Psalm 80:7-15 (NRSV)
Devotion
Yesterday’s theme of the vineyard is carried forward in today’s psalm. The psalmist pleads for God to have mercy and save the vine of Israel who God brought out of Egypt in order to flourish in the promised land. For now that vineyard appears broken and wild beasts seem to be ravaging it.
As we look at the world around us today, we may have similar thoughts. War makes news every day. Violence seems to be an accepted reality in the daily lives of millions of people worldwide. Nations continue to rise against nations. The amount of money spent on military hardware staggers our minds. We expect the worst of one another and arm ourselves to protect us from our neighbor.
As we pray this psalm, may the God who created, redeemed, and sustains us grant us a vision of what God intends us to be: a vineyard producing the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness.
Prayer
Loving God, you have made us in your image. Give us grace to be the presence of Jesus in a world of conflict and turmoil. May we love others as you have loved us. Amen.