Reflections from Psalm 79 & John 5

There’s a line in Psalm 79 that stops me cold:

“There is no one left to bury the dead.”

To be in that kind of desolation…

Not just suffering, but absolute ruin.

Not just needing help, but beyond help. It’s too late for that.

There is nothing left.

No people. No hope.

Not even someone to give the dead a proper burial.

Hopeless. Destitute. Destroyed.

My soul has been there.

I have lived in that space.

I have breathed in the stench of death—felt it wrap around me like a fog.

I’ve looked around and thought, There’s nothing left. No one left.

But in those moments, I have needed someone to remind me of the truth:

Death isn’t the end.

In Jesus, death was the beginning.

His death wasn’t a finale—it was the turning point. His resurrection is our resurrection.

His new life is our new life.

And so—

There’s no need to bury the dead anymore.

It’s time to raise them.

Help us, O God of our salvation!

Help us for the glory of your name.

Save us and forgive our sins

for the honor of your name. (Psalm 79:9, NLT)

It’s for Your glory, First Raised.

It’s for Your honor, Son of Man.

We live for You.

Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,

will thank you forever and ever,

praising your greatness from generation to generation. (Psalm 79:13, NLT)

Our generations will never cease.

Our praise will never cease.

Grave Destroyer—Your greatness defeats all death!

For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead,

so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. (John 5:21, NLT)

Father, we live in Christ.

You raised Him from the dead—and He gives us life.

He wants to give us life.

We are no longer bound by this world.

Not by the flesh.

Not by the curse.

Not even by death.

There was a final death.

And now, one eternal resurrection.

So give us boldness.

Give us courage.

To pray for life when all we see is death.

To fix our eyes on heaven, not on the battlefield.

To walk in indestructible hope.

To become a church of radiant joy.

To glorify Your name from generation to generation.

Let us sing with the saints before us.

Let us stand in awe of the glory to come.

Your work isn’t finished—but the war is already won.

So we pray:

For the walking wounded.

For the captives.

For the prisoners of war.

Keep us behind enemy lines with good news on our lips—

To proclaim your victory,

To offer your conscription,

To raise the dead in surrender,

To give life in abundance.

All for Your glory.

All for Your honor.

Amen