You are a
people holy to the Lord your God.
The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples
on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured
possession.
Deuteronomy 7:6
Everlasting, almighty God, from all the nations of the
world You have chosen Israel to be Your very own. You
chose them not for their numbers, as they are one of the
smallest nations, but because they are dear to You; and
because You love Your people, O eternal God, You cannot
bear to see them in such great suffering.
O Father in Heaven, we cry to You, for You are a Father.
Look upon Your people, Your children. See how they are
oppressed on all sides. Even when they have done no
wrong, they are given the blame. Loving Father, how that
must grieve Your heart, for they are Your beloved
people, who are yet to be of significance to the whole
world. Protect Your people, deliver them from their
enemies.
Make Your goodness known to them, come to their aid.
Kindle in the hearts of Your people the flame of hope in
the darkness now engulfing them, O Father of compassion
and God of all comfort. Amen.
I will
forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no
more.
Jeremiah 31:34
‘Ah,
Sovereign Lord,
you have made the heavens and the earth
by your great power and outstretched arm.
Nothing is too hard for you.
‘You show love to thousands
but bring the punishment
for the fathers' sins into the laps of their children
after them.
‘O great and powerful God,
whose name is the Lord Almighty,
great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds …
‘You brought your people Israel out of Egypt
with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand
and an outstretched arm and with great terror.
You gave them this land you had sworn
to give their forefathers,
a land flowing with milk and honey.' Jeremiah 32:17-22
O Lord our
God, You see that Your people are living in fear and
terror, threatened by war and death. You are merciful
and gracious, abounding in patience and faithfulness.
That is Your nature.
Do not consider the sins of Your people. See instead
their suffering.
Whenever You were forced to send judgment and the
suffering of Your people reached a climax, Your
compassion would flow over in words like: ‘I will
forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no
more.'
O Lord, may this happen now, for how it must break Your
heart to see Your people suffer. Have mercy, we pray.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven
and earth.
Psalm 124:8
