Arise, God. Defend Your Cause
Psalm 74:20-22
20 Remember your covenant promises,
for the land is full of darkness and violence!
21 Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again.
Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Arise, O God, and defend your cause.
Remember how these fools insult you all day long.
Times have changed.
God’s people in America are beginning to feel the oppression that millions of Christians in other countries have endured for years, even centuries. Worry, fear, anger, frustration, sorrow – these and many more emotions have surfaced. Understandably so.
Asaph, the writer, feels many of the same emotions and expresses his thoughts to God out loud. Today, more than ever, we can relate to some his frustration and confusion.
1O God, why have you rejected us so long?
3 …the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.
4 There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries;
there they set up their battle standards.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground.
They defiled the place that bears your name.
8 Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!”
So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.
9 We no longer see your miraculous signs.
All the prophets are gone,
and no one can tell us when it will end.
These things are happening right now in the Western world, “and no one can tell us when it will end.”
Who are we most concerned about?
Up to this point, it seems that Asaph is distraught because of the suffering it is causing him and the people of God. But listen to his next line:
10 How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you?
Will you let them dishonor your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your strong right hand?
Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.
Asaph is not thinking about himself, but about God’s name! “Why aren’t you defending yourself?” he wonders. Then in verses 12-17 he lists off miracles and mighty deeds God has performed in the past that reveal his power and supremacy over all. He knows that God is able. Why isn’t he acting now?
18 See how these enemies insult you, Lord.
A foolish nation has dishonored your name.
Why God tolerates the blatant attacks on his name and reputation at certain times, yet intervenes at others is difficult to understand. We do know that God does not strive with man forever and that justice will be delivered on his pre-determined timetable. In the meantime, there is a cause that he always defends. It is written throughout scripture and is reiterated here.
Defend the same cause God defends.
21 Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again.
Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.
What does it mean to defend? To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack. It means to guard; to watch over in order to keep safe.
Who do you know who is downtrodden? Downtrodden are the oppressed or crushed. The broken. Who is feeling broken by all of this violence, hatred, insecurity, loss? Defend them. By doing so, you are taking up God’s cause.
Who do you know who has been hit especially hard because they were already poor? Defend them. God has a special place in his heart for the poor.
Who do you know who is needy emotionally, physically, or spiritually? Defend them. By caring for the needy, you demonstrate the love of God to them more than words can accomplish alone.
Can we see miracles again?
Perhaps God does not intervene and save his great name from being insulted because he wants us to be his messengers first, before he comes to brings judgement. By defending the downtrodden, poor and needy, are we not defending God’s name at the same? Are we not “the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” [Isaiah 52:7]
There are so many things that are beyond our understanding and control at this time in our country. But taking up the cause of God – caring for the oppressed, poor, and needy – is not one of them. If we truly want to feel the heart of God in the midst of total chaos, defend the same cause that he always has and always will. Perhaps we will even see those miracles again, and become the very instrument through which God will perform them!
5 WORDS to meditate on today: Arise, God. Defend Your Cause.