Our Daily Scripture – 2/9/24 (Friday)

SCRIPTURE;  PSALM 74 

ASAPH ASKED GOD THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

  1.  Why have you rejected us forever, O God? (v. 1a)
  2.  Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? (v. 1b)
  3.  How long will the enemy mock you, O God? (v. 10a)
  4.  Will the for revile your name forever? (v. 10b)
  5.  Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? (v. 11)

THINGS THAT ASAP REQUESTED FROM GOD:

  1.  Remember the people you purchased of old, the tribe of your inheritance whom you redeemed – Mount Zion, where you dwelt. (v. 2)
  2.  Turn your steps toward theses everlasting ruins. (v. 3)
  3.  Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever. 9v. 19)
  4.  Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land. 9v. 20)
  5.  Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace. (v. 21)
  6.  Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. (v. 22)
  7.  Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries and the uproar of your enemies. (v. 23)

DESCRIPTION OF THEIR ENEMIES:  

  1.  They roared in the place where you met with us. (v. 4a)
  2.  They set up their standards as signs. (v. 4b)
  3.  They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees. (v. 5)
  4.  They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets. (v. 6)
  5.  They burned your sanctuary to the ground and defiled the dwelling place of your Name. (v. 7)
  6.  They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” (v. 8a)
  7.  They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land. (v. 8b)
  8.  They has mocked you and reviled your name. (v. 18)

HOW ASAP DESCRIBED WHO GOD IS:

  1.  You are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth. (v. 12)
  2.  You split open the sea by your power and broke t he heads of the monster in the waters. (v. 13)
  3.  You crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert. (v. 14)
  4.  You opened up springs and streams and dried up the ever flowing rivers. (v. 15)
  5.  You established the sun and moon .  They days and nights are all yours. (v. 16)
  6.  You set the boundaries of the earth and made both summer and winter. (v. 17)

THOUGHTS:

When Asaph saw the temple being destroyed, he could not understand why God permitted such destruction.  Israel was His flock and His inheritance and Mt. Zion is His dwelling place yet He allowed evil to destroy His people and His house.  That was why Asaph was asking: “Why, O Lord?”  But God was angry against Israel for their sins and idolatry.  His patience had endured for many generations and this was the time of judgment.  If you fall in sin, be quick to ask for God’s forgiveness.  Do not persist in sinning.  Otherwise, don’t be surprised if judgment comes to you.

When the enemies defeated Israel, they burned Jerusalem and tried to wipe out every trace of God.  Today, many are also trying to eliminate God from many countries particularly from schools.  Don’t be discouraged but maintain your Christian influence.  They cannot eliminate God’s presence among believers.

Sometimes we perceive God seems slow to intervene on our behalf.  But we can never know God’s timing.  We may become impatient in waiting but we must never give up on Him.  When you are in deep anguish while God is silent, review the great acts of God and what he has done for you.  This will calm you down.  Believe that God is at work in your life today.