60.4 Thanksgiving For Victory

(Psalm 76)

God is known in Judah; his name is honored in Israel.

He has his home in Jerusalem; he lives in Mt. Zion.

There he broke the arrows of the enemy, their shields and swords, yes all their weapons.

How glorious you are, O God!

How majestic, as you return from the mountains where you defeated your foes.

Their brave soldiers have been stripped of all they had and now are sleeping the sleep of death; 

all their strength and skill was useless.

When you threatened them, O God of Jacob, the horses and their riders fell dead.

But you, Lord, are feared by all.

No one can stand in your presence when you are angry.

You made your judgment known from heaven; the world was afraid and kept silent, when you rose up to pronounce judgment, to save all the oppressed on earth.

Men's anger only results in more praise for you; those who survive the wars will keep your festivals.

Give the Lord your God what you promised him; bring gifts to him, all you nearby nations.

God makes men fear him; he humbles proud princes and terrifies great kings.

60.3 Song Of Victory Tor The Faithful

(Revelation 19:5-10)

Then there came from the throne the sound of a voice, saying, "Praise our God, all his servants and all people, both great and small, who have reverence for him!"  Then I heard what sounded like a crowd, like the sound of a roaring waterfall, like loud peals of thunder.  I heard them say, "Praise God!  For the Lord, our Almighty God, is King!  Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness!  For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it.  She has been given clean shining linen to wear"  (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.)

Then the angel said to me, "Write this:  Happy are those who have been invited to the weeding feast of the Lamb."  And the angel added, "These are the true words of God."

I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "Don't do it! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers, all those who hold to the truth that Jesus revealed.  Worship God!"

For the truth that Jesus revealed is what inspires the prophets.

60. 2 Final Condemnation For Persecutors

(Revelation 18:21-24)

Then a mighty angel picked up a stone the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "This is how the great city Babylon will be violently thrown down and will never be seen again.  The music of harps and of human voices, of players of the flute and the trumpet, will never be heard in you again!  No workman in any trade will ever be found in you again; and the sound of the millstone will be heard no more! Never again will the light of a lamp be seen in you; no more will the voices of brides and grooms be heard in you.  Your businessmen were the most powerful in your world, and with your false magic you deceived all the peoples of the world!"

Babylon was punished because the blood of prophets and God's people was found in the city; yes, the blood of all those who have been killed on earth. 

60.1 Persecutors Will Be Punished

(Matthew 23:32-39)

Go on, then, and finish up what your ancestors started!  You snakes and sons of snakes! How do you expect to escape from being condemned to hell?  And so I tell you that I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers; you will kill some of them, crucify others, and whip others in the synagogues and chase them from town to town.  As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent men will fall on you, from the murder of innocent Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.  I tell you indeed: the punishment for all these murderers will fall on the people of this day!

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the prophets and stone the messengers God has sent you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me! And so your temple will be abandoned and empty.  From now on, I tell you, you will never see me again until you say, 'God bless him who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

59.4 A Prayer For Help

(Psalm 70)

Save me, O God! Lord, help me now!
May those who try to kill me be defeated and confused.
May those who are happy because of my troubles be turned back and disgraced.
May those who make fun of me be dismayed by their defeat.

May all who come to you be glad and joyful.
May all who are thankful for your salvation always say, "how great is God!"

I am weak and helpless; come to me quickly, O God.
You are my savior and my Lord-- hurry to my aid!