Let the priests who minister before the LORD weep between the portico and the altar, saying, “Spare Your people, O LORD, and do not make Your heritage a reproach, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”
The priests plead for mercy, not justice, though justice would destroy this people who bear God's name. They stand between the altar where they have nothing left to offer and the people watching, begging that God not hand His heritage over to reproach among the nations.
AI summary
Backs to the altar where they have nothing to sacrifice, faces toward the Shekinah presence, the priests stand pleading. Human foes, not locusts, threaten to rule them; God's honor itself is at stake, will the heathen mock Him as powerless to save His own?
AI summary
The priests stand between the ark and the people as mediators, praying in the people's name, a legal type pointing to Christ, who now intercedes for us. Through Him the veil is torn; we are made priests ourselves and dare approach God as our Father, yet never without His intercession.
AI summary