A Prayer For Relief From Oppressors

Psalms 74:1–12
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In the opening of this psalm,the psalmist asks for God to remember His people and His commitment to them as a result of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. The questions (v. 1) connect God’s failure to judge against His people. The temple referred to is likely the destruction of the first temple by the Babylonians in 586 BC. This psalm also tells us how to pray when calamity strikes. Just like we are so prone to do the psalmist asks why?

1. Why have you abandoned your own people? (v.1) “Thine enemies roar” (v.4)
2. Why have you abandoned your own possessions? (v. 2) “They break down the carved work” (vv. 5-6)
3. Why have you abandoned your own place? (v.3) “They cast fire into Thy sanctuary” (v. 7)

Satan’s master plan is to destroy the temple of the living God (v. 8). Since the Christian’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit he delights is defiling it and destroying it. The big problem was ignorance of the Scriptures (v. 9). The psalmist was perplexed by the seeming delay of God (vv. 10-11). He begs God to defend His honor (v. 10). 

Application

When I start praising God, no matter what the present circumstances are, it means that I have already begun to rise above them. How I am doing in this area depends on my daily fellowship with Him.