Dreams Turn Sour

Jesus' Fulfillment of Scripture
Jesus and the Davidic Covenant
Worthy Is the Lamb

Psalm 80:8-19

The Message

^8-18 Remember how you brought a young vine from Egypt,
    cleared out the brambles and briers
    and planted your very own vineyard?
You prepared the good earth,
    you planted her roots deep;
    the vineyard filled the land.
Your vine soared high and shaded the mountains,
    even dwarfing the giant cedars.
Your vine ranged west to the Sea,
    east to the River.
So why do you no longer protect your vine?
    Trespassers pick its grapes at will;
Wild pigs crash through and crush it,
    and the mice nibble away at what’s left.
God-of-the-Angel-Armies, turn our way!
    Take a good look at what’s happened
    and attend to this vine.
Care for what you once tenderly planted—
    the vine you raised from a shoot.
And those who dared to set it on fire—
    give them a look that will kill!
Then take the hand of your once-favorite child,
    the child you raised to adulthood.
We will never turn our back on you;
    breathe life into our lungs so we can shout your name!

¹⁹ God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies, come back!
    Smile your blessing smile:
    That will be our salvation.

 
For Reflection

There may be times when the dream of a kingdom where justice, compassion, and love dominate the relationships of people to each other and to God seems to be broken.  Despair, disappointment and doubt replace hope.  When disillusionment threatens, is not the time to turn from God.  It is the time to pray hard and earnestly for restoration and for the intervention of God.

 

Pray

for the courage to approach God with your concerns about God's Kingdom.  Pray humbly and earnestly for God to restore all people to his household.  Pray for those who labor in his service.  Pray to fulfill your role in God's plan. Pray to end doubt.