Wickedness Shall Cease
Psalm 74 (KJV)
1 O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
Wickedness Shall Cease
Imagine being an eye witness to the destruction of God’s holy temple. You tremble in fear as you see hundreds of evil men destroying sacred icons, burning and looting treasures and haughtily raising their own banners to honor their own kings and idols. You tremble in shocked disbelief that your almighty God would allow this to happen. You feel abandoned and confused.
This is the very state of mind in which we find Asaph at the beginning of his Psalm 74. He cries out in bewilderment, “O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever” (74:1)? Why would God, who like a good shepherd watches over His sheep, cause the smoke of his anger to cover the sheep of his pasture? Does God not remember His congregation which he has purchased of old? He has redeemed the nation of Israel from their enemies and has dwelt in your holy sanctuary in Mt. Zion. Asaph speaks to the Lord of the desolations done by the enemy in the sanctuary. Details of the assaults they commit continue. They roar as they break down the tabernacle with their axes and hammers. They cast fire and tear down thy name to the ground. In their hearts, they surely want to destroy all the synagogues in the land. Asaph bemoans, “there are no more any prophet” (74:9). All the righteous must be fleeing this violent onslaught of the enemy. He asks God how long shall the enemy blaspheme thy name forever? Again, he asks God why has He withdrawn His right hand and not come to avenge His people and His holy temple.
Here he rises up and declares in remembrance of his God, who is his king of old. He recalls his mighty works one by one. “’Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, And gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: Thou driedst up mighty rivers. The day is thine, the night also is thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made summer and winter” (Psalm 74:13-17). He calls on God to remember that the enemy and the foolish have blasphemed thy name. Do not deliver thy turtle dove, thy congregation, to the wicked. He knows God will have respect unto the covenant which he made with his chosen people. The oppressed, the poor and needy will not be ashamed for God will keep His promises towards them. He continues to ask God to rise up against His enemies who are increasing in their evil deeds.
When we observe the widespread wickedness in this world, we may cry out to God in anguished astonishment that he would allow such evil to run rampant in this world. We may wonder, like Asaph, where is God? But Jesus warned us in this world we will have trouble. We are in the midst of spiritual warfare and the battle is hot and raging. However Jesus also said for us not to worry because He has overcome the world, thus so have we (John 16:33). God, help me to remember that you have already gained the ultimate victory for us. No matter what the situation appears to look like, we can walk by faith and not by sight. Thank you for deliverance from sin and death through your precious son, Jesus Christ.
I would love to hear what this Psalm brings to mind for you! Write back to me in Facebook comment or blog reply.
Disclaimer: The intention of this project is not to teach, but rather to share. Please use due diligence in studying the word of God, and seek guidance from your local religious leaders for any questions or concerns.
Debra Hill
Debra Hill is an independent inspirational singer, author, songwriter, and writer. As a blind performer, she adds a personal story of God’s faithfulness. Her life exemplifies that Christ’s power will work to lift all regardless of circumstances.
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