Psalm 74:1-2 “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?”

Psa 74:1 Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
Psa 74:2 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.

The question on the hearts of those who have the Lord working within them in this age is one that asks “O God, how long shall the adversary reproach?” as verse 10 expresses it, or as it is expressed in the first verse “why hast thou cast us off for ever?” This is absolutely how we feel when the enemy is being allowed to reproach us, an enemy who God is going to eventually cut off^H2186.

Cast off^H2186
– Original: זu1504 חpar – Transliteration: Zanach
– Phonetic: zaw-nakh’
– Definition:
1. to cast off, reject, spurn
a. (Qal) to reject
b. (Hiphil) to forcefully reject someone
2. to stink, emit stench, become odious a. (Hiphil) stink (perfect)
– Origin: a primitive root meaning to push aside
– TWOT entry: 564
– Part(s) of speech: Verb

Here are two verses along with our opening verse which use this Strong’s number translated cast off^H2186, and these three should immediately comfort us as we see that God knows about these adversaries which He is allowing to pursue us, and he knows how to cut them off in their appointed time.

Zec 10:6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off^H2186: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them.

Lam 3:30 He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach H2781.
Lam 3:31 For the Lord will not cast off^H2186 for ever:

Reproach^H2781

– Original: חu1512 פu1468 הpar – Transliteration: Cherpah
– Phonetic: kher-paw’
– Definition:
1. reproach, scorn
a. taunt, scorn (upon enemy)
b. reproach (resting upon condition of shame, disgrace) c. a reproach (an object)
– Origin: from H2778
– TWOT entry: 749a
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Feminine
– Strong’s: From H2778; contumely disgrace the pudenda: – rebuke reproach (-fully) shame.

We will no doubt feel this reproach^H2781 as we are rejected of the world within and without and are called to endure this rejection as Christ did (Mat 23:13, Mat 10:22, 1Jn 4:17). Our Lord enables us to eventually rejoice (Php 4:13) and endure through this rejection as we fill up what is behind of his afflictions within our flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church (1Pe 4:1, Col 1:24).

This thought of destroying the flesh or ripping the veil and filling up what is behind of Christ’s afflictions is nicely paralleled in these verses in Isaiah which speak of how God will take away the rebuke^H2781 or disgrace that we feel and show us how God always sets the stage within the natural world of all men, Israel, Peter and ourselves included to show us that we are beasts being saved (Ecc 3:19, Ecc 1:13) through Christ.

Isa 25:6 And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
Isa 25:7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke^H2781 of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

The good news is that Christ won’t deny himself and will not lose any that were intended to heed the admonition in this age.

Mar 14:30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.

2Ti 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

That enemy that pursues us is primarily within us and the enemy without is the sword that God uses to chasten the enemy within us bringing us into subjection unto His will which is to save all men (1Co 15:52). These reproaches that God allows to come against us are used in perfecting us, establishing us, strengthening us and settling us through this life long process of being pursued by Saul as king David was, which is a type and shadow of the inward battle that is ongoing in our heavens with the spirit against the flesh (1Pe 5:10, Gal 5:17)

Psa 17:13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

2Co 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

1Co 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

1Sa 23:25 Saul also and his men went to seek him. And they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon. And when Saul