Feeling Abandoned By God

INTRO

Psalm 74 is another psalm of lament. This psalm was written by Asaph. “Asaph, Heman, and Ethan were Levites who served as a musicians and worship leaders at the sanctuary during David’s reign.”¹ These three had created “guilds” so their sons and other generations would be trained to continue to lead worship after they were gone. Some scholars have suggested the author of Psalm 74 may not have been Asaph the worship leader but a namesake of his.² MacArthur explains the psalm’s lament focuses on the issue that “it was bad enough that Israel’s enemies had destroyed the temple; but even worse, it seemed to the psalmist that God had abandoned them.”³

TEACHING

Psalm 74:1-11: : Wiersbe uses three word-pictures to outline this psalm. Verses 1–11 point to “The Sanctuary: ‘The Lord Has Rejected Us!’”⁴ Verses 1–2 express the feeling of being abandoned by God. God had promised not to abandon His people (Deuteronomy 4:29–31; 26:18–19), but they were feeling that He had (Lamentations 5:20–22). The statement “remember your people” doesn’t mean God had forgotten them, but rather it was a request for God to work for them.⁵ They requested that God restore the ruins left after the temple was desecrated in Jerusalem (vv. 3–4). “Make your way,” asked that God walk around Jerusalem to see the damage that was still taking place in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6:18–22). The damage is described as men cutting trees and smashing carvings with axes, hatchets, and picks (vv. 5–6). Not only was the temple destroyed, but every meeting place and synagogue were burned down as well (vv. 7–8).⁶ In verses 9-11, and 19, God had not raised up new prophets for them, and they questioned how much longer they would be in the situation (Jeremiah 29:10; Lamentations 2:9). As they appealed to God, they also blamed God and questioned if He would even show up.

Psalm 74:12–17: Verses 12–17 point to “The Throne: ‘The Lord Reigns!’”⁷Nelson’s Commentary explains, “The Lord is King by virtue of His creation of the earth (Psalm 93).”⁸ Asaph stated God had divided the sea and smashed the sea monsters (vv. 12–14). Constable explains, “In Canaanite mythology, the sea and its serpents joined together as enemies of Baal. Supposedly Baal was victorious over these enemies and subsequently became king. The poets of the Bible used the language of Canaanite myth to describe the victories of God in the formation of the earth, in the deliverance of His people from Egypt, and in future battles.”⁹ In some places in the Old Testament, the Leviathan is equated with Satan (v. 14)¹⁰ (Isaiah 27:1). God had given the Hebrews springs of water and dried up rivers when the people needed to cross over (v. 15). Asaph outlined God’s dominion over the earth—the day and night was His because He had created the moon and the sun (v. 16). God created the seasons and established the boundaries of the earth (v. 17).

Psalm 74:18–23: Verses 18–23 point to “The Covenant: ‘The Lord Remembers Us!’”¹¹ Wiersbe explains, “Since righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne, it was logical for Asaph to move in his thoughts from God’s throne to God’s covenant with Israel (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28:30).¹² Asaph emphasized the enemy had mocked Yahweh and insulted His name (v. 18). He begged the Lord not to give the life of His dove (Israel) over to the beasts (their enemies) (v. 19). Asaph asked God to remember His covenant with them and not let the oppressed be shamed (vv. 20–21). Asaph called on God to defend His cause and His people instead of allowing the insults against Him to continue (vv. 22–23). These are the same requests made in verse 3. Wiersbe states, “The nation had been ravaged, the city of Jerusalem had been wrecked, and the temple had been destroyed and burned—but the essentials had not been touched by the enemy! The nation still had Jehovah God as their God, His Word and His covenant had not been changed, and Jehovah was at work in the world!”¹³

Think about the history of the temple:

• The tabernacle was built (Exodus 27:8).
• For 440 years, the tabernacle was in Israel (Leviticus 26:1).
• For 369 years, the tabernacle was in Shilo (1 Samuel 1:3).
• David conquered Jerusalem in 1004 B.C. (2 Samuel 5), established an altar, and moved the ark of the covenant to Mount Moriah (1 Samuel 6).
• David planned to build a house for God (1 Kings 28:19).
• King Solomon built the first temple in 950 B.C. (1 Kings 7:46–51), and dedicated it (1 Kings 9:3).
• Temple worship took place for 426 years.
• Babylonians destroyed the first temple in 586 B.C. (Jeremiah 34), and the Jews were taken into exile (Jeremiah 31).
• Daniel prayed toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6:11).
• The altar was rebuilt (Ezra 1:2).
• The prophet Haggai exhorted the people to rebuilt God’s temple (Haggai 1:2–4).
• Ahasuerus held a feast with stolen temple treasures in 365 B.C. (Esther 1:7).
• The temple cornerstone was placed, and the people wept and rejoiced (Ezra 2:13).
• Ezra taught the people with the public reading of the Torah (Ezra 3:12).
• The temple was purified in 165 B.C.
• Work was completed on Herod’s temple (the second temple) (Psalm 48:2) and became the center of Jewish national life.
• The second temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70. Jesus stated that the temple would be destroyed (Matthew 24:1–2).
• We are waiting for the third temple to be built. Somehow, peace will come to Israel and the temple will be rebuilt on the Temple Mount (Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:3–4; Revelation 11:1–2).

CLOSING

God is still at work in our world today. He has not forgotten us, and He has not abandoned us. He never will! When the third temple is built, will you be crying out for the Lord? Will you be ready?