Psalm 74:9-11 “We see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, neither is there amongst us anyone who knows how long. How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever? Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it from your chest and consume them!”

When God wants to punish His people severely, he withdraws his Spirit and His truth.

Amos 8:11-12 “‘Behold, the days come,’ says the Lord GOD, ‘that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the LORD’s words. They will wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will run back and forth to seek the LORD’s word, and will not find it.'”

We’re warned that in the last days people will follow false prophets and teachers.

1 Timothy 4:1-2 “But the Spirit says expressly that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, through the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron…”

I wonder if one reason for this it that God allows the false to spread and withholds the true? Paul warns Timothy that there will be a lot of people who don’t follow God in the last days, and that he should not only turn away from them, but make sure that he looks to the Word of God for instruction!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

For additional worship: Word of God Speak (Mercy Me)

Psalm 74:1-8 “A contemplation by Asaph. God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance: Mount Zion, in which you have lived. Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary. Your adversaries have roared in the middle of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs. They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees. Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers. They have burnt your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name. They said in their heart, ‘We will crush them completely.’ They have burnt up all the places in the land where God was worshipped.“

Israel has been overrun and the temple is in ruins. Even though the punishment is deserved, the people cry out for mercy and ask for judgment to fall on their persecutors.

Although you may have experienced God’s discipline in the past, or may even be experiencing it now, remember that it’s for a purpose, and God’s love and mercy are always present and available!

Hebrews 12:5-6 “My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

For additional worship: O Breath of Life (Emu Music)

Psalm 73:25-28 “Whom do I have in heaven? There is no one on earth whom I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from you shall perish. You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to you. But it is good for me to come close to God. I have made the Lord the LORD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

What should we do when we feel our hearts and minds failing? When we’re overcome by doubts? We should remember that God is our refuge and strength. He has promised that we will be with Him forever. He’s the one we can trust in and rely on. He should be our deepest desire, and our love for Him should find expression in praise!

For additional worship: Jesus the Very Thought of Thee (The Living Stones Quartet)

Psalm 73:16-24 “When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me— until I entered God’s sanctuary, and considered their latter end. Surely you set them in slippery places. You throw them down to destruction. How they are suddenly destroyed! They are completely swept away with terrors. As a dream when one wakes up, so, Lord, when you awake, you will despise their fantasies. For my soul was grieved. I was embittered in my heart. I was so senseless and ignorant. I was a brute beast before you. Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You have held my right hand. You will guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.”

Yes, it often seems that evil gets away with it. But only for a time! When we enter God’s house is should remind us of the blessings that are ours because we are His. We will be received into glory! Not so for those who don’t know Him. That’s why we should pay attention to His counsel. Our future is secure, and we should joyfully serve and follow even if it’s hard sometimes.

Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed towards us.”

For additional worship: O Jesus, I Have Promised (Olive Tree Hymns)

Psalm 73:10-15 “Therefore their people return to them, and they drink up waters of abundance. They say, ‘How does God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?’ Behold, these are the wicked. Being always at ease, they increase in riches. Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence, For all day long I have been plagued, and punished every morning. If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ behold, I would have betrayed the generation of your children.”

We have to be careful what we say, especially to our children. If we have doubts, misgivings, or questions, we should be careful who we express them to. We should make sure that we seek out mature believers who can (hopefully) provide us with some perspective and clarity. Just going around freely expressing our unease does nothing but put doubts into the minds of others and undermine their faith.

Matthew 18:6 “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”

For additional worship: Psalm 73 (Emu Music)

Psalm 73:1-9 “A Psalm by Asaph. Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no struggles in their death, but their strength is firm. They are free from burdens of men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment. Their eyes bulge with fat. Their minds pass the limits of conceit. They scoff and speak with malice. In arrogance, they threaten oppression. They have set their mouth in the heavens. Their tongue walks through the earth.”

