What do you do when you stand in the midst of ashes, having
watched it all burn? That is the question the psalmist asks as he writes Psalm
74.
Psalm 74:1
A MASKIL OF ASAPH. O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
A MASKIL OF ASAPH. O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
As in all cases no matter what happens we must cry out to
God, even when it seems He has cast us off.
Six times in this cry we hear the call for God to remember. First to remember
His people and then to remember the temple, where God Himself has dwelt.
This psalm looks both backward and forward. It speaks of the
destruction of the temple in the past and in the future. But it speaks to us
today as well, as we see the church being attacked by the world as it stands in
contrast to its ways and its tolerance of evil and sin.
Psalm 74:3-8 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has
destroyed everything in the sanctuary! Your foes have roared in the midst of
your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs. They were like those
who swing axes in a forest of trees. And all its carved wood they broke down
with hatchets and hammers. They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the
dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground. They said to
themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; they burned all the
meeting places of God in the land.
While the church still stands today in America it is clear if
we do not remain faithful to the Word of God then it too may fall. Even at the
risk of imprisonment we must preach the Word. All of it, even the parts the
world finds offensive. Otherwise we could end up without truth.
Psalm 74:9
We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.
We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.
The prayers of the psalmist cry for God to move quickly in the midst of the battle.
Psalm 74:10-11
How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!
How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!
But next the psalmist remembers who God is and what He has
done.
Psalm 74:12-17
Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams. Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
Again we hear a cry for God to remember His people.
Psalm 74:18-19
Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
The psalmist reminds God of His covenant.
Psalm 74:20
Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
But the answer is to praise God as we remember His promises
are true. We can look back and see He is faithful.
Psalm 74:21
Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.
Yet still the psalmist looks for answers.
Psalm 74:22-23
Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
Job wanted God to explain Himself. God has neither the
desire nor the need to do so and instead He taught Job the answer is faith. The
answer lies in waiting on God as we stand in the pile of ashes. If your whole
world seems to have been burnt and destroyed stand firm in the midst of the
ashes. We may never know the whys of what happens but if we trust God we can
believe scripture.
If you do not have this scripture memorized it might serve
you well to do so. Write it on your doorposts. Put it on sticky notes and place
them all over your house. It is true.
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Praise God, pray for help in time of need, then step back
and wait on Him.
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