WAITING FOR GOD’S SALVATION

Passage: Psalm 74:1-23

Key verse: 12

NIV

Psalm 74
A maskil[a] of Asaph.

1 O God, why have you rejected(A) us forever?(B)
    Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?(C)
2 Remember the nation you purchased(D) long ago,(E)
    the people of your inheritance,(F) whom you redeemed(G)—
    Mount Zion,(H) where you dwelt.(I)
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,(J)
    all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

4 Your foes roared(K) in the place where you met with us;
    they set up their standards(L) as signs.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes
    to cut through a thicket of trees.(M)
6 They smashed all the carved(N) paneling
    with their axes and hatchets.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
    they defiled(O) the dwelling place(P) of your Name.(Q)
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush(R) them completely!”
    They burned(S) every place where God was worshiped in the land.

9 We are given no signs from God;(T)
    no prophets(U) are left,
    and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long(V) will the enemy mock(W) you, God?
    Will the foe revile(X) your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?(Y)
    Take it from the folds of your garment(Z) and destroy them!

12 But God is my King(AA) from long ago;
    he brings salvation(AB) on the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea(AC) by your power;
    you broke the heads of the monster(AD) in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan(AE)
    and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.(AF)
15 It was you who opened up springs(AG) and streams;
    you dried up(AH) the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
    you established the sun and moon.(AI)
17 It was you who set all the boundaries(AJ) of the earth;
    you made both summer and winter.(AK)

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord,
    how foolish people(AL) have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove(AM) to wild beasts;
    do not forget the lives of your afflicted(AN) people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant,(AO)
    because haunts of violence fill the dark places(AP) of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed(AQ) retreat in disgrace;
    may the poor and needy(AR) praise your name.
22 Rise up,(AS) O God, and defend your cause;
    remember how fools(AT) mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor(AU) of your adversaries,(AV)
    the uproar(AW) of your enemies,(AX) which rises continually.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 74:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Arise, O God, Defend Your Cause

A Maskil[a] of (A)Asaph.

74 O God, why do you (B)cast us off forever?
    Why does your anger (C)smoke against (D)the sheep of your pasture?
2 (E)Remember your congregation, which you have (F)purchased of old,
    which you have (G)redeemed to be (H)the tribe of your heritage!
    Remember Mount Zion, (I)where you have dwelt.
3 Direct your steps to (J)the perpetual ruins;
    the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!

4 Your foes have (K)roared in the midst of your meeting place;
    (L)they set up their (M)own signs for (N)signs.
5 They were like those who swing (O)axes
    in a forest of trees.[b]
6 And all its (P)carved wood
    they broke down with hatchets and hammers.
7 They (Q)set your sanctuary on fire;
    they (R)profaned (S)the dwelling place of your name,
    bringing it down to the ground.
8 They (T)said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”;
    they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

9 We do not see our (U)signs;
    (V)there is no longer any prophet,
    and there is none among us who knows how long.
10 How long, O God, (W)is the foe to scoff?
    Is the enemy to revile your name forever?
11 Why (X)do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
    Take it from the fold of your garment[c] and destroy them!

12 Yet (Y)God my King is from of old,
    working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 You (Z)divided the sea by your might;
    you (AA)broke the heads of (AB)the sea monsters[d] on the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of (AC)Leviathan;
    you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.
15 You (AD)split open springs and brooks;
    you (AE)dried up ever-flowing streams.
16 Yours is the day, yours also the night;
    you have established (AF)the heavenly lights and the sun.
17 You have (AG)fixed all the boundaries of the earth;
    you have made (AH)summer and winter.

18 (AI)Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs,
    and (AJ)a foolish people reviles your name.
19 Do not deliver the soul of your (AK)dove to the wild beasts;
    (AL)do not forget the life of your poor forever.

20 Have regard for (AM)the covenant,
    for (AN)the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.
21 Let not (AO)the downtrodden (AP)turn back in shame;
    let (AQ)the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Arise, O God, (AR)defend your cause;
    (AS)remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!
23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes,
    (AT)the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 74:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
  2. Psalm 74:5 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  3. Psalm 74:11 Hebrew from your bosom
  4. Psalm 74:13 Or the great sea creatures
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

It was difficult for Israel to understand why God allowed their enemies to conquer them and even destroy God’s own house of worship (7). It could feel like God had rejected his people permanently (1). We can feel the same way when the hopes we had for our life seem to fail, or our ministry suffers a setback. At such times, we may not hear God’s answer (9); he may even seem to be holding back from showing his own justice (11).

However, at such a time, the Psalmist reminded himself that everything God does is part of the work of salvation (12). Even the “silent period” of no prophets in Israel was a part of God’s plan. To help overcome his sorrow, the Psalmist meditated on the power and glory of God that is visible in creation (13-17). At the same time, he kept asking God to act to restore the honor of his own name (18-23).

We also live in times of waiting for the fullness of God’s salvation to be revealed, so we have to prioritize steadfast faith. Though we may seem to be defeated, the Lord never is, and our prayers for God to take action based on his own covenant promises are powerful.

Prayer: Father, thank you for bringing salvation on earth, even when I cannot see how it is happening. Help me strengthen my faith by meditating on your glory today.

One Word: God is always the mighty savior.