A BLOOD BANK MEDITATION

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O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have poured out their blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there was no one to bury them. Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes! But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.
Psalm 79:1‭, ‬3‭, ‬10‭, ‬13 ESV

¶Blood gives life. Our blood donations give the gift of life. But we need it to be pure. The blood bank goes to great lengths to make sure it is pure. Innocent blood poured out has great consequence. It speaks a claim for vindication of an injustice. Abel's blood cried out from the ground where it had been shed. The blood in this psalm calls out against an offense not only against the psalmist, but against God Himself. The taunts of the nations "Where is their God" echo the mocking cries "hail, king of the Jews," and "he saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him." But Jesus's shed blood was not an appeal to His mocking accusers, but to God Himself. His own blood poured out is Jesus's claim before God Himself to be our Redeemer prophet, priest, and King.

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