4. From Man’s Strength to God’s Power! Psalm 74:8-12

Text: “Thou Wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth (trusts, and continues to trust) in Thee.”

Isaiah 26:3.

Good morning, besieged Christian!  Because you are a Bible-believing, Spiritually regenerate, Christian – and are seeking to militantly and actively serve the Christ Who has saved you: you feel constantly under the oppressions and Spiritual onslaught of the world, the flesh, and the Devil. 

Praise God for you, dear brother/sister!  Praise God for your every trial and testing!  Why?  Because the depth and consistency of your trials and temptations, your daily war with Amalek, is a proof positive of your regenerated Standing in the Christ of God, King Jesus Christ, the Captain of Heaven’s hosts.  Glory and praise to His Holy Name!  Victory in Him!

“Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim…And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword…And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah nissi: for he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”  (Exodus 17:8-16)

The world of the unregenerate, those not born again of the Spirit of God, through the one-time Sacrifice of the Living Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary’s Cross – are duty-bound to oppose all that the true Christian is, does, says, and believes.  Fact. 

The Lord Jesus did not come to make peace with the world, he brought the Sword of His Word to us, in order to grant faith to ‘His people’ and to make the separation between us and the world complete.  Check it out!

“Think not that I (the Lord Jesus Christ) am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.  For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother-in-law.  And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” (Matthew 10:34-36)

The SWORD that Christ brings is, of course, the Sword of the Spirit, His inspired Word.  “For the Word of God is quick (alive), and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (inner-being, essence of man).”  (Hebrews 4:12)

Christ’s Sword divides, in the sense that it imparts to God’s elect souls His vital gift of believing faith – that is, faith to believe (trust) and continue to believe the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified for to bear away the sins of ‘His people’. (Matthew 1:21)

Only those whom our Sovereign Lord God has chosen (elected) in Eternity to receive His gift of faith, shall ever receive it.  All others hear the universal call of the Gospel, but without God’s gift of saving faith, profit nothing from their hearing.  Salvation is of the Lord!

“For unto us (the elect) was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them (the unsaved, the reprobate): but the Word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”  (Hebrews 4:2)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

The Lord Jesus Christ came into this sinful world to save only ‘His people’ from our sins – all that God the Father has given Him in Eternity for Him to save in time.  All others can hear the Gospel message, but alas, can never understand its meaning – for it is sheer foolishness to their ears.

“But the natural man (unregenerate, reprobate) receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14)

Therefore, we can now understand how and why there comes this variance, this enmity, this contrary opposition in families, when once members of that family are blessed with faith to believe and receive Eternal Salvation in Christ and His full Atonement Sacrifice at the Cross, and others cannot even understand what has happened!  Immediately, the new Christian convert begins to experience opposition and often angry treatment from close family members who had loved them all their lives.  It becomes a ‘them’ and ‘us’ Spiritual division.

Verse 8. “They said in the their hearts, let us destroy them together. Pharaoh’s policy to stamp out the nation has been a precedent for others, yet the Jews survive, and will: the bush though burning has not been consumed.  Even thus the church of Christ has gone through baptisms of blood and fire, but it is all the brighter for them.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 321)

Throughout the history of the Christian church, it has been a vicious battle between the strength and might of man, and the Spiritual power of the Lord God Jehovah.

In this manner, the genuine Bible-believing, born again Christian shall always suffer reproach and often repression from the unsaved world all around him/her and from the spiritual darkness of Satan’s vile servants.  This persecution is promised to each true saint.

“Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

Verse 10. “Shall the enemy blaspheme Thy Name forever? The sinner never leaves his/her sin till sin first leaves him/her: did not death put a stop to his sin, he would never cease from sin.  Every impenitent sinner would sin to the days of Eternity, if he might live to the days of Eternity.” (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 321)

The apostle Paul suffered such attendant persecutions and sufferings from unregenerate man: “Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at I conium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.”  (2 Timothy 3:12)

However tempted he may have been, he never sought to use his own arm of flesh to defend or attack his cruel adversaries – God’s power overcomes all human or demonic opposition.

 “…Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”      (Zechariah 4:6)

Jesus promises: “…In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33) Man’s strength is no defence against God’s power.

Thought: “For God is my King of old, working Salvation in the midst of the earth.”

3. ‘Lord God, Lift up Thy Feet!’ Psalm 74:3-7

Text: “Lift up Thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.  Thine enemies roar in the midst of Thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.”                                                                                                                       Psalm 74:3-4.

Good morning, increasingly oppressed, Christian!  You and I who are, by God’s Sovereign grace, Spiritually regenerate, Bible-believing Christians, have been most aware of, first, the introduction of a Politically-Correct spirit throughout once solid Christian societies; then, an increase in anti-Christian belief systems; followed by a steep and gradual decline in the moral standards of all things we see and hear in the news media world and public advertising. 

Like a dry rot that creeps slowly, but so very surely, into a good strong piece of timber, the world in which we Christians live today, in this 21^st semi-apostate Century, has become increasingly more crass, lewd, and irreligious.  Even church congregations have begun to bring all sorts of worldly rubbish into the confines of church-meetings – so much so that many have begun to separate ourselves from even attending such circuses of humanistic celebration.

“Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?  Purge out therefore the old leaven (sin, and doctrinal error), that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is Sacrificed for us: therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7)

“For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God?  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”   (1 Peter 4:17-18)

It is against such increased apostasy, open and blatant disobedience; anti-Christian hindrances and militant oppositions to faith in God, that the Psalmist is crying out for the immediate ‘lifting up’ of God’s feet in response.  But, what exactly does this ‘lifting up of God’s feet’ signify today?

Verse 3. “Lift up Thy feet. Abu Walid renders it, Tread hard upon Thine enemies.  The Jewish Arab, Show forth Thy punishment, adding in a note that the lifting up the feet implies punishment, the bringing under by force being usually expressed by treading under the feet.” (Henry Hammond 1605-1660)

“Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.”  (Psalm 94:17)

Verse 4. “Thine enemies roar in the midst of Thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.” 

Historical Context:

Verses 4-7. “(The Persecution under Antiochus, BC 168) Athenaeus proceeded to Jerusalem, where with the assistance of the garrison, he prohibited and suppressed every observance of the Jewish religion, forced the people to profane the Sabbath, to eat swine’s flesh and other unclean food, and expressly forbade the national rite of circumcision.  The Temple was dedicated to Jupiter Olympius: the statue of that deity was erected on part of the altar of burnt-offerings, and sacrifice duly performed… As a last insult, the feasts of Bacchanalia, the licence of which, as they were celebrated in the later ages of Greece, shocked the severe virtue of the older Romans, were substituted for the national Festival of Tabernacles.

“The reluctant Jews were forced to join in these riotous orgies, and to carry the ivy, the insignia of the god.  So near was the Jewish nation, and the worship of Jehovah, to total extermination.”  (Henry Hart Milman, in ‘A History of the Jews’, 1791-1868)

These are the historical records of how God’s chosen people were tested to the utmost, by the world, the flesh, and that old Serpent, the Devil, down through the ages of Biblical history.  Little has changed today.  The onslaught is certainly more subtle, but the intent of Satan to obliterate the worship of the One True God, Jehovah, remains exactly the same.  Oh, that the Living Lord God would ‘…lift up His feet…’ and tread down the enemies of Christian faith throughout this wicked world!

Verse 5. “A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.  Once men were renowned for felling the cedars and preparing them for building the Temple, but now the axe finds other work, and men are as proud of destroying as their fathers were of erection.

“Thus, in the olden times our sires dealt sturdy blows against the forests of error and laboured hard to lay the axe at the root of the trees; but alas! Their sons appear to be quite as diligent to destroy the truth and to overthrow all that their fathers built up.  Oh, for the good old times again!  Oh, for an hour of Luther’s hatchet, or Calvin’s mighty axe!”  (C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, page 321)

Dictionary Definition: Apostasy – (noun) abandonment of one’s religion, principles or party; a revolt from ecclesiastical obedience, from a religious profession, or from holy orders; defection.  Apostate: (noun) a person who has abandoned their religion, principles, etc; a renegade, deserter from any allegiance…  (The Chambers Dictionary, page 71)

The widespread apostasy we have been witnessing now for many years is, basically, a departure from true KJV Bible belief and purity of Christian doctrine.  What is now deemed as ‘politically correct’ has been spued from pulpits, often by mere ‘hirelings’, who are in pulpits as a means of being in full employment, as opposed to a calling from the Lord God.  Never has the old adage, ‘Good living, for a living’ been a more appropriate accusation from the world.  Preaching Christ, and Him Crucified for our sins, has become an unpopular ministry to perform.  Praise God there are still some ‘out there’ who are faithful to the Word!

Verse 7. “They have cast fire into Thy sanctuary. Those who hate God are never sparing of the most cruel weapons.  To this day, the enmity of the human heart is quite as great as ever; and, if Providence did not restrain, the saints would still be as fuel for the flames.” (C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, page 321)

“I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.  Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on earth?”  (Luke 18:8)

Thought: It is time for Christians to pray, “Lord, lift up Thy feet”; help us, Thy people.

2. Pleading the Blood Psalm 74:2

Text: “Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast purchased of old; the rod of Thine inheritance, which Thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein Thou hast dwelt".  

                                                                                                  Psalm 74:2.   

 “And the Blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are; and when I see the Blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 12:13.

Good morning, Blood-bought Christian!  The entire volume of KJV Holy Scripture is known as ‘the book of the blood’; for the shedding of blood runs through its God-breathed pages more surely than human blood flows though the veins of every sinner that has ever lived upon this earth.  Furthermore, there is a most significant and Divine reason for this fact – without the shedding of Blood there is no remission from our sin.  We must plead the Blood.

“For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people.  Saying, this is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.  Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.  And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission (of sins).”      (Hebrews 9:19-22)

God’s Way of Salvation:  To understand the significance of ‘the shedding of blood’ in God’s way of forgiving our sins and Eternal Salvation of the souls of ‘His people’ – we must go right back to the root of Created mankind’s problem – sinning against a Holy God of wrath against sin.

When God Created Adam and made Eve from him in Eden’s Garden – mankind was created sinless, pure, holy, and very good, with a free will to make choices that seemed good to him/her.

“And God saw everything that He had made, and behold (look, and fully understand), it was very good.  And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”  (Genesis 1:31)

Our Sovereign Lord God, Jehovah, is trice Holy and totally perfect - He does not create anything that is not good and perfect.  Adam was created good and perfect, you and I are not created beings, we are born of woman, born in the fallen image of Adam.  We are born guilty of Adam’s sin in Eden, and must be purged from sin by Spiritual regeneration.

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)

You and I do not become sinners when we commit our first sin.  We commit our first sin because we are natural born sinners; born of woman with a naturally sinful human nature.  All mankind born in Adam’s image, fallen from God’s grace by disobedience in Eden’s Garden – are natural born sinners; born with a nature that is totally biased towards sinning.

The apostle Paul put it this way: “For I know that in me (that is in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me (I would like to always do good); but how to perform that which is good I find not (I have no power over sin).  For the good that I would (do) I do not: but the evil which I would not (do), that I do.  Now if I do that I would not (do), it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”  (Romans 7:18-20)

Paul’s old nature, which still lives within him after he has been born again and given a new Spiritual nature within – is still very prone to sin, because he was born naturally of woman with a naturally sin-prone nature.  He was not Created of God, but born of sinful parents, with a body, a soul, and a DEAD spirit.  That is why we, also, must be ‘born again’ of God’s Spirit.  The genuine Spiritually regenerate Christian has now two natures – the old and the new.  That is why there is a continual Spiritual battle raging within each of us daily.

“And you hath He quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit that now worketh disobedience…even when we were DEAD in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)” (Ephesians 2:1-6)

God’s Remedy for Sin: To redeem Adam and Eve from their disobedient sin, the Lord God decreed His way of Salvation: there had to be an acceptable sacrifice – the innocent for the guilty, and the innocent’s blood had to be shed to cover the sin of the guilty party.

The first deaths in all Creation took place when God slew innocent animals to make clothes to cover Adam and Eve – after they had sinned against Him.  This signified God’s way of redemption for time and Eternity – and pointed the way, prophetically, to the Sacrifice of the pure and Holy Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, Whose sinless Blood would be shed on the Cross, the innocent for the guilty; the just for the unjust; the sinless for the sinful – that we might be redeemed from our sins and be reconciled, sinful mankind with a Holy Lord God.

“Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21) The first mention of the shedding of innocent blood to atone for sin, marking out clearly, God’s way of redemption and Eternal Salvation, in the Blood of Christ, His Son.

“Neither is there Salvation in any other: for there is none other name under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  (Acts 4:12)  “Jesus saith unto him (Thomas), I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”        (John 14:6)

Adam, no doubt, taught his sons Cain and Abel God’s way of making a sacrifice for their sins.  Abel obeyed God’s way of redemption and he “…brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.  And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.” (Gen. 4:4)

But, “…Cain brought of the fruit of the ground (which the Lord God had cursed because of sin) an offering unto the Lord…but unto Cain and his offering He had not respect…” (Genesis 4:5) The Lord did not respect/accept Cain’s offering because no blood was shed.

“…and without shedding of blood is no remission (of sins).”  (Hebrews 9:19-22)

Thought: You and I are God’s ‘…congregation which Thou hast purchased of old; the rod of Thine inheritance, which Thou hast redeemed;’ – purchased by the Blood of Christ Jesus.  That is why, in our fervent daily prayers, we must always seek to plead the Blood of Christ, doing so gives us Spiritual power with God and against all enemies, Spiritual and temporal.  “…Nothing but the Blood of Jesus…”  Hallelujah!