A Day for Why

(Psa 74:1 KJV)  Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

(Proverbs 16 also read)

As I read through this Psalm I kept looking for a word of hope, something to lift me up.  I didn’t find it.  There are two main summaries you could give for this chapter:  The temple is destroyed and why don’t you do something, God?  It is clear that this is a summary of the situation just before Ezra and Nehemiah return to work on the temple and Jerusalem.

What I saw totally lacking was any acknowledgment of sin or shortcoming on the part of the writer and Israel.  It is as if he had never heard any of the prophets and their calls to repentance.  For him it is an issue of God getting on the stick.  I wonder how often we get like that.  How often do we ignore the clear call of the Holy Spirit to repentance and renewal?  Sources of that message are all around us.

So?  Do a little spiritualizing here.  Are you feeling rejected today?  Are you being smoked?  Yes?  Then maybe it is time to consider your attitude.  No?  Then rejoice in the God of your salvation because this Psalm doesn’t have much to say to you today.