Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Psalm 74 Devotional

When the Sanctuary Lies in Ruins

“Yet God is my King from ancient times, working salvation on the earth.”Psalm 74:12 (BSB)

Psalm 74 surveys a disaster. Enemies have roared inside God's meeting place, smashed its carvings, and burned the sanctuary (74:3-7). There are no signs, no prophet, and no one who can say when it will end (74:9). Asaph asks why God has rejected his people and why his anger smolders against the sheep of his pasture (74:1).

The psalm offers no quick answer. But in the middle of the ruins, Asaph remembers who God is. God has been his King from ancient times, bringing salvation on the earth (74:12). He divided the sea, crushed the monsters of the deep, and made summer and winter (74:13-17). So Asaph prays on. He asks God to remember his covenant, not to forget his afflicted, and to rise up and defend his own cause (74:20-22). When the places that once steadied you lie in ruins, God's ancient faithfulness still stands, and his promises are still a place to plead from.

To think about: What feels broken or lost in your life right now, and which part of God's past faithfulness could you hold on to while you pray?

About Psalm 74: A Lament over the Ruined Sanctuary

Asaph mourns that enemies have smashed and burned God's sanctuary, with no prophet to say how long it will last. He recalls God's ancient power over the sea and His rule over day, night, and seasons, and pleads with God to remember His covenant and defend His own name.

Take the Psalm 74 quiz →Study notes

Get the next chapter and its devotional in your inbox each morning

One short email a day, no account needed. Stop anytime.