Psalms 74:1

Psalms 74:1 says, Maschil of Asaph. This is another psalm identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?  The people of Israel were once again being defeated, and Asaph asked God why He had abandoned them.  Matthew Henry says the events described align wit Nebuchadnezzar defeating Israel and destroying the temple, which happened much later so it was evidently a prophesy.   Verse two adds, Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.  Asaph asked God to remember His congregation which He had purchased of old, and we can be certain that God will never forget us as followers of Christ because He purchased us by the shed blood of Christ on the cross.  Verse three continues, Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.  Asaph asked that God restore them from the perpetual desolation that had even occurred to God's sanctuary.  Today, the only real sanctuary of God that people can destroy is believers themselves, because our faith represents the temple of God.  Verse four states, Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.  I believe that we can say that the enemies of God roar against His people today as Asaph said they did in this psalm.  Verse five adds, A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the destruction of the tembers of the tabernacle, which was viewed as no more than cutting down any tree.  Some people today see the destruction of the things dedicated to God as no more than destroying anything else, and they may even take pride in doing so.  Verse six continues, But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.  This is a further reference to the destruction of the temple, which would happen much later.  Verse seven says, They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. Once more, Asaph refers to the destruction of the temple, which was seen as God's dwelling place.  We know that God is not limited to a particular place, but that does not stop those who deny or defy Him from attempting to destroy everything associated with Him.  Verse eight adds, They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.  Not only was the temple being destroyed, but also any place that represented God was.  People of the world today would often like to destroy anything that represents God, even Christians themselves.  Verse nine continues, We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.  Asaph said there were no signs or prophets to tell them how long the destruction would last.  We are given some signs of the return of Christ when all of God's enemies will be defeated, but I don't believe there will be any new prophet to tell us when this will occur.  Verse ten asks, O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?  Asaph asked how long God would allow His enemies to blaspheme His name.  We as followers of Christ may ask the same thing today, but instead we need to simply be content to live by faith every day and continue to witness for and worship God.  Verse eleven adds,Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.  Asaph asked how long God would wait before restoring His people by His power.  We may sometimes wonder how long God will allow evil to attempt to destroy His people, but we know that through our faith in Jesus Christ we have already won the victory.