terrible state. They are taunted and mocked, and in this psalm, they cry out to God, asking how much longer His anger will remain upon them. They plead for His wrath to be directed toward those who do not know Him, for those nations have consumed them with wickedness. They ask God to forget the sins of their forefathers and to show them compassion, help, and deliverance from their enemies for the sake of His Name. In their desperation, they beg for mercy, asking Him to rescue them from their troubles and repay their enemies for the wickedness they have done. Despite their afflictions, the psalm ends with a declaration that they, as God’s beloved, will continue to praise Him.
Application:
Even though we may suffer afflictions sent by God Himself due to our sinfulness, we are not cast away from Him. We can and should still turn to God with our raw, honest thoughts—bringing our complaints about all that our adversaries have done to us, crying for mercy, and asking Him to wash away our iniquities. However, at the end of our outpouring to God, let us remember to cultivate a posture of trust, gratitude, and praise. Let us tell Him: “But I still trust You,” “I choose to be grateful for Your goodness in my life, whether seen or unseen,” and “You are still worthy of my praise.”
Prayer:
Thank you, Lord, that in the midst of our troubles, even those caused by our own wrongdoing, we can still turn to You with all our raw thoughts, complaints, anger, and screams—along with all our guilt and pleas. After we have poured out everything we need to, help us always to return to a posture of trust, gratitude, and praise, and declaring Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.