Psalm 79:1–13, 2025.06.25 (Wed)

"Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake."(Psalm 79:9)

This past Sunday, a heartbreaking incident happened right in front of our church. A deer was struck by a car with such force that it was thrown across the opposite lane and into the ravine area between the church and the road. The deer seemed to take a few final breaths before passing away. Not long after, we saw fawns wandering nearby, as if looking for their mother.

Everything happened so suddenly. The driver appeared to be shocked and stopped for a moment. Pastor Choi informed me right away, and I immediately contacted the county’s animal control department to request removal. While the matter was handled swiftly and properly, a wave of compassion overwhelmed me as I watched the helpless fawns and the sudden loss of their mother.

Yesterday, while visiting church members, I saw one of the fawns alone, quietly grazing in the grass. My heart instinctively searched for its mother. But she was nowhere to be seen. And again, a deep sense of compassion rose up in me.

It’s not simply because I'm getting older. I believe this is how all human hearts are made—capable of compassion, even toward animals. This is part of how God created us. The phrase “someone wearing the mask of a human” exists because we instinctively know there are things people ought to do, and things they must never do.

Today’s Psalm describes the sorrow and anguish over the destruction of the temple by foreign nations. The psalmist interprets this as a sign of God’s anger. But even in the midst of suffering and affliction, the faithful response is not despair—it is to pray for God’s mercy, and to hope that God’s glory will be restored, not just personal relief.

This is a song about what it means to be a person of faith. While individual well-being is important, those who believe in God are called to pursue the well-being of the community. This is foundational. When we speak of faith and belief, we must always remember this.The psalmist’s prayer—crying out for God's justice, mercy, and honor even in the midst of suffering—guides us in how we should live our faith today.

Meditative

• Is it possible to sing of God’s glory even in the midst of suffering?

• How is prioritizing the community different from totalitarianism?To place the community first is not about erasing individual identity, but about living out Christ’s command: “Love one another.”

Intercessory Prayer

• Please pray that the sale of the Oakland church building will go smoothly according to God's will. We now enter a season of earnest prayer and preparation.

• Today is the final day of our Wednesday Bible Study before summer break. The meeting time remains the same, and we will resume in the fall.