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. —Psalm 74
What a great psalm for us to pray through today as our own world becomes increasingly filled with voices of the enemies of God.
Verses 1-11 speak to the psalmist’s fear as he acknowledges that God had seemed to have abandoned His chosen people. I can also feel that same kind of abject terror whenever I contemplate what my life here in this fallen world would be like without God as my stay…without His hope, His wisdom, His provision, His shelter and especially His merciful, loving, comforting kindness in and over my life.
In Verses 12 through 17 the psalmist speaks of God’s power. My God is powerful, and His works are wonderful. I can, as the psalmist does, look back over my life and remember his merciful protection. Yes, I have faced and still face very grieving trials, but my God is faithful! His promises are forever. His mercies never fail. He has commanded His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song has been with me. My God is my very present help…I have no cause to fear. His favor toward me is good. I can hope in His mercy.
Throughout this Psalm, Asaph reminds God of the special bond He has with His people and of His everlasting covenant with them. As I read the psalmist’s plea for help in verses 18-23, I was reminded of God’s promise to me from Philippians.
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;—Philippians 1:6
Verses 19 and 20 were my favorite because in them Asaph not only reminds God of the covenant He has with His people, but also of His affection for them.
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
I am His little turtledove, saved by His grace. Yes, in this world I will have tribulation, but in and through every tribulation will also be His comforting, merciful Presence. I can be of good cheer, because He has overcome the world…even its darkest haunts of cruelty. My God will see me through this life. Beloved, if you are His child, hear the words of Amazing Grace…for they are yours.
Amazing grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come,
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
