Take Your Cares to the Lord.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 79

 

Psalm 79:8

Do not remember against us our former iniquities;
    let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
    for we are brought very low.

(ESV)

 

Like many believers, I find it disturbing to witness the slide of the world into greater and greater ungodliness. What society once considered good is now bad and what society once considered bad society now considers good. In addition, anyone daring to speak up against what society once considered bad becomes a target of hatefulness. This can make a believer in Christ feel discouraged or even bitter. However, believers know Jesus is returning soon and that they can take their cares to God who cares for them (1 Peter 5:7). Psalm 79 shows us how Asaph, a man in anguish of heart over what had happened to his people, took his concerns to the Lord. Asaph,

 

1)      Makes his complaint (Psalm 79:1-4) – The enemy nations of Israel have invaded the land, defiled the Temple, laying Jerusalem in ruins (Psalm 79:1). In addition to property damage, these enemy nations have also murdered God’s servants, leaving their bodies as food for the birds of the heavens and beasts of the earth (Psalm 79:2). The blood of God’s servants is also poured out like water all around Jerusalem with no one to bury them (Psalm 79:3). Israel has now become a taunt to their neighbors who now mock and deride them (Psalm 79:4).

2)      Makes his petition (Psalm 79:5-7) – Asaph asks how long the Lord will remain angry with jealousy that burns like fire (Psalm 79:5). Asaph’s petition asks that God pour out his anger on the enemy nations of Israel that do now know the Lord or call upon His name because they have devoured Jacob and laid the land waste (Psalm 79:6-7).

3)      Repents, seeks salvation, deliverance, and atonement from God (Psalm 79:8-10) – In repentance, Asaph asks God to forget Israel’s former iniquities and show Israel compassion for they are brought low (Psalm 79:8). Asaph then petitions the God of Israel’s salvation for deliverance and atonement for sin so the nations attacking Israel cannot ask where their God is (Psalm 79:9-10).

4)      Asks God to return the enemies' taunts upon Israel’s enemies, giving thanks to God (Psalm 79:11-13) – Asaph asks the Lord to hear the groans of the prisoners and to preserve those doomed to die by His great power (Psalm 79:11). He then asks the Lord to return the taunts of Israel’s enemies upon them with the People of God giving thanks to God forever, recounting God’s praise (Psalm 79:12-13).

 

Like many of the Psalms, this one is an emotional heartfelt plea to God. The psalmist refers to the state of Israel and how their enemies have laid waste to the land and habitations of Israel (Psalm 79:7). The psalmist knows God is angry with the people of Jerusalem but wonders how long the anger will last (Psalm 79:5). The psalmist knows the anger of the Lord against His people is due to their iniquities and asks God not to remember their former iniquities, asking for salvation, deliverance, and atonement for sins (Psalm 79:8-9). After receiving forgiveness and atonement for sin, the psalmist asks that the anger of the Lord once directed at Israel now come upon the enemies of the Lord promising that the people of God will give thanks forever and recount God’s praise. Psalm 79 is a psalm of repentance or turning back to God. Asaph knows Israel must repent of its iniquities to find deliverance from their enemies.

 

Jesus told us that in this world we would have trouble, with the reminder that He has overcome the world (John 16:33). The question we must ask ourselves is what do we do when trouble comes? We can remember Jesus has overcome the world and its troubles and take our cares to Him because Jesus cares for us (1 Peter 5:7) repenting of any unrepentant sin. Since Jesus is always with us, we can take our cares to him anytime (Matthew 28:20). However, troubles can also make one desperate or bitter when we forget to take them to the Lord. Our reaction to trouble depends on how prepared we are for trouble and why it is crucial for a believer to spend time with God daily, to fill our hearts with the promises of God that one can rely on in trouble.

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to receive Jesus as your Savior or have drifted away from God due to the cares and troubles of the world, I encourage you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

The cares of this world can press in on us, placing a strain on our relationship with God and with others. I encourage everyone reading this to practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, the study of God’s Word, and regular Church attendance so we are prepared to take our cares to God when troubles come. May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.