—Psalm 74:18-19, 21; antiphon ,Psalm 74:2a—In the Introit for Sunday, we pray, Remember your congregation, which You have purchased of old, which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your heritage. David prays for God to come to the aid of His people and defend His cause in the face of mocking enemies. When we cry out to God, He promises to hear and answer according to our need.
Psalm 74 – Asking God to remember His
destroyed sanctuary
This psalm
is titled A Contemplation of Asaph.
It is a plea and a prayer in great sorrow from the destruction of the sanctuary
(Psalm 74:3, 7). The majority of commentators believe this psalm followed the
destruction of the temple by the Babylonians. Some argue that it is even later,
following the desecration of the temple in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes. If
these later dates are true, this Asaph is not the great singer and musician of
David and Solomon’s era, unless Asaph composed this psalm prophetically, which
was possible according to 1 Chronicles 25:1 and 2 Chronicles 29:30.
Either this
is a later Asaph, which is not unlikely since the name might have been
perpetuated among the temple musicians, or, more likely, the name was affixed
to many psalms produced by this body of musicians. We know that the ‘descendants of Asaph’ were functioning
as late as the reign of Josiah (2 Chronicles 35:15).
Another
option: the Asaph of David and Solomon’s time composed this psalm on the
occasion or the memory of the destruction of the tabernacle in Shiloh (1 Samuel
4). The word sanctuary used in Psalm 74:3, 7 is also used of the tabernacle
(Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 12:4, 21:12; Numbers 10:21, 18:1).[2]
Faith Clings
to the Word and Promises of God and Perseveres in Prayer
“Left alone,” Jacob wrestled through the night with the Lord, “until the breaking of the day” (Genesis 32:24). Though “Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him” (Genesis 32:25), he would not let go until the Lord blessed him. At times we, too, strive with God; He strives with us and blesses us by grace. So Jesus teaches us “always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Jesus speaks of “a judge who neither feared God nor respected man” and of a widow “who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary’ ” (Luke 18:2–3). Because of her persistence, the judge agreed to “give her justice” (Luke 18:5).
Our Lord dispenses justice generously and swiftly, giving “justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night” (Luke 18:7). He does so according to the Gospel. Therefore, His ministers are to persevere faithfully in their vocation, in what they “have learned and have firmly believed” (2 Timothy 3:14). On the basis of “the sacred writings” (2 Timothy 3:15), they are to “preach the word” at all times and not lose heart (2 Timothy 4:2).
God answering prayer is a theme for this coming Sunday. From the Introduction to the Lord’s prayer Luther reminds us, “With these words, “Our Father, who art in heaven,” God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear Father.”
Collect for Psalm 74:Lord our God, remember the covenant sealed with the blood of your Son, Make the Church your spiritual house and make us living stones built upon Christ, so that a full and true temple may be raised to your glory; for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen [3]
Collect for Monday of the week of Pentecost 18: Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in your unbounded mercy you have revealed the beauty of your power through your constant forgiveness of our sins. May the power of this love be in our hearts to bring your pardon and your kingdom to all we meet. We ask this through Christ our Lord. [4] -10 October 2022[1] Luther’s Seal © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect for Psalm 74, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
[4] Ibid, Collect for Monday of the week of Pentecost 18
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