Plights And Ponderings Of Asaph. Psalm 74 Series

- There are 12 Psalms attributed to Asaph - Psalm 50 and 73 – 83.

o We know Asaph was a Levite who led the choirs during the days of David. Cf.

1Ch 16:37

o We are not aware of the exact time when Aspah wrote this psalm.

? May be even some one wrote for Asaph, so that a choir in his name could sing…

• In spite of the obscurity in connection with the historical background…

o The contents are very much relevant the time we are in …

Here we see the prayers of a godly man for His people.

Asaph begins with a petition … and concludes with a petition..cf. vs 1, 2a, 22, 23a

Psa 74:1 O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture? 2a Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old..”

Psa 74:22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause; Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily. 23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies; The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.

• Begins and ends up with prayer…

• In between we see:

- The reasons why Asaph makes such an appeal / prayers.

- And the truths that encourages him to trust the Lord in prayer.

- Thus three main parts / sections in this psalm.

(a). The Agony of a Godly man – pain

(b). The Appeal of a Godly man – prayer

(c). The Assurance of a Godly man – ponderings / reflections

I. The Agony / anguish of a Godly man.

- Asaph is worried…troubled….distressed…

- His heart is troubled.....

• Ob: The Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “Let not your heart be troubled” John 14:1

• But He knew the possibility…

• Saints will face such situations…of worry, anguish…cf.

Psa 34:19a Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

John 16:33 – ‘In this world you will have tribulations’

• Even the Lord Jesus faced it…cf. Matt 26:38

"My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me."

- Isaiah says, ‘He was a man of sorrows’

• So…its natural state…possible….His followers too…face…

• Today…many of us…trouble....all the saints faced…

• Let us see why…Asaph in trouble:

• Four reasons:

a. God’s house is under attack. Vs. 3 - 6

Psa 74:3. Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary. 4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place; They set up their banners for signs. 5 They seem like men who lift up Axes among the thick trees. 6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once, With axes and hammers. 8 They said in their hearts, "Let us destroy them altogether." They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

- Enemy attacked their temple and the city of Jerusalem.

- Prayer halls – synagogues – assembly halls… burnt down…

- Banners referring to God and His people…replaced with of the enemy.

o Psalmist is anguished over the sad, terrible state of the house of God.

? The sanctuary…the place where God dwelt…used to meet them…

• Today, we know the church…is the temple...the sanctuary….cf. 1Cor 3:16

1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

o Don’t we see similar satanic attack against the local assemblies today.

? Yes, the Lord said, “gates of hades will never prevail”

• That means…’satanic forces will try their best to

o Destroy…deform…the assembly…

Notice what the enemy did…

- Same in the local churches today”:

o V. 3b ‘damaged everything in the sanctuary’ – same…

? …much damage…deterioration…declension…spoiled…among the saints..

o V. 4b. ‘set up their banners for signs’. Cf. v.9a ‘we do not see any signs’

? ‘banner’ / ‘sign’ – may be anything that was an evidence / proof / mark

• Of the ownership of the temple…

o By which to identify…temple / saints belongs to whom……

• The distinguishing features…marks…

o Same always Satan wants to do……

? He wants to remove our marks…signs…features…

• Set up their signs…symbol…banner

o Change our name, our taste, our style…cf. Dan 1

o Illust: Daniel friends in Babylon…1:7

Dan 1:7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.

? How they reacted to their efforts…to

o Accepted the change of name…but

? Objected to change of food style…

• And worship style…

• Do not forget the enemy wants us to be conformed to the world…

o We may exhibit the features / mark of the world…