Psalm 74:1-11

Psalm 74
A Contemplation[a] of Asaph.
O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed— This Mount Zion where You have dwelt. Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations. The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. They have set fire to Your sanctuary; They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground. They said in their hearts, “Let us destroy them altogether.” They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs; There is no longer any prophet; Nor is there any among us who knows how long. O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.

Psalm 74:1-11

Our God is a great victorious general of war. From the very beginning he is the one who had set out with a curse against the prince of sin and the darkness which blinded Adam and Eve. He is not a defensive God, though He does defend His children. He is always on the offenses working ahead of the enemies schemes, to mold everything according to His perfect plan, even when it came to the destruction of His own Temple.

Psalm 74 is a prophetic picture of two separate times when Israel’s enemies plundered the city and destroyed the Temple. In 167 B.C Antiochus Ephiphanes profaned the temple and placed an image of Jupiter in the holy place. This is the called the Adomination of Desolation (Daniel 8,9). In A.D 70 the Roman official Titus leveled the temple to the ground as Jesus predicted in Luke 21. During the Great Tribulation there will be a final Abomination of Desolation in the holy place. This indicates there will again be a Temple standing in Israel where God’s people will sacrifice and worship. Your adversary is real, he hates you because you are loved by God. Darkness will always be on the attack in your life, but be not afraid He is your shield. God is already been at war with the one at war with your soul. Jesus defeated death and showed He had power over life by rising from the grave. He stands now at the right hand of God not only praying for you but constantly at work battling against the one who is called the destroyer. Be not afraid, He who lives within you is the victorious warrior.