Psalm 74:7–13
7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, They have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. 8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. 9 We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet: Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. 10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? 11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? Pluck it out of thy bosom. 12 For God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
Something is wrong with my ear pods. Ok, they are called AirPods, but recently I have been calling them things I can't write in this blog. They have been randomly muting my voice for no reason. I am blabbing away and the person on the other line doesn't hear me. They say, "Jason, Jason, Jason are you there..." and I am saying, "yes, yes, I'm talking". I understand that they are wondering why I am silent when in reality I am speaking.
In one of the most recent calls from the media for outrage, criticism was being hurled against a certain politician for not taking their bait. Even though the politician had spoken on the subject several times with clarity they craved a fresh statement to twist.
“Why isn’t he speaking?”
“Isn’t his silence a form of approval of bad behavior?”
Why isn't God speaking?
The God inspired author of Psalm 74 is lamenting the destruction of the temple.
One of his concerns was that there was no sign from God, no prophet with a word from the Lord.
Psalm 74:9 We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet: Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
The Psalmist is asking these question...
"Why isn’t God speaking on this subject? Is his silence an endorsement of this bad behavior of the wicked?"
"Why isn’t God speaking?"
"Why won’t he tell us how long the temple would sit in ruins?" "How long will he allow this enemy to prevail?"
Psalm 74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
The psalmist basically asks the Lord to take his hands out of his pockets and get involved.
Psalm 74:11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? Pluck it out of thy bosom.
He had already asked the Lord to pick up his feet and move to intervene in yesterday’s reading.
Psalm 74:3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; Even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
Why would God allow problem of this magnitude and stay silent?
Why isn’t God speaking? Why isn’t God getting involved?
God Was Speaking
But hold your horses dear Psalmist, God had sent a prophet, actually he had sent at least two. Living and prophesying at the very same time were both Jeremiah and Ezekiel. These Godly prophets were being inspired to provide a word from the Lord and one had even given the answer as to how long.
Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
The psalmist didn’t know the Lord was already actively working and speaking to his people. His field of view was much too small to perceive all that his big God was accomplishing.
What about us?
Do you ever ask yourself if God is working? Do you ever question his silence or his stillness?
I must confess that I have and done so recently.
Have we considered the possibility that God is working in ways that we cannot see? Is it possible that outside of our perception a loving God is moving? I assure you; his feet are not immobile; his hands are not in his pockets and it is highly likely that his Word has something to say on the subject that troubles you.
My AirPods aren't working, but my God always is and he has spoken too!
Other readings for 6/18/20