There are a couple of self-evident truths presented in this passage. First, when evil triumphs, it becomes even more evil. Getting away with something bad generally leads to doing more bad things. Second, when we see evil getting away with it, we get disheartened. We might wonder, “What is the point in being good? If evil gets rewarded, what is the benefit of being pure?”

As we’ll find out, just because we don’t see evil being punished in this life, doesn’t mean that it won’t be in the future. We need to keep our eyes on God and continue to keep His commands. We have been promised blessings, but not always in this life!

Matthew 19:28-30 “Jesus said to them, ‘Most certainly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life. But many will be last who are first, and first who are last.’ “

For additional worship: The Nearness of God (Psalm 73)

Psalm 72:15-20 “He will live; and Sheba’s gold will be given to him. Men will pray for him continually. They will bless him all day long. Abundance of grain shall be throughout the land. Its fruit sways like Lebanon. Let it flourish, thriving like the grass of the field. His name endures forever. His name continues as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed by him. All nations will call him blessed. Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Blessed be his glorious name forever! Let the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and amen. This ends the prayers by David, the son of Jesse.”

Psalms 41 and 72 both end with a benediction and what appears to be an editorial note. Although Psalm 72 is from Solomon, many of Psalms 42-72 were penned by David, and the next section of Psalms is written by Asaph, so this does signify a distinction from one section to another. There are more Psalms written by David later, but this reminds us that there was a process of collection with the Psalms as well as distinctions within the overall book itself.

These verses should remind us of the promises God gave to Abraham many years before. Although those promises could refer to an earthly king, there is a distinct Messianic sense to them. All of the nations truly will be blessed through Abraham in Jesus Christ, and He becomes the perfect, compassionate, and righteous king that this world is looking for!

Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, and your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treats you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.’ ”

For additional worship: Precious Name (Take the Name of Jesus with You)

Psalm 72:8-14 “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, from the River to the ends of the earth. Those who dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him. His enemies shall lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the islands will bring tribute. The kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts. Yes, all kings shall fall down before him. All nations shall serve him. For he will deliver the needy when he cries; the poor, who has no helper. He will have pity on the poor and needy. He will save the souls of the needy. He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence. Their blood will be precious in his sight.”

The king’s dominion points again to the kingdom of the coming Messiah. But notice the nature of that kingdom! The world is in need of a compassionate and merciful savior, and God will provide. Our blood is precious in His sight!

Luke 12:6-7 “Aren’t five sparrows sold for two assaria coins? Not one of them is forgotten by God. But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.”

Revelation 6:9-11 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ A long white robe was given to each of them. They were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants and their brothers, who would also be killed even as they were, should complete their course.”

For additional worship: Hail to the Lord’s Anointed (feat. Sandra McCracken)

Psalm 72:1-7 “By Solomon. God, give the king your justice; your righteousness to the royal son. He will judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice. The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people. The hills bring the fruit of righteousness. He will judge the poor of the people. He will save the children of the needy, and will break the oppressor in pieces. They shall fear you while the sun endures; and as long as the moon, throughout all generations. He will come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. In his days, the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more.”

Think of this as Solomon’s prayer that he, and the future heirs of David’s kingdom, will judge God’s people rightly and that people will learn to fear God because of the king’s reign. But this is also a messianic psalm. It looks forward to an undying and blessed reign that endures as long as the sun and is as refreshing as rain on grass. And who isn’t looking forward to that!

For additional worship: Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes (Koine)

Psalm 71:22-24 “I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, my God. I sing praises to you with the lyre, Holy One of Israel. My lips shall shout for joy! My soul, which you have redeemed, sings praises to you! My tongue will also talk about your righteousness all day long, for they are disappointed, and they are confounded, who want to harm me.”

Have you ever heard of churches that only do music a Cappella? Or with just a piano? I’ve never been able to figure that out when we have such clear indications from Scripture that instruments should accompany lips! How can we not want to use everything we can to praise God? How can we not want to talk about Him all the time? After all, He has redeemed us, He watches over us, and He has promised us a wonderful future!

For additional worship: How Can I Keep from Singing (Chris Tomlin)