By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text:
Psalm 74
John
8:31-32
So
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you
are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know
the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
(ESV)
Living in the information
age means that information is plentiful and readily available. Unfortunately, much
of this information is lacking a valuable ingredient, the ingredient of truth. This
ingredient is important because it is the ingredient of information that sets
one free. Like the Bereans who daily examined Scripture, believers must daily
expose themselves to the truth of God’s word to discern false teaching (Acts
17:10-11).
Asaph is in anguish asking
God why he has cast off Israel forever and why His anger appears to smoke
against the sheep of His pasture (Psalm
74:1). Asaph asks God to remember His congregation purchased of old and
redeemed as the tribe of God’s heritage (Psalm
74:2). Asaph asks God to direct His steps to the perpetual ruins for the
enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary (Psalm
74:3).
Asaph then provides
details of the plight of Israel. The foes of Israel have roared into God’s
meeting place and set up their own signs (Psalm
74:4). Like those that swing axes in a forest of trees, the enemy has broke
down all the carved wood with hatchets and hammers (Psalm
74:5-6). The enemy has profaned the Temple where God dwells, vowing to subdue
Israel by burning all the meeting places of God (Psalm
74:7-8).
Adding to the anguish of Asaph
is the fact Israel sees no sign from God with no prophets knowing how long the
enemy will prevail (Psalm
74:9-10). Asaph then asks why God holds back His hand and does not destroy
the enemy (Psalm
74:11). Asaph then remembers how God is from of old and works salvation amid
the earth (Psalm
74:12). God’s might has divided the sea, broke the heads of sea monsters,
and crushed the heads of leviathan, giving them as food for the creatures of
the wilderness (Psalm
74:13-14). God split open springs and brooks, dried up ever-flowing streams,
owns the day and night, and establishes the heavenly lights and the sun (Psalm
74:15-16). God has established the boundaries of the earth and made summer
and winter (Psalm
74:17).
Asaph reminds God of how
the enemy scoffs and foolish people revile God’s name (Psalm
74:18). Asaph then pleads with God not to deliver Israel’s soul to the wild
beasts and not to forget the life of the poor (Psalm
74:19). Asaph asks God to have regard for the covenant because the land is
full of habitations of violence and not to let the downtrodden turn back in
shame but to let the poor and needy praise the name of the Lord (Psalm
74:20-21). Asaph concludes with a plea for God to defend His cause, remembering
how the foolish scoff at Him all day (Psalm
74:22). He also pleads for God not to forget the clamor of His foes and the
uproar of those that rise against God continually (Psalm
74:23).
Asaph is in anguish at
seeing the destruction of everything in the sanctuary and the foes of God
setting it on fire (Psalm
74:3,7). In addition, there are no longer any signs from God or prophets to
tell them how long God will allow His foes to scoff and refile His name. In his
anguish, Asaph questions God regarding how long before He will destroy His
enemies. However, instead of giving up on God, Asaph remembers how God has
delivered His people in the past and how He created the stars and sun, fixed
the boundaries of the earth, and made summer and winter. Empowered by this
knowledge, Asaph asks God to remember His covenant with his people not to leave
them but to be with them forever (Deuteronomy
4:31). Asaph’s anguish finds comfort in God’s promise not to leave His
people defenseless.
Jesus warned His
Disciples that in this world they would experience tribulation but promised He
overcame the world (John
16:33). Even though Jesus warned His believers of tribulation, this does
not lessen the anguish believers can feel when the world rejects them because
of their faith. Faith for salvation comes to us by hearing the word of Christ (Romans
10:17), but faith by hearing the word of God does not end with salvation
but is the truth that sets one free (John
8:32). To be free from the snare of the fear of men (Proverbs
29:25) and the anguish of tribulation and persecution from man, one must regularly
expose him or herself to the truth of God’s word that that sets us free.
The initial receiving of faith through hearing the word of God
brings one to salvation for the truths of Scripture are spiritually discerned (1
Corinthians 2:14). If you are reading this and have not prayed to
receive forgiveness from sin by accepting Jesus as your savior, I invite you to
do so now by praying with me,
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
May God challenge and
bless everyone reading this post.
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