Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!
Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors
the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
The above section is the last strophe of a song of Asaph. He is writing to both correct Israel’s walk and to ask God to redeem them from their suffering. He wants God to both forgive them and rescue them. He recognizes that they are in these straights because of their own failure to obey God. But he also recognizes and pleas with God that upon their repentance He will deliver them from their oppression. This is so true then and now. This is also the need we have in Israel today. Yes, they need deliverance from this oppression. But they also need repentance and recognize that Jesus is their Messiah. Like Asaph of old, we can’t pray for one without also praying for the other. He was the choir master for the nation. He wrote the song to confess to God and to encourage the people. He is asking God to engage with them, again. He is asking the people to engage with God, again. That is the solution for when you have prisoners who are captive and taunts against your nation. Engage with God and He will take care of your enemies. This is the prayer we need to pray.
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