{"id":71424,"date":"2023-12-06T17:15:51","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T09:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/?p=71424"},"modified":"2023-12-07T15:08:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T07:08:17","slug":"heavenly-devotion-psalm-79-there-is-always-hope-in-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/heavenly-devotion-psalm-79-there-is-always-hope-in-the-lord\/","title":{"rendered":"Heavenly Devotion: Psalm 79 &#8211; There is Always Hope in the Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-2Mjv9TxyrQ?si=FfS1fM8MFO4_ZkYI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<strong><span id=\"E1081\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 24pt;\">Psalm 79 \u2013 There is Always Hope in the Lord<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1082\" class=\"qowt-stl-Body x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><span id=\"E1083\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">(by Chia Eng Chuan)<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1084\" class=\"qowt-stl-Body x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><span id=\"E1085\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">At the time of the Exodus, God had rescued the Jews from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised Land. God\u2019s covenant with Israel was that they would enjoy His blessings as long as they obeyed the covenant, failing which they would be defeated by their enemies. But as time went by, Israel became less and less devoted to God, embraced idolatry and repeatedly rebelled against God. Therefore, God used the Babylonians to punish Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1087\" class=\"qowt-stl-Body x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><span id=\"E1088\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">This psalm is a lament probably written after Jerusalem\u2019s fall and the subsequent exile of Judah. Many were killed in the battles and their unburied bodies were left to wild animals and the birds of prey, a terrible fate. Asaph did not deny that the people of Judah deserved God\u2019s punishment, but he pleaded with God to punish their invaders because of their cruelty, wanton disregard for lives and destruction of the temple and the city of Jerusalem. In Psalm 79, Asaph voiced a prayer of hope on behalf of all the Jews in exile, that if God had spared them for a reason, He will once again deliver them from the consequences of their sin and the sin of their forefathers. Asaph appealed to His glorious name and in His promise that He will never abandon His chosen people. <\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1090\" class=\"qowt-stl-Body x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><span id=\"E1091\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">This psalm which began in heart-rending despair and anguish ends with a note of hope, praising God for His boundless mercies and in anticipation of His deliverance from their oppressors. Like the Israelites, we too need to come before the Lord in repentance and receive His forgiveness for our sins, and be restored back to Him, our ever loving and faithful heavenly Father.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"qowt-stl-Heading1 x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><strong><span class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Let&#8217;s Read <\/span><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Psalm 79<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<p id=\"E1204\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-6\"><em><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">A psalm of Asaph.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<p id=\"E1097\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-5 qowt-stl-line\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1098\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">1\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1099\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance;<\/span><span id=\"E1101\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1102\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1103\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">they have defiled\u00a0your holy temple,<\/span><span id=\"E1105\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1106\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1107\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.<\/span><span id=\"E1109\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1110\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">2\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1111\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">They have left the dead bodies of your servants<\/span><span id=\"E1113\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1114\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1115\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">as food for the birds of the sky,<\/span><span id=\"E1117\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1118\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1119\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.<\/span><span id=\"E1121\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1122\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">3\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1123\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">They have poured out blood like water<\/span><span id=\"E1125\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1126\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1128\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">all around Jerusalem,<\/span><span id=\"E1130\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1131\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1132\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">and there is no one to bury\u00a0the dead.<\/span><span id=\"E1134\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1135\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">4\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1136\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,<\/span><span id=\"E1138\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1139\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1140\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">of scorn\u00a0and derision to those around us.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1141\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-5 qowt-stl-line\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1142\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">5\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1143\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">How long,\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1144\" class=\"qowt-stl-small-caps\">Lord<\/span><span id=\"E1145\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">? Will you be angry\u00a0forever?<\/span><span id=\"E1147\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1148\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1149\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">How long will your jealousy burn like fire?<\/span><span id=\"E1151\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1152\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">6\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1153\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Pour out your wrath\u00a0on the nations<\/span><span id=\"E1155\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1156\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1157\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">that do not acknowledge\u00a0you,<\/span><span id=\"E1159\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1160\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">on the kingdoms<\/span><span id=\"E1162\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1163\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1164\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">that do not call on your name;<\/span><span id=\"E1166\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1167\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">7\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1168\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">for they have devoured\u00a0Jacob<\/span><span id=\"E1170\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1171\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1172\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">and devastated his homeland.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<p id=\"E1173\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-5 qowt-word-para-3 qowt-stl-line\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1174\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">8\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1175\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;<\/span><span id=\"E1177\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1178\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1179\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">may your mercy come quickly to meet us,<\/span><span id=\"E1181\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1182\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1183\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">for we are in desperate need.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<p id=\"E1173\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-5 qowt-stl-line\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1186\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">9\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1187\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Help us,\u00a0God our Savior,<\/span><span id=\"E1189\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1190\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1191\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">for the glory of your name;<\/span><span id=\"E1193\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1194\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">deliver us and forgive our sins<\/span><span id=\"E1196\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1197\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1198\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">for your name\u2019s sake.<\/span><span id=\"E1200\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1201\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">10\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1202\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Why should the nations say,<\/span><span id=\"E1204\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1205\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1206\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">\u201cWhere is their God?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div id=\"contents\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<p id=\"E1207\" class=\"x-scope qowt-word-para-3 qowt-stl-line\"><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><span id=\"E1208\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Before our eyes, make known among the nations<\/span><span id=\"E1210\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1211\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1212\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">that you avenge\u00a0the outpoured blood\u00a0of your servants.<\/span><span id=\"E1214\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1215\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">11\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1216\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">May the groans of the prisoners come before you;<\/span><span id=\"E1218\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1219\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1220\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">with your strong arm preserve those condemned to die.<\/span><span id=\"E1222\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1223\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">12\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1224\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Pay back into the laps\u00a0of our neighbors seven times<\/span><span id=\"E1226\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1227\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1228\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">the contempt they have hurled at you, Lord.<\/span><span id=\"E1230\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1231\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">13\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1232\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,<\/span><span id=\"E1234\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1235\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1236\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">will praise you forever;<\/span><span id=\"E1238\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1239\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">from generation to generation<\/span><span id=\"E1241\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span id=\"E1242\" class=\"qowt-stl-indent-1-breaks\">\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span id=\"E1243\" class=\"qowt-stl-text\">we will proclaim your praise.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p id=\"E981\" class=\"qowt-stl-Heading1 x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><strong><span id=\"E-934\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Let&#8217;s Pray<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1247\" class=\"qowt-stl-Body x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><span id=\"E1248\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">Heavenly Father, We thank You for the hope we have in You. Hope that we do not deserve, when we turn away from You in our disobedience and wilfulness. Open the eyes of our hearts to know that You are the one true God who loves us and want to bless us with the fullness of life. That we will confess our sins before You and seek Your forgiveness. That you will restore us back to Your loving embrace because we are the sheep of Your pasture.<\/span><\/p>\n<p id=\"E1250\" class=\"qowt-stl-Body x-scope qowt-word-para-0\"><span id=\"E1251\" class=\"qowt-font2-TimesNewRoman\" style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">In Jesus\u2019 most precious name, Amen!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"contentsContainer\" class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<div class=\"style-scope qowt-page\">\n<p><em style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">This devotional was kindly contributed by Dr. Chow Li Sze and her channel Heavenly Devotion. You may find the channel at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/HeavenlyDevotion\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/HeavenlyDevotion\/videos<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>About the Heavenly Devotion channel<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><em>The Heavenly Devotion channel is dedicated to encouraging you to listen to Bible Scriptures and pray with the Scriptures. They are inspired by the call of service as expressed and exemplified by Apostle Paul in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=2%20Corinthians%209%3A12-15&amp;version=NIV\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">2 Corinthians 9:12-15<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">\u201cFor the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.\u201d (<strong>Hebrew 4:12 NKJV<\/strong>)<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;\"><em><strong>|Share The Good News|<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Psalm 79 \u2013 There is Always Hope in the Lord (by Chia Eng Chuan) At the time of the Exodus, God had rescued the Jews from slavery in Egypt and led them to the Promised <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/heavenly-devotion-psalm-79-there-is-always-hope-in-the-lord\/\" title=\"Heavenly Devotion: Psalm 79 &#8211; There is Always Hope in the Lord\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":71425,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2202],"tags":[11377,6290,8511,10952,11367,8729,11135,11753,11137,4987],"class_list":{"0":"post-71424","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-video","8":"tag-chia-eng-chuan","9":"tag-christian-hope","10":"tag-forgiveness-and-restoration","11":"tag-gods-covenant","12":"tag-gods-deliverance","13":"tag-gods-mercy","14":"tag-heavenly-devotion","15":"tag-promised-land","16":"tag-psalms","17":"tag-repentance"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=71424"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":71427,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71424\/revisions\/71427"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/71425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=71424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=71424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianitymalaysia.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=71424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}