Psalm 74

Are you part of God's Church?

Asaph – wrote this appeal against the devastation of the land by the enemy

1    O God, why have You rejected us forever?  Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

2    Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old—

     Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; and this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt.

3   Turn Your footsteps toward these everlasting ruins.  The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary.

4    Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; they have set their own standards as signs.

5    It seems as if they have lifted up their axes in a forest of trees.

6    And now all its carved work—they have smashed with hatchet and hammers.

7    They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground!  They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name.

8    They said in their heart, “Let us completely subdue them.” They have burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9    We no longer see any of Your signs—there is no longer any prophet, nor is there any among us who knows how long—

10  How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and the enemy spurn Your name, forever?

11  Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? From within Your bosom, destroy them!

12  Our God is our king from of old, who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth.

13  You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

14  You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.

15  You broke open springs and torrents; You dried up ever-flowing streams.

16 Yours is the day, Yours also is the night—You have prepared the light and the sun.

17  You have established all the boundaries of the earth; You have made summer and winter.

18  Remember this, O Lord, that the enemy has reviled, and a foolish people has spurned Your name.

19  Do not deliver the soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast; do not forget the life of Your afflicted forever.

20  Consider the covenant; for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

21  Let not the oppressed return dishonored; let the afflicted and needy praise Your name.

22  Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause.  Remember how the foolish man reproaches You all day long.

23  Do not forget the voice of Your adversaries, the uproar of those who rise against You which ascends continually.

 In this psalm the enemies of God have moved in the land and are destroying all that is in the land — including the Lord’s Temple.  The people are crying out to God in remembrance of their deliverance out of their bondage to Egypt [during the great Exodus].  It was encouragement to those who had hope in God then, and surely he would cast off these destroying men now.  

Today, we are beginning to see the power of God’s enemies become more and more threatening.  It  is only natural and comforting for the redeemed in Christ to seek the power of God in earnest prayer.  How much more reason do we have to believe that God will not forsake any of those whom Christ has redeemed with his own blood.

The "foreign nations" that surround us today, who are also foreign to Christ and His church—will make the attempt to silence God's faithful people.  They will attempt to shut up places of worship--they will try to destroy the people of God and their religion all together.  For a while they may even succeed.  Some of God's oppressed servants may see no hope of deliverance—but there is a remnant of believers, the seed of a future harvest, that will survive their attacks because of a faithful God who defends His people.  

It is so important that we all know where we stand in God’s kingdom.   
In verses 12-17, What God had done for his people, as their King of old, encouraged them to depend on Him now.  It will be by the Lord's doing because no other besides Him can do it.  This should be food for faith and hope, to support and encourage in great difficulties. 

The God of Israel is the God of nature. He that is faithful to his covenant on that day and night, will never be cast off—those whom he has chosen. [vss, 16-19]  We have reason to expect affliction, as we expect the changing of seasons.  Night will change to day as summer changes to winter.  But we have no reason to despair for lack of peace and comfort, than to despair of a day without His light.  

We can now call upon God to enlighten the dark nations of the earth; and to rescue his people, that the poor and needy may praise His Name—Blessed Saviour.  Thou art the same yesterday, today, and for ever. Make thy people more than conquerors. Be thou, Lord, all in all to them in every situation and circumstance.  For then all people will praise Your Name !  Amen.