Sins of our ancestors

Psalm 79 is a very visual psalm in the first few verses.

It starts by proclaiming that pagan nations have conquered our lands, and that the bodies of the Lord's servants have been left as food for the birds, the flesh of godly people have become food for wild animals.  Blood flowed through Jerusalem like water.

And that's just the first three verses.

We are mocked by our neighbors--something many have felt this past election season in the United States.  We have been mocked by our faith, our convictions, when the hypocrisy from others have been ripe and vengeful.

Verse 8 stood out for me: "Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors!"  So much of our division nowadays seems to stem from past events.  Events that occurred several decades, if not centuries ago.  Even against people who are long since dead.

But in the end of this short psalm, it pleads that we the people of the Lord, like the sheep of God's pasture, will thank you forever and ever.  We will pass on our praise to Your Greatness from generation to generation.

Amen.