In Psalm 73, the Asaph of David’s time had a personal problem in his thinking as
he looked at the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the godly. It
made him think that he was living for the Lord in vain, until he went into the
sanctuary and saw their end and the final destruction of the evil and ungodly
people. Now in Psalm 74, almost 400 years later, a descendant of Asaph with the
same name, had a national dilemma as he watched the destruction of Jerusalem
and the temple by the Babylonians.
In verse 1, Asaph asked the question, “O God, why have you cast us off forever?...”
As he continued to describe the invasion of the enemy, it appeared to him that God
was not paying any attention to terrible things that were happening to His
people. But then in verses 12-17, Asaph looks up and remembers the God who sits
on His throne and Who is the creator of all things! He remembers how God
powerfully provided for His people in the past and he had hope that God could
do it again for them presently.
Now in these final verses 18-23, Asaph remember the Covenant that God had made with
His people, and he ask God to remember it also. Since righteousness and justice
are the foundation of His throne (Psalm 89:14), it was logical for Asaph to
move in his thoughts from God's throne to God's covenant with Israel. God’s
covenant with Israel is clearly spelled out in Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy
28-30.
Asaph knew the terms of the covenant. It was very simple and could be summarized
easily. If Israel obeyed the Lord, He
would bless them; if they disobeyed, He would chasten them; if they confessed
their sins, He would forgive them. Asaph knew that the Jews had mocked the
prophets that God sent to them to turn them from their idolatry (2 Chron.
36:16) and now the Babylonians were mocking the Lord as they destroyed the city
and temple. He knew that Israel had not honored God's name but had turned His
temple into a den of thieves (Jeremiah 7:11).
In verse 19, Asaph saw the nation as a defenseless dove that had no way of escape.
Had the kings and leaders listened to their prophets and led the nation back to
the Lord, all this carnage and destruction would have been averted. But the
Lord was paying attention to His covenant! That was why He was chastening His
people. Asaph was concerned about the glory of God's name and the survival of
God's people.
It was God's cause and the honor of His name that was uppermost on God’s mind (v.
22). I’m sure Asaph watched in horror as both the “foolish people” of Israel
reproached the name of Jehovah, and now the pagan Babylonians fill the earth
with their “cruelty” (v. 20). The prophet Jeremiah had preached about the
dependability of God's covenant (Jer. 33:19-26), and Asaph was asking God to
fulfill His purposes for the nation.
The nation had been ravaged, the city of Jerusalem had been wrecked, and the temple
had been destroyed and burned. But the essentials had not been touched by the
enemy! The nation still had Jehovah God as their God, His Word and His covenant
had not been changed, and Jehovah was at work in the world! God is at work in
our world today, and we need not despair.
Yes, the people of God can be “cast off” for a time of chastening (Psalm
74:1). We can personally be “cast down” because of our suffering (Psalm
42:11). We might get lazy and be “cast away” (1 Corinthians 9:27). But my friend, we never need to fear being “cast
out”, because of the covenant promise Jesus has made with us! John 6:37 assures
us: “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to
Me I will by no means cast out.” Because “nothing can ever separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:39).
God bless!
