Psalms 74:1-23
A Contemplation of Asaph.
1 O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
They set up their banners for signs.
5 They seem like men who lift up
Axes among the thick trees.
6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
With axes and hammers.
7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts,
"Let us destroy them altogether."
They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.
9 We do not see our signs;
There is no longer any prophet;
Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
12 For God is my King from of old,
Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 You divided the sea by Your strength;
You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.
14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 You broke open the fountain and the flood;
You dried up mighty rivers.
16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
You have prepared the light and the sun.
17 You have set all the borders of the earth;
You have made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD,
And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.
19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!
Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.
20 Have respect to the covenant;
For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.
21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!
Let the poor and needy praise Your name.
22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.
23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.
This song of Asaph is a contemplative song, one giving attention to understand things which have happened and what that means regarding God’s work for His people. It begins with the question we have in adversity, asking God why He allows suffering of the own sheep of His own pasture. It seems as if God allows all to be burned up by oppressors, and so the prayer that the LORD would remember the redeemed of His inheritance and the promised place to worship Him which is under siege. When the enemy destroys the place of worship like roaring lions and set up their banners of victory to own it as their own, then the psalmist asks why and how long. The enemies cut down and burn the holy place where God’s people meet with Him, defiling and destroying, just as in our own time certain regimes burn down churches and scatter God’s people from the assembly. The enemy comes to kill and destroy (John 10:10), to stop God’s word and worship. Then it was aggravated by the lack of following the LORD, resulting in the lack of prophets who previously warned of these things. When God’s people wander away from hearing and obeying His words, then the results can be devastating and the adversary blasphemes His name even more. The assembly is to hold to His word and to hold it out for others (Philippians 2:15-16) to keep the faith and faithful together. Asaph pleaded with God to ask why He had pulled back His protection from the people instead of taking that right hand of power to smite the enemy. He works salvation, deliverance for His chosen ones, based on His faithfulness in actions throughout time. From creation to the flood, from giant beasts which may very well have been dinosaurs, God’s work on behalf of them is brought up in prayer to remind the psalmist more than God (though acknowledging God for that work also in praise of reminding Him also) of that ability to intervene again. The cry then is for support to deliver an unfaithful but chosen people from the ungodly and oppressive, reminding God of the covenant which He made with the sheep of His pasture. He asked not to be found ashamed for trusting God’s faithfulness. The call at the end of the prayer song was for God to arise and act for His own sake and glory in answer to the scoffers and their rebellious words. May we be faithful and follow Him according to His word as well as we cry for relief from the enemy as our Lord smites them in the end (Revelation 6:10).
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