Considering the time of Asaph, this Psalm likely reflects the devastation following the temple’s destruction by the Babylonians. Alternatively, if viewed within the context of Asaph’s God-given role to worship and prophesy (as noted in 1 Chronicles 25:1), it could be a prophetic Psalm foretelling a future temple destruction. Another possibility is that it speaks to the earlier defeat by the Philistines when they captured the Ark of God. Regardless of the exact event that inspired Asaph, it is evident that the loss or desecration of God’s sanctuary moved the Psalmist deeply. In this Psalm, the writer appeals to God, bringing the temple’s destruction to His attention. This focus on the sanctuary over God Himself is a mindset that endures, as people often prioritize the physical sanctity of holy places, sometimes leading to division and conflict within communities.
The Enemy Vandalised Your Church
O God, why have you rejected us forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
Remember the nation you purchased long ago,
the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed —
Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary. – Psalms 74:1-3 (NIV)
When we lament like the Psalmist, asking, “God, why have You rejected us forever?” we find God’s response in Isaiah 59:1-4. He has not rejected us, but our sins and empty words create a barrier, preventing us from reaching Him. Here, the Psalmist reminds God of His miraculous guidance through the Red Sea, as if God has forgotten His mighty works. Yet, it is not God who forgets; rather, we often stray after being delivered, failing to turn fully to Him and instead blaming Him for forsaking us. God never forgets or abandons us. When we turn away from His mercy and kindness, we treat our troubles as though they are unending. Additionally, just as we might provoke a friend by pointing out harm done to them, we sometimes attempt to stir God’s anger against our enemies by presenting them as His foes. But we often overlook that God is also their God.
Who could be Your Foes God?
Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards as signs.
They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.
They smashed all the carved paneling
with their axes and hatchets.
They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!”
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land. – Psalms 74:4-8 (NIV)
Before listing those considered enemies of God, we must first ask: who could truly oppose the Sovereign God? Who could stand against His boundless love and abundant grace? As we read the Old Testament, it’s important to remember that we should interpret these events through the perspective of the New Testament era. This approach helps us avoid reverting to a time defined by law and death. In this passage, the Psalmist describes the suffering inflicted on God’s people as if God were unaware. But we know that nothing happens without God’s permission.
When we let hatred grow in our hearts, we place ourselves in harm’s way. Rather than confessing our sins when we face the consequences, we sometimes blame others, as if they were enemies of God. There may be times when God allows opposition as a form of discipline. However, we often try to incite God’s anger, as if these enemies were greater than God or capable of overpowering Him. We should remember that God allowed His own Son to suffer persecution to save us from sin. Today, persecution is seen as one of the greatest challenges for believers. But if God permits it, He will also give us the strength to endure, revealing Himself and granting us peace. Stephen experienced this inexplicable comfort even as he was persecuted.
My Enemies are Mocking You God
We are given no signs from God;
no prophets are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.
How long will the enemy mock you, God?
Will the foe revile your name forever?
Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them! – Psalms 74:9-11 (NIV)
The Psalmist was eagerly looking for signs from God and searching for His prophets but found none. If we consistently walk in the light, we need neither signs nor prophecies to warn us. The belief that our enemies mock God is a misconception. When God spoke to Ananias about Saul, Ananias saw Saul as both his own enemy and God’s. Yet God told Ananias that Saul was in constant conversation with Him. Assuming that our enemies are also God’s is unfounded; God loves everyone and is approachable to all. Here, the Psalmist seems to approach God like a student standing before a teacher, hands in pockets, refusing to complete the assignment. Let us be careful not to let our suffering lead us to challenge God’s authority.
God is My King
But God is my King from long ago;
he brings salvation on the earth. – Psalms 74:12 (NIV)
The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.
It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter – Psalms 74:16-17 (NIV)
While much of this Psalm repeats previous themes, in verse 12, the Psalmist reflects on his past relationship with God. In earlier days, he experienced God as a powerful king who overthrew enemies, such as by drowning them in the Red Sea. Amid present struggles, however, he has often neglected to recall God in this way. We, too, can fall into this pattern, failing in our hardships to remember God’s love and the sacrifice He made by sending His Son to save us from sin’s consequences. Similarly, God canceled the charge of our legal debt, which stood against and condemned us, by taking it away and nailing it to the cross. Through this act, He disarmed powers and authorities, publicly shaming them and triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:14-15).
In difficult times, we can feel overwhelmed, viewing our problems as insurmountable and even greater than God Himself. This can lead us to mistakenly perceive darkness as an opposing force against God and the devil as His equal adversary. Such thinking can make us feel as though God is being defeated, which is untrue. Thankfully, in verses 16 and 17, the Psalmist remembers God as the Creator of both day and night, of the mountains and valleys. As John declared, nothing in this world came into existence without God (John 1:3). While some fear associating God with the existence of evil, we see in Genesis that God planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning humanity not to eat its fruit to protect them from such knowledge. Recognising God as the Creator of all things assures us that He remains fully in control.
Uproar of God’s Enemies
Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools mock you all day long.
Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually. – Psalms 74:22-23 (NIV)
Here, Asaph called on God to respond to the commotion caused by His enemies, defining them based on those who were oppressing him. It’s important to understand that our enemies are not necessarily God’s enemies, as God does not consider anyone a rival. Even when we were opposed to Him, God loved us and went to great lengths to adopt us as His own children (Romans 5:8). This same unchanging God is still working to redeem even those we see as our adversaries.
It is misguided to call God’s attention to supposed adversaries when He continually reminds us to be watchful of our true enemy—the devil—who aims to deceive us by distorting God’s Word to align with our desires. If we don’t ask God to elevate our perspective, this deception will keep us from fully embracing our identity as His forgiven children. Instead of asking God to defeat our earthly enemies, we should recognize that they often draw us closer to God than some spiritual leaders do. At the same time, we need to stay aware of the spiritual battles happening in the heavenly realms, knowing they are fought not by human strength but by the Spirit and truth. Let us remain focused, not on oppression or destruction, but on the redemption we have received through Him.
Father God, help us to see our enemies as Your potential children and to stand firm against the true enemy, the devil, so that he will flee.
The Jordan Valley 
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