YEAR 2, WEEK 22, Day 7, Sunday, 01 June 25

https://esv.literalword.com/?q=psalm+74%3B+Joshua+6

Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Sunday, 01 June 2025:

Psalm 74:1–3 – “O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?… Remember your congregation…”

Psalm 74 is identified as “A Maskil of Asaph” or song of Asaph. Who was Asaph, and to what event does this Psalm refer? When was “everything in the sanctuary” destroyed by “enemies”? Asaph was David’s music director and is believed to have written twelve Psalms which collectively make up a larger portion of the entire Bible than several other books in the Bible. Asaph lived from David’s reign, through Solomon’s to Rehoboam’s. So, he offers a VERY unique and important perspective, having basically witnessed the nation of Israel rise to its “Golden Age” under David and then fall to destruction after Solomon turned to idolatry. Asaph watched as the kingdom was torn in two, and he witnessed the Egyptians invade Jerusalem and strip the Temple. Though Asaph appears to have remained faithful in his service to God, he nonetheless personally suffered greatly due to the sins of the leaders and the sins of the nation. No doubt, many of Asaph’s family and friends were killed in the foreign invasions about which he writes. Psalm 74 likely reflects Asaph’s distress at the invasion of Shishak the king of Egypt.

What can we learn today from Asaph’s Psalm? First, Asaph clearly recognizes that Israel’s national problems are in fact due to God’s anger in response to the nation’s sins. It wasn’t simply because Egypt had grown strong or because Israel’s leaders had not been competent enough – it was because Israel had turned from God, the true source of their strength. How will God judge the sins of our nation?

Second, Asaph, though faithful to God, also suffers the consequences of the nation’s sins. When a nation turns from God, everyone suffers the consequences. It is important for Christians understand that reality as they prepare for the future.

Finally, Asaph, though undoubtedly disillusioned by his government, never lost his faith in God or his perspective that “God [is] King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psalm 74:12) In a time of national despair, Asaph understood that a stronger military, a better economy, or more capable elected officials would not save the nation, only the power of God. On what does the future of America depend?

• Lamentations 5:20–21 – “Why do you forget us forever?… Restore us to yourself, O Lord.”
• Romans 8:36–39 – “In all these things we are more than conquerors… nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.”

Psalm 74 begins with questions, pain, and pleas for remembrance. The psalmist doesn’t hide his confusion or grief but brings them to God. Even when we feel abandoned, we are still God’s flock—His sheep. Honest lament is a form of worship. It clings to relationship even in confusion.

It can often feel like God has forgotten you or abandoned you — He hasn’t. Wait on the Lord. He knows exactly what is happening to you, is in complete control of your situation, and can only respond to you in perfect love and faithfulness. You cannot possibly understand the good He has in store for you as He takes you through trials and tribulations. What seems bad to us God is bringing together for good. (Romans 8:28) Be still and know that God is God.

Psalm 74:2 – Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!

God’s congregation is those whose sin debt He has paid through the blood of Jesus Christ and who know follow Him as His disciple, seeking His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. The psalmist is not praying for those who are enemies of God but rather those who have turned to God, not perfect people but humbly repentant and submissive people.

Psalm 74:4–9 – “Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place… They set your sanctuary on fire… There is no longer any prophet.”

This section paints a picture of desecration and spiritual silence. The enemy has violated what is sacred, and God’s people feel leaderless and lost. They don’t even know how long their suffering will last. When everything seems destroyed—even spiritual leadership—we are reminded that God alone is our refuge. He is not dependent on buildings, institutions, economies, parties, or leaders.

• Daniel 9:17 – “Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant… and cause your face to shine on your sanctuary.”
• Amos 8:11 – “A famine… not of bread… but of hearing the words of the LORD.”

Psalm 74:7 – They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.

God’s enemies will profane His name and seek to destroy the work of His people on earth.

Psalm 74:8 – They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them;” they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.

God’s enemies will not be satisfied while there are still those who worship God. This has historically been true, and it is true today.

Psalm 74:9, 12 – We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long…. Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

A lack of prophecy is evidence of a weak, dying church. Despite the weak and dying churches, God will still work His plan for salvation across the earth for those He intends to save.

Psalm 74:10–17 – “How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?… Yet God my King is from of old… You divided the sea… crushed the heads of Leviathan.”

The psalmist shifts from lament to remembering God’s power in history. He recalls God’s past victories over chaos, enemies, and nature. Even in crisis, the psalmist holds on to God’s character and His track record of deliverance. Faith looks back to move forward. When God seems silent in the present, remember how He spoke in the past. Our God is still King.

• Exodus 14:21 – “The LORD drove the sea back… and made the sea dry land.”
• Job 38:8–11 – “Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out… ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther.’”

Psalm 74:18–23 – “Do not forget the clamor of your foes…. Arise, O God, defend your cause.”

The psalm ends with a bold appeal for God to act. The psalmist doesn’t minimize the devastation, but neither does he lose hope. He invites God to rise, to remember, to defend His name and His people. This is how we pray in spiritual ruins: with honest pain and bold hope. Even when the temple is destroyed, God still reigns. His power is not confined to a building. His cause is not defeated by temporary setbacks.

• Isaiah 42:13 – “The LORD… will stir up his zeal; he will cry out, yes, shout aloud.”
• 2 Thessalonians 1:6–7 – “God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you… and to grant relief to you who are afflicted.”

Psalm 74:22 – Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!

Just like sick people vomit, the fools will scoff. Remain true to the LORD in the midst of an epidemic of sin.

Joshua 6:1–5 – “Jericho was shut up… none went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua… ‘You shall march around the city…’”

God gives Joshua a military strategy that makes no human sense. Instead of attacking, they are to march in silence for six days, then shout on the seventh day. Why? Because victory is by faith, not force. God often asks us to do the unusual so He can do the impossible. Faith sometimes, usually, looks foolish to the world.

• Hebrews 11:30 – “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.”
• 2 Corinthians 10:4 – “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh…”

Joshua 6:2-5 – “And the Lord said to Joshua, ‘See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus, shall you do for six days…. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”

God tears down the walls, but we must be obediently persistent, refusing to give up, in order to share in the victory.

• John 14:21 – “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

Imagine the perspective of the Israelites at Jericho: They march around the city on day one with no apparent results; they march around the city on day two; again, no apparent results, and this continues for days. Imagine if, after the sixth time marching around the city on the seventh day, they just quit in hopelessness. They wouldn’t have experienced God’s miraculous victory in their lives. It takes faith to keep marching in obedience when results aren’t evident, but without faith, it is impossible to please God. Maybe you have been praying for years for a lost friend or family member – keep praying. You don’t know what God might do on the sixth march on the seventh day.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5) Finally, we must not lose perspective that we are fighting a spiritual battle, and spiritual victories often look like physical or temporal losses. We must die to live, be weak to be strong, and ready to lose to win –

• 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 — But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.
• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 — But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
• 1 Corinthians 15:57 — but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
• 2 Corinthians 2:14 — But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
• Romans 8:18 — For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Joshua 6:6–14 – “They marched… they blew the trumpets… But Joshua commanded the people, ‘You shall not shout… until the day I tell you to shout.’”

The people obey with disciplined silence. Their silence is not passive—it’s expectant. Every step around Jericho is a step of obedience and anticipation. Sometimes the greatest acts of faith are done quietly. Obedience builds faith, and faith prepares the way for breakthrough.

• Exodus 14:14 – “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”
• Isaiah 30:15 – “In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

Joshua 6:15–21 – “On the seventh day… they marched around the city seven times… And the people shouted… and the wall fell down flat.”

Victory comes at God’s appointed time, not before. The walls collapse not because of human strength but because of divine power responding to obedient faith. Everything in the city was to be devoted to God—it was the firstfruits of the conquest. Our victories belong to God. He is not just interested in winning battles—He wants hearts fully devoted to Him.

• Proverbs 3:9 – “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce.”
• Romans 12:1 – “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice…”

Joshua 6:22–27 – “But to the two men… Joshua said, ‘Bring out Rahab… and all who belong to her.’”

Rahab and her family are saved—just as promised. Amid judgment, God shows mercy to those who trust Him. Her faith (chapter 2) leads to deliverance (chapter 6).

• James 2:25 – “Rahab the prostitute was justified by works when she received the messengers.”
• 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord… is patient… not wishing that any should perish.”

The same scarlet cord that marked Rahab’s window now marks her salvation—a picture of how the blood of Jesus marks us as His. God never forgets His promises. Rahab’s faith led to her place in the lineage of Christ (Matthew 1:5).

“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 01 June 2025: “Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” (Psalm 74:12) When life feels broken, and the sanctuary burned, do you still remember God’s power? Today, write down 3 specific times God has rescued you or revealed His power in your past. Reflect on those stories and let them fuel your faith. Pray: “God, even when I can’t see You, I will remember what You’ve done. Even when the enemy mocks and destroys, You are still my King. Rise up and defend Your cause. Restore my heart. Renew my hope. Amen.”