Why Is Your Anger So Intense?

Prayer – Lord God, please don’t be angry with me—forgive me when I’ve wanted to do things my own way. I trust You Lord, to lead me in the path of righteousness for Your name’s sake. I trust You with all my heart—and now I don’t lean on my own understanding, acknowledging You in all that I do, so that You can lead me up the straight and narrow path—to eternal life with You.

O God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture? Remember that we are the people you chose long ago, the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession! And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth. Walk through the awful ruins of the city; see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary. There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries; there they set up their battle standards. They swung their axes like woodcutters in a forest. With axes and picks, they smashed the carved paneling. They burned your sanctuary to the ground. They defiled the place that bears your name. Then they thought, "Let's destroy everything!" So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped. We no longer see your miraculous signs. All the prophets are gone, and no one can tell us when it will end. How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever? Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them. You, O God, are my king from ages past, bringing salvation to the earth. You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan and let the desert animals eat him. You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never run dry. Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun. You set the boundaries of the earth, and you made both summer and winter. See how these enemies insult you, LORD. A foolish nation has dishonored your name. Don't let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves. Don't forget your suffering people forever. Remember your covenant promises, for the land is full of darkness and violence! Don't let the downtrodden be humiliated again. Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name. Arise, O God, and defend your cause. Remember how these fools insult you all day long. Don't overlook what your enemies have said or their growing uproar. Psalm 74:1-23

 

Meditate.

 

The Temple was destroyed. What a very sad, heartbreaking occurrence. This happened when the Babylonian army invaded Jerusalem and took the Jews into captivity. In addition to destroying the Temple the Babylonians took everything of value from the land of Israel. The nation was crying out to the Lord for help—but this captivity was actually punishment for them for not obeying the Lord earlier. They were God’s chosen people and they knew it, but they continued to be rebellious. Read First and Second Kings for a deeper understanding of the people of Israel and their relationship with the Lord. Particularly, read 2 Kings 24-25 for more details on the siege of Jerusalem.

 

Pray for Peace - as seen in Jerusalem
Pray for Salvation

In this Psalm, good questions were asked of the Lord… How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you? Will you let them dishonor your name forever? Why do you hold back your strong right hand? It took seventy years for the people to return to God, to be forgiven, and to slowly be returned to their land from captivity in Babylon. Spiritually, do you ever rebel against God? Do you want to do things your own way? That is just how the Jews were treating God—wanting to do things their own way. Where did it get them? Seventy years in Babylon. Where will your rebellious attitude get you? The choice is yours. Either repent and turn back to the Lord, trusting Him to guide you down the right path, giving you new strength and energy, or continue in your rebellion and see that it will not take you where you ultimately want to go. Where do you want to go? If you are a believer, you will go to heaven. If you are faithful and true to the Lord, you will one day get to go into the New Jerusalem—the new home of God, a place for God’s chosen ones. My prayer to God: Please don’t be so intensely angry with the Jews—Your original chosen people. May they find salvation in You, Jesus Christ.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

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Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson

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