PSALM 74 - PRAYING FOR GOD'S PEOPLE

INTRODUCTION - Read Psalm 74

Asaph was tired of being stepped on. He felt rejected, defeated and forgotten. Psalm 24 is a prayer to God seeking revenge on Israel's enemies, asking for the restoration of God's people.

Anger is a strong emotion. We get frustrated and irritated, and it is not always the big things, but sometimes just those simple irritants that make us angry. Lots of simple frustrations often lead to revenge.

Have you ever wondered how Jesus was so forgiving and didn't retaliate, even when his enemies were preparing him for crucifixion. 

"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO." Luke 23:34

Uncontrolled anger won't better our world, but sympathetic understanding will. We need to look deep inside ourselves to find the cause of our anger. Then our revenge may turn around to compassion. Our actions will begin with extended hands. Like Jesus, with forgiveness. Instead of fighting, we can be lights in a dark world. By understanding our dark world we can lead others to the Saviour - the Light of the World.

What makes you angry? Is it like Asaph, you see the injustice in the world and you want to find revenge? See your aggressors as people who need God and begin praying that God will meet their needs.

THE HISTORY OF THIS PSALM - Read 2 Chronicles 36, Nehemiah 11:17,22; Nehemiah 12:46; Ezra 2:41, 3:10

There are different beliefs about when Psalm 74 was written:

1. Most commentators believe it was written after the destruction of the temple by the Babylonians, by Asaph's ancestors.

2. Others believe it was written by the original Asaph, in David's time, as a prophecy. 

3. The final option is that Asaph composed this Psalm in memory of the destruction of the Tabernacle in Shiloh. 

"When the builders laid the foundation of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with their trumpets and the Levites ( the sons of Asaph with cymbals) took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David, King of Israel."  Ezra 3:10 (NIV)

"For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there had been many directors for the singers and for praise and thanksgiving to God."  Nehemiah 12:46 (NIV)

This Psalm was definitely written in a season of difficulty. Asaph wrote of "being cast off forever". It is not the prayer of an athiest, but of a hurting believer.

It describes one of the hardest times in the lives of the Israelites people - the destrruction of their Temple - the House of their God, where they came to meet with Him and pray. The people were feeling that God had let them down, and their `enemies were laughing at them and their God'. 

This is a similar situation to how Christians and Church leaders are feeling today, as they see their Churches closed down because of this `evil virus'. For the first time, since the Early Church they have no building in which they can meet together, but they are discovering this doesn't mean THE END TO THEIR WORSHIP.

"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship."  Romans 12:1 (NIV)

HAS GOD REJECTED US - Read Psalm 74:1-11.

Was God angry with His people? Had He rejected them? Asaph's complaining was `bordering on improprierty.'

1. The People Were Displeased With God

They blamed God for the way things were. They felt He had abandoned them, and had placed them in a disastrous situation.

"Why have you rejected us, O God? Why does your anger smoulder against the sheep of your pasture."  Psalm 74:1 (NIV)

2. Their Enemies Were Cruel and Outrageous

Not only had they burnt down their Temple - their place of Worship, but they had been seperated from their families and their home country. They had gone into exile, fearing what else would be done to them. 

"They burned your Sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your name. They said in their hearts: "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where God was worshipped in the land."  Psalm 74:7&8 (NIV)

3. The People Had No Prospect of Relief

What made things worse, the people could see no end to their hardship, and their enemies were `blaspheming God'. 

"How long will the enemy mock you, O God? Will the enemy revile your name forever." 

                                                                                               Psalm 74:10 (NIV)

Does this sound familiar? Have you been feeling this way, or hearing these kinds of feelings expressed in the media lately? 

Asaph understood why God might be angry with his people for their "complaining", but he also knew that God was a compassionate LISTENER. He was a MERCIFUL, LOVING GOD, and Asaph knew He would never forget them. 

"I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will never be shaken."

                                                                                           Psalm 16:8 (NIV)

"If God would only remember His special care and connection with Israel He would rescue them."

                                                                                                          Charles Spurgeon

ENCOURAGE YOUR FAITH AND OTHERS - Read Psalm 74:12-17

Asaph not only wanted to get out of his own spirit of despondency but he wanted to encourage and renew the faith of the Israelite people. But how could he do this?

1. Remember God's Omnipotence

Asaph reminded the Israelites of God's greatness. Not only had he parted the Red Sea, when he brought them out of Egypt, but He had destroyed Pharoah, the cruel sea monsters and Leviathan. He was the Creator of the world - the creator of day and night, with powers over the waters and the seasons.  We too can gave faith in this omnipotent God. 

"You dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you, is GREATER than the one who is in the world."  1 John 4:4 (NIV)

2. Meditate on God's Salvation

He reminded the Israelites that God was their Saviour and had delivered them from Egypt into the Promised Land. We too have a Saviour - Jesus Christ, who was victorious over sin on the cross, and then death when He rose from the dead. We can also see how Jesus can be victorious in our world today!

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the World."

                                                                                                  1 John 4:14 (NIV)

"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the VICTORY that overcomes the world, even OUR FAITH. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only HE WHO BELIEVES THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD?"   1 John 5:4&5 (NIV)

3. Faith in God's Covenant (Promises)

Asaph was reminding God's people, the Israelites, as we are reminded today, that GOD IS FAITHFUL. He made a covenant with them, which HE KEPT!  God has many PROMISES IN HIS WORD FOR US TODAY, through which we can also be encouraged and strengthened.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that of we ask anything according to His will,  He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we ask of Him."  1 John 5:14&15

PRAYER & WORSHIP - Read Psalm 74:18-23

Finally, we can encourage and strengthen our faith through PRAYER AND WORSHIP. But Asaph also reminded us that prayer and worship are also a good WITNESS TO OTHERS.

Asaph wanted God to see and act on the Israelites' behalf, and to do this, He needed to pray for them; but they also needed to get together for corporate worship. Like us at the moment, we may not be able to do this in a Church building, but we can go `online' and share together how the Lord is protecting and keeping His promises to us.

The "dove' was a metaphor of peace for the people of Israel, as it is for us today. It is a beautiful description of a peaceful people, even in days of mourning and days of distress. We are still able to lift our arms and voices in praise and worship to our faithful and loving God. 

Asaph knew that God would not ignore His people, he knew that God would have compassion on them, and we know this is still true for us today. We can STAND UP IN FAITH amongst our family and friends and remember that "God will arise and defend us against our enemies". Why? Because, we know GOD IS OUR VICTOR! In our prayer and worship - let's all be a WITNESS TO OTHERS!

"In all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us." 

                                                                                                      Romans 8:37 (NIV)

"But thanks be to God! He gives us VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ." 

                                                                          1 Corinthians 15:57 (NLT)

CONCLUSION

Did God reject the people of Israel? Will He reject us today? Were ther enemies cruel and deadly? Is our enemy virus cruel and deadly, and often hard to understand? Did the people of Israel often feel like their was no prospect of relief, just like we are feeling today? 

Yes, these may be questions we are still asking ourselves, and still struggling with the answers to; but we do know that God loves His people still today, and will still be faithful to the promises in His Word. We can trust Him to answer His questions, and bring us peace when we need protection. It may not happen overnight, just like for the people of Israel, but IT WILL HAPPEN!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippiands 4:6&7   (NIV)

Churchyard, Gordon, 2002, "Keep Your Promise - Psalm 74", www.easyenglish.bible, Wycliffe Associates.
Guzik, David, 2019, "Psalm 74 - Asking God to Remember His Destroyed Sanctuary",  www.enduringword.com
Henry, Matthew, Manser, Martin.H, 2008, "The New Matthew Henry Commentary", Zondervan
Lucado, Max, 2003, "The Devotional Bible", New Century Version,". Thomas Nelson. 

"The Holy Bible, New International Version", 2011, Biblica, Inc.
"Holy Bible, New Living Translation", 2015, Tyndale House Foundation