Hobart Herd Devotional – Psalms 74
This Psalm in a prayer of lament and appeal to God to remember His people and not forget His covenant with them as they faced the destruction of their enemies. As I read this Psalm, I almost thought of what it must have been like to go through the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple when Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and took God’s people as captives. We may even think this of our nation, founded on Biblical principles, we now find ourselves being destroyed from within because we have turned away from God. This prayer could be ours today. Psalms 74:1-2, 1 Why have you rejected us forever, O God? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember the people you purchased of old, the tribe of your inheritance, whom you redeemed– Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
In verses 3-9 we have the lament over the destruction and the description of all that had been destroyed by the enemies. The cry ends with the devastation of the worship place of God and the lack of prophets to tell the people what to do.(vs. 6-9) We are living in a time when worship places are being burned and destroyed as the enemies of God try to take away our ability to worship God. All around the world, Christians are being persecuted, and martyred for their faith. In China, Christians are being told to renounce God and worship the emperor. I think we have a hard time understanding the heart of the Israelites as they had been told that they could only worship God in one location as a nation. The destruction of the temple was devastating as according to the Law and commands of God the corporate worship of God was destroyed. They could not come to Jerusalem for their celebrations and feasts as well as their sacrifices. We have faced some of this feeling with the inability to worship in our church buildings, but we have the presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer who becomes the temple of God by faith in Jesus Christ. I know that I have felt the despair of not being able to meet together and worship in heart and song.
The prayer becomes an appeal to God for deliverance and help. After all, if there were no prophets to lead the people (vs. 9), God was going to need to step in and save His people. The God of creation, deliverance, and salvation became their only hope.
Psalms 74:12 But you, O God, are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth.(NIV) In verses 18-23, Asaph appeals to the Covenant between God and His people. He reminds God that He has promised to protect His people as they turn to Him. Psalms 74:20-21, 20 Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. 21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.(NIV) As the dove is a helpless bird, the prayer is that God will protect and care for His Dove (vs. 19) and keep His promise to always protect the needy and helpless as they cry out to God. “Rise up, O God, and defend Your cause”.(vs. 23) God will keep His covenant promise to His people as we humble ourselves before Him and praise His name.
Father, there are times when all I can do is appeal to the promises of Your Word. I see the destruction and troubles of this world and I can only hold on to the Covenant that we have through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank You for providing a New Covenant in His blood not based on my performance, but on the power of His blood and righteousness. May You be praised as “I will cling to the Old Rugged Cross, and exchange it some day for a crown.” In Jesus Name, Amen! Pastor Rob