This is a nation that has in the past been a great instrument of God for taking the gospel out into the world. Now it is a spiritual ruin.

O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the heavens for food, the flesh of your faithful to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water all round Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. We have become a taunt to our neighbours, mocked and derided by those around us. (Psalm 79:1-4 NLT)

The generation that should now be in the churches have effectively given themselves over to a spiritual death. Jesus defined life as knowing God and Himself (John 17:3) Those whose lives are focused elsewhere give themselves over to this spiritual death. The beasts of secularism and immorality devour the Lord’s people who give up the life of God for their own sensual pleasures. The church is haemorrhaging through a thousand cuts. We have become the scorn of our enemies.

How long, O Lord? Will you be angry for ever? Will your jealousy burn like fire? Pour out your anger on the nations that do not know you, and on the kingdoms that do not call upon your name! For they have devoured Jacob and laid waste his habitation. Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low. (Psalm 79:5-8 NLT)

It is noteworthy that the author, Asaph appeals to God on the basis of His compassion. Often we appeal on the basis of the spread of the gospel.  We seem to believe that we the church are the hope of the nation, that God must use us as a necessary step to save the people of this country.

With this attitude about ourselves the Lord would be jealous for his name. Setting ourselves up as The Hope is idolatrous. How can the Lord respond with anything but a jealous fire towards us? The Lord has a way of developing the instruments of his message before his message can be used. One of the reasons that we are unable to see what God is doing among us is because we are so impatient for him to work in everyone else that we don’t recognise his work in us.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes! Let the groans of the prisoners come before you; according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die! (Psalm 79:9-11 NLT)

A consequence of the Lord choosing to deal with our issues is that at the same time He is mocked by the secular voices that surround us. He is willing to take the hit of dishonour that comes his way, because His concern is not for the shallow head count of people being saved. He is looking for a depth of relationship in his people. He is looking for spiritual life.

Asaph appeals to God for deliverance and atonement. We think of the need of those people out there who need salvation. The first step is our own need of reconciliation with God. Thanks be to God that through Jesus we have this atonement.

Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbours the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord! But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you for ever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise. (Psalm 79:12-13 NLT)

The response that God is looking for from us is to honour His name and give thanks to Him forever. It is a response that takes the focus off ourselves and return it to our true centre, the Lord. Meanwhile, it is in his hands to deal with those who taunt him, and us.