Temple Baptist Church - 12-15-2024
Psalm 74
Introduction:
A. The description of this Psalm, Maschil of Asaph, gives both the reason and the author of the Psalm.
1. Maschil - a didactic or teaching poem meant for moral instruction. In this case, a Psalm of warning!
2. Asaph – A Levite and a musician placed over the music of the Temple by King David.
B. I want to break this Psalm down into its integral parts so as to instruct and warn our people.
1. Verses 1-3. The Identification of the Problem and Petition for help. Someone or more than one who was a part of the sanctuary, the local church in our day, had hurt the people there.
a. Verse 1. Petition #1: Lord, are you angry with the congregation?
1) There is a severe problem going on and it has lingered according to verse 1.
2) Self Judgment is a good thing. Is this trouble because of godliness for which they suffered or judgment for ungodliness?
b. Verse 2. Petition #2: Lord, remember the congregation. On what grounds?
1) “Thou hast purchased it of old.” The congregation or local church was bought and paid for by the Lord.
2) The rod of thine inheritance.” The congregation is the instrument through which God works.
3) “Wherein thou hast dwelt.” The congregation is the place that God chose to dwell in.
c. Verse 3. Petition #3: “Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.”
1) Arise and Conquer. There are some things that God has to handle. Good intentions often mess up good wheat. We root out the wheat with the tares if not careful.
2) Complete the Mission. When you clean the house, Lord, clean it completely. Leave no remnants of the problem.
2. Verses 4-8.
a. The People who are Enemies. Troubles are as old as time itself. There has always been an infiltration of God’s people by the wicked ones. No different in our day. Here are just a few examples.
1) Old Testament
a) Serpent - Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
b) Abel - Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. (12) Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
c) Korah - Jude 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
d) Ahithophel - Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 55:14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.
2) The New Testament
a) Alexander the Coppersmith - 2 Timothy 4:14-15 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: (15) Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.
b) Diotrephes - 3 John 1:9-10 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. (10) Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
c) False Brethren - Acts 20:29-30 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. (30) Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
d) False Teachers - 2 Peter 2:1-3 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
b. The Power of the Enemy.
1) Verse 4. The enemy is fierce. They come “out of the closet” and openly identify themselves. As most Alpha Male animals, they eventually “mark their territory.” Out of the closet and in your face.
2) Verse 5. The enemy is powerful. They are strong because they are sometimes allowed to strengthen.
3) Verse 6. The enemy is destructive. Once they are strong and openly identify themselves and what they believe, they are divisive: they recruit the weak.
4) Verse 7. The enemy is relentless. If you give in to Satan and step back, he just steps forward and once again is face to face with you. Never think that the devil’s crowd will give up because they won’t. They have to be defeated and removed.
5) Verse 8. The enemy is purposed. To divide the congregation, to divide the congregation from its leadership, to force their unbiblical beliefs upon God’s people.
3. Verses 9-12. The Confusion of the Congregation. As a family, God’s people often are more inclusive in a wrong manner as well as not as exclusive as much as they should be. The Bible says that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump and that God’s people are to purge out the old leaven that the whole lump will be pure.
a. Verse 9. Confused because the situation seemed endless. No one wants to fight but the fight to maintain the integrity of the congregation is and will always be a continuous one. Jude 3 says to “earnestly contend for the face which was once delivered.”
b. Verse 10. Confused because God remains silent. Do not take God’s supposed silences to be either condonement or surrender. When God is silent, He is working through His people.
c. Verse 11. Confused because God’s blessings have ceased. A congregation cannot be blessed when wickedness abounds. Eradication brings about blessings. We have experienced that here at Temple. More is not always better and few is not always bad!
d. Verse 12. Confused because God seemingly no longer cares. Simple answer: He does! We should also.
4. Verses 13-17. The congregation reminded God of His past feats. If God could do the listed miracles, He can continue to do so. His power is limitless and made available through our faith.
a. Verse 13. God divided the Red Sea!
b. Verse 14. God fed the multitudes in the desert.
c. Verse 15. God divided the Jordan River at flood stage.
d. Verse 16. God owns the night as well as the day.
e. Verse 17. God set the bounds of the seas and created the four seasons.
5. Verses 18-23. A Final Remembrance. The battle is the Lord’s, and the Word of God and the Lord’s people are His weapons of choice.
a. Verse 18. They have reproached and blasphemed God!
b. Verse 19. The congregation belongs to God.
c. Verse 20. Remember your covenant with your people.
d. Verse 21. Help your people to not be ashamed and to praise Thee.
e. Verse 22. The congregation’s cause is just.
f. Verse 23. The only way of stopping the enemy is for you to do it.
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