Asaph’s frequent battles with the question of “Why?” are easily documented. “O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?” (Psalm 74:1). “Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?” (Psalm 74:11). “How…
Psalms 79 and 80 appear to be companion psalms. In Psalm 79, Asaph focuses upon a recent calamity in Jerusalem; in Psalm 80, he petitions God to restore His people. Psalm 79 concludes with a reference to God’s people as “sheep of Your…
As recorded in Numbers and recounted by Asaph in Psalm 78, the forty-year period of Israel’s wilderness wandering with Moses was not filled with many spiritual high points. “How often they provoked Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they…
Psalm 78 is the second longest psalm in the Hebrew songbook. Its summation of Israel’s history as a nation clearly demonstrates the immense need for vigilance and steadfastness in the faith. Send article as PDF
“Those who fail to study history are destined to repeat it” is a maxim that has been around for many years. It is true. Send article as PDF
Despair is a spiritual abyss. It is a black hole of the soul. It is treacherous quicksand. Send article as PDF
Even though the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20), it has been repeatedly overruled by God and His providence to bring about His praise. Jehovah’s government of this universe is so perfect that He is able to…
A good writer writes about what he knows. In light of this maxim, the content of Psalm 74 suggests that Asaph lived through some very dark and difficult days of defeat—days haunted by the questions of “Why?” (vv. 1, 11) and “How long?”…
Though scoffers arise and cast aspersions towards God and His promise to reward the righteous and punish the wicked, God is not slack in keeping His word. When He chooses the proper time, He will judge uprightly; the earth and all its inhabitants…
Psalms 74 and 75 have been placed consecutively in the Hebrew song book because the haunting questions of the former are answered in the latter. In Psalm 74, Asaph is vigorously wrestling with the question of “Why?”— “O God, why have You cast us off…
