Psalm 79 Prayed

Psalm 79 Prayed Praying against attacks on our faith by sceptics  and scoffers    O God, sceptics and scoffers have invaded your          inheritance;             they have defiled your holy temple,             they have reduced the Church to rubble.    They have given their deathly opinions             as food to the media,    the foolishness of their speculations             to the beasts of the earth.    They have poured out half-truths like water             all around our country,             and there is no one to answer them back.    We are objects of reproach to our neighbours,             of scorn and derision to those around us.    Help us to use the weapons you have given us,             for the weapons we fight with             are not the weapons of the world.    On the contrary, they have your divine power             to demolish their strongholds.     Help us to demolish their arguments             and every pretension that sets itself up             against the knowledge of God,    Help us to take captive every thought,             to make it obedient to Christ.      How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever?             How long will your jealousy burn like fire?    Pour out your wrath on these foolish notions             that do not acknowledge you,    on the places of influence             that do not call on your name;    for they have devoured your Church             and seek to destroy our faith.     Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers;             may your mercy come quickly to meet us,             for we are in desperate need.    Help us, O Jesus our Saviour,             for the glory of your name;    deliver us and forgive our sins             for your name’s sake.    Why should the nations say,             “Where is their God?”    Before our eyes, make known among the nations             that you avenge the honour of your name.    May the groans of your people come before you;             by the strength of your arm             preserve those condemned by lies.    Lord Jesus, you told us that if anyone sins against             us seven times,             and seven times comes back to us and says,    ‘I repent,’             then we should forgive.    Pay back into the laps of the scoffers seven times              such mercy             for the reproach they have hurled at you,             O Lord.    And help us not to have anything to do with foolish             and stupid arguments.             because they only produce quarrels.    Help us not to quarrel,             instead let us be kind to everyone,             able to teach, not resentful.    Help us to gently instruct those who oppose you,             in the hope that you will grant them             repentance.    Lead them to a knowledge of the truth,             and help them come to their senses,    and escape from the trap of the devil,             who has taken them captive to do his will.    Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,             will praise you forever;    from generation to generation         we will recount your praise. Psalm 79 A psalm of Asaph. 1   O God, the nations have invaded your             inheritance;             they have defiled your holy temple,             they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. 2    They have given the dead bodies of your             servants             as food to the birds of the air,             the flesh of your saints to the beasts of the             earth. 3   They have poured out blood like water             all around Jerusalem,             and there is no one to bury the dead. 4   We are objects of reproach to our neighbours,             of scorn and derision to those around us. 2Cor. 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 5   How long, O LORD? Will you be angry             forever?             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; 7   for they have devoured Jacob             and destroyed his homeland. 8   Do not hold against us the sins of the fathers;             may your mercy come quickly to meet us,             for we are in desperate need. 9   Help us, O God our Saviour,             for the glory of your name;       deliver us and forgive our sins             for your name’s sake. 10  Why should the nations say,             “Where is their God?”        Before our eyes, make known among the             nations             that you avenge the outpoured blood of             your servants. 11  May the groans of the prisoners come before             you;             by the strength of your arm             preserve those condemned to die. Luke 17:4 If he sins against you  seven times in a day, and  seven times  comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.” 12  Pay back into the laps of our neighbours             seven times             the reproach they have hurled at you, O             Lord. 2Tim. 2:23 Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.  24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,  26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 13  Then we your people, the sheep of your             pasture,             will praise you forever;       from generation to generation             we will recount your praise.