A Plea for Relief from Oppression

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 74

 

Psalm 74:1

O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

(NKJV)

 

When facing a struggle or oppression, most of those reading this can probably relate to Asaph wondering if God has forgotten them, and how long He will allow the struggle of oppression to continue (Psalm 74:1). One of my favorite passages in the Bible is Isaiah 40:31, which reminds us that as we wait upon the Lord, our strength is renewed. We also find comfort in knowing that while in a struggle or oppression, the Lord is with us (Psalm 23:4). However, Psalm 74 can also be viewed as a warning of oppression if one is disobedient to the Word of God or falls away from following the Lord.

 

Asaph begins this psalm with a plea to God, wondering why it appears he has cast them off and is angry with them (Psalm 74:1). He then pleads with God to remember His congregation He has purchased, the tribe of His inheritance that He has redeemed, and Mount Zion where He dwells (Psalm 74:2). He then asks the Lord to come to the sanctuary because the enemy is there damaging everything and has set up his banners for signs (Psalm 74:3-4). The enemy appears like men with axes among thick trees, using axes and hammers to break down the carved work of the temple (Psalm 74:5-6). The enemy has set fire to the Lord’s sanctuary, intending to destroy all the meeting places of God in the land (Psalm 74:7-8).

 

The children of Israel no longer see their signs and no longer have any prophet to let them know how long the oppression will last (Psalm 74:9). Asaph continues his plea to God, wondering how long the adversary will reproach and blaspheme, asking why the Lord has withdrawn his right hand, asking Him to take it out of his bosom and destroy the adversaries (Psalm 74:10-11). Asaph praises God as his King from of old who works salvation in the midst of the earth (Psalm 74:12). God is the one who divided the sea by his strength, who broke the heads of sea serpents, and broke the heads of leviathan in pieces, feeding them to the people living in the wilderness (Psalm 74:13-14). God also broke open the fountain and flood, drying up mighty rivers with the day and night belonging to Him, having prepared the light and the sun (Psalm 74:15-16). God also sets all the borders of the earth, making summer and winter (Psalm 74:17).

 

Asaph then continues by asking the Lord to remember that the enemy has reproached, with a foolish people blaspheming the name of the Lord (Psalm 74:18). He continues by asking the Lord not to deliver the life of His turtledove to the wild beast, and not to forget the lives of His poor forever (Psalm 74:19). He asks the Lord to respect the covenant, because the earth is full of dark places, the haunts of cruelty, and not to allow the oppressed to return ashamed and to let the poor and needy praise His name (Psalm 74:20-21). Asaph concludes by asking God to arise and plead His cause, remembering the daily reproaches of foolish men, and not to forget the voice of His enemies, because the tumult of those rising up against the Lord increases daily (Psalms 74:22-23).

 

Psalm 50 and Psalms 73-83 are attributed to Asaph, so to place their writing in context, we must determine who Asaph was and when he lived. Asaph is believed to have lived around the 10^th century BC. He was a Levite from the family of Gershon (1 Chronicles 6:39), serving under King David as a chief musician and worship leader (1 Chronicles 15:16-19). He was appointed to lead music before the Ark of the Covenant, and recognized as a seer or prophet, who provided spiritual insight along with his musical duties (2 Chronicles 29:30). Since he lived well before the Babylonian invasion of Israel and the destruction of the first temple, his mention of the breaking down of the carved work of the temple and its burning it down are likely prophetic warnings (Psalm 74:6-7).

 

When this Psalm is viewed as a prophetic warning of coming oppression for Israel, and that scripture warns of oppression for disobedience, its warning applies to the church today. Scripture warns of a great falling away or apostasy in the last days (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1). Therefore, Psalm 74 has application in the church age as a warning of the oppression that comes with disobedience to the Lord and why the Church must remain true to the principles of the Bible. Granted, methods of delivering the Gospel message change as technology advances and more tools for delivering the message are available, but the church must adhere to biblical principles when using these new methods. My prayer is that the church does not forget its mission from the Lord to spread the gospel message to the world (Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20) and adopt new methods of doing so when they are available.

 

This blog represents a modern method of spreading the Gospel message, so I invite anyone reading this who has never prayed for the forgiveness of their sins to pray with me now.

 

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.

 

If you meant what you just prayed, know God has forgiven all your sins and that you now have a relationship with God and are a child of God (Romans 8:16). Like any relationship, it grows as we get to know each other. While God already knows all about us, we must study the Bible, the word of God, to learn more about Him. If you just prayed, I encourage you to find a Church that teaches the truth of the Bible so you can learn more about the Lord. May God convict, challenge, and bless everyone reading this post.