Psalm Devotional
Why?
Psalm 74 is much like the book of Lamentations. It is a mournful prayer for relief that is set against the background of the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. And, like the book of Lamentations, there is a point at which tears give way to praise. The merciful nature of God, when remembered and proclaimed, gives much-needed hope in the midst of an otherwise bleak landscape. But the first verse meets us like a hammer blow: “O God, why have You cast us off forever?”
The opening verses portray what must have been unthinkable to the ancient saints—the enemies of God celebrating among the temple ruins. The psalmist repeatedly asks God why He would allow this (vv. 1, 10-11) although it was known through the prophets that the sin of Judah was what led to its downfall. The psalmist’s question is like Moses’ question to God after the golden calf incident: “Why does your wrath burn hot against your people?” (Ex. 32:11). It is obvious why God is angry. The question limits itself to the perspective of God’s stake in the covenant relationship, that He has established and maintained for the sake of His own glory. Psalm 74, just like Exodus 32, goes on to review the long history of God’s covenant mercy and the investment of grace He has made in His beloved people. Indeed, why would God now cast off His people? Will this long-standing covenant, this legacy of mercy, and this promise of eternal salvation now come to nothing?
