O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt Thou be angry against the prayer of Thy people is the plea of God's oppressed people under enemy pressure. It is uttered while they are fed with the bread of tears, given tears to drink in great measure, made a strife unto their neighbors, and laughed to scorn by their enemies. It belongs with the appeal to the Shepherd of Israel who dwells between the cherubims to give ear, to look down from heaven, to stir up strength, to come and save. It belongs also with the repeated cry to be turned again and quickened to call upon God's name, and to be saved by the shining of God's face, with God returning to behold and visit His people. It belongs further with the lament over the vine brought out of Egypt and planted, whose hedges are broken down so that it is plucked, wasted, and burned.
It is a prayer of strong faith for help from heaven when the honor of God is at stake. It is in harmony with God's mind as the prayer to be offered in the house of prayer in time of war or oppression by an enemy for the cause of Israel and for the honor of God. Its aim is that all kingdoms of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else, that the God of the Hebrews still lives and reigns as the alone God of all the kingdoms of the earth, the maker of heaven and earth who alone can bring deliverance.
O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt Thou be angry against the prayer of Thy people is the plea of God's oppressed people under enemy pressure. It is uttered while they are fed with the bread of tears, given tears to drink in great measure, made a strife unto their neighbors, and laughed to scorn by their enemies. It belongs with the appeal to the Shepherd of Israel who dwells between the cherubims to give ear, to look down from heaven, to stir up strength, to come and save. It belongs also with the repeated cry to be turned again and quickened to call upon God's name, and to be saved by the shining of God's face, with God returning to behold and visit His people. It belongs further with the lament over the vine brought out of Egypt and planted, whose hedges are broken down so that it is plucked, wasted, and burned.
It is a prayer of strong faith for help from heaven when the honor of God is at stake. It is in harmony with God's mind as the prayer to be offered in the house of prayer in time of war or oppression by an enemy for the cause of Israel and for the honor of God. Its aim is that all kingdoms of the earth may know that the Lord is God and there is none else, that the God of the Hebrews still lives and reigns as the alone God of all the kingdoms of the earth, the maker of heaven and earth who alone can bring deliverance.