We must never forget who God is when we are raw from suffering on earth in circumstances that are out of our control.  We must never forget God is sovereign over all because he created all when slander rises up against us and against God in ways meant to overwhelm us and bring us down.  In these moments of testing our faith; we want revenge. But only God can bring about justice.  The tough rely on God.

Asaph was tired of being stepped on. He felt rejected, defeated, and forgotten. He prayed that God would restore Israel and grant revenge.  But God had other plans. God always has a better plan. Trust God. Listen to Him. 

Psalm 74, The Message

Of Asaph.

You walked off and left us, and never looked back.
    God, how could you do that?
We’re your very own sheep;
    how can you stomp off in anger?

^2-3 Refresh your memory of us—you bought us a long time ago.
    Your most precious tribe—you paid a good price for us!
    Your very own Mount Zion—you actually lived here once!
Come and visit the site of disaster,
    see how they’ve wrecked the sanctuary.

^4-8 While your people were at worship, your enemies barged in,
    brawling and scrawling graffiti.
They set fire to the porch;
    axes swinging, they chopped up the woodwork,
Beat down the doors with sledgehammers,
    then split them into kindling.
They burned your holy place to the ground,
    violated the place of worship.
They said to themselves, “We’ll wipe them all out,”
    and burned down all the places of worship.

^9-17 There’s not a sign or symbol of God in sight,
    nor anyone to speak in his name,
    no one who knows what’s going on.
How long, God, will barbarians blaspheme,
    enemies curse and get by with it?
Why don’t you do something? How long are you going
    to sit there with your hands folded in your lap?

God is my King from the very start;
    he works salvation in the womb of the earth.
With one blow you split the sea in two,
    you made mincemeat of the dragon Tannin.
You lopped off the heads of Leviathan,
    then served them up in a stew for the animals.
With your finger you opened up springs and creeks,
    and dried up the wild floodwaters.
You own the day, you own the night;
    you put stars and sun in place.
You laid out the four corners of earth,
    shaped the seasons of summer and winter.

^18-21 Mark and remember, God, all the enemy
    taunts, each idiot desecration.
Don’t throw your lambs to the wolves;
    after all we’ve been through, don’t forget us.
Remember your promises;
    the city is in darkness, the countryside violent.
Don’t leave the victims to rot in the street;
    make them a choir that sings your praises.

^22-23 On your feet, O God—
    stand up for yourself!
Do you hear what they’re saying about you,
    all the vile obscenities?
Don’t tune out their malicious filth,
    the brawling invective that never lets up.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Why did God permit a pagan nation to defeat the Jews and destroy their Holy City and sacred temple, and why was He doing nothing about it?

Here’s the background history that prompted Asaph’s song of lament to God;

“The Lord, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them through his messengers again and again, because he had pity on his people and on his dwelling place. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy. He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and did not spare young men or young women, the elderly or the infirm. God gave them all into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. He carried to Babylon all the articles from the temple of God, both large and small, and the treasures of the Lord’s temple and the treasures of the king and his officials. They set fire to God’s temple and broke down the wall of Jerusalem; they burned all the palaces and destroyed everything of value there.

He carried into exile to Babylon the remnant, who escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and his successors until the kingdom of Persia came to power. The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah.” –2 Chronicles 36:15-21, NIV

Even though the prophets had warned that judgment was coming, the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple were catastrophic events that shook the people’s faith. As he surveyed the situation, Asaph moved from despair to confidence and in the end affirmed that all was not lost.

The “remnant” was a group of God’s faithful people who escaped the sword and lived to serve God by trusting and being obedient to him, even as slaves to the Babylonians.  The Bible is full of faith stories of people who in spite of their circumstances chose to believe in God who is above all, knows our need, and will always be with us through it all with protection for our souls.

Also found in Chronicles are words I quote often; “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9a.  A prophet (seer) comes to King Asa who did good in the eyes of the Lord, until he didn’t.  The king began as a leader of God but when God gave him victory, he took all the glory.  His arrogant pride developed which led to not seeking the Lord.  He trusted in his own resources and no longer trusted God in decision making concerning war and the protection of God’s people as king. Instead, he trusted in himself and manipulated others who would agree with him.  It did not end well for King Asa. That verse quoted often ends with this statement of truth: “You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”—2 Chronicles 16:9b.

The fundamental problem was not Judah’s lack of defenses but King Asa’s lack of faith. Our lack of faith is pleasing to our Enemy as we become prey in his hands of evil.

Revenge is not as sweet as it sounds is not in our “job descriptions” as believer of Jesus Christ who redeemed us for our own sins.  Our work, in God’s view, is to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.  Revenge is not a humble act of obedience. 

“As you watch the news, what makes you angry? What makes you want to get revenge? Next time you are tempted to seek revenge, stop. See aggressors as people who need God. Pray that God will meet that need.”—Max Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

We will never look into the eyes of someone who God does not love like He loves us.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, writes Paul.  If that doesn’t humble us; then the enemy has already defeated our faith.  Let’s read the context of this statement as well;

Righteousness Through Faith In Jesus

^“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.  Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded.”—Paul, Romans 3:21-27, NIV

Even though God had every reason to punish us for our sins; He did not.  Instead, God sent His Son, Jesus to die as the sacrifice for our sins.  Jesus, who had no sin, became sin, of the world, so that He could pay the debt we owe for our sins.

We cannot earn this redemption, fight for it, nor do we deserve it.  So, we have nothing on earth to boast about—only Jesus crucified and resurrected to give us hope of eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Lord,

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen  Yes, to YOU be all the glory!