Psalms chapter seventy-four begins with the heading, “[[Maschil of Asaph.]]” which breaks down, “Maschil” or “a poem or song of contemplation” “of Asaph” which means “belonging to Asaph whose name means gatherer and was a son of Berechiah, chief Levite musician under David”, and in chapter seventy-four and verse one of Psalms Asaph asked, “O God, why have you cast us off for ever?” where we read,
O God, why have you cast us off for ever?
why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
The verse begins, “O God, why have you cast us off for ever?” Asaph began with the words, “O God” or “O Divine judge, ruler and Supreme God”, “why have you cast us off” which means “for what reason and cause have you, Divine judge, forcefully rejected, caused to stink and become odious to us, Asaph and his people” “for ever” or “unto perpetuity, enduringly, continually and in everlastingness”? Asaph wondered why the Divine judge Jehovah God had abandoned and rejected him and the people of his nation.
The verse goes on to say, “why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?” Asaph continued with the words, “why does your anger smoke” or “for what reason and cause does your, Jehovah God's, wrath and fury fume” “against the sheep” which means “in opposition to the small cattle such as sheep or goats” “of your pasture” or “belonging to your, Jehovah God's, grassland, forage or grazing land”? Asaph questioned the reason that the furious wrath of Jehovah God was set against his people who were like grazing cattle.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Asaph not only asked for the reason Jehovah God abandoned His people, but he also wanted to know the cause for which Jehovah God was so angry with them. This, of course, was Asaph's perspective, but God actually knew everything about His people. Although we may feel abandoned at times, Jehovah God is always aware of what is happening in our lives. God loves people, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to be crucified for the sins of all mankind. He is not angry with us, and when we yield our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and help us understand God's true sentiment and behavior toward His people.
Next time Asaph says, “Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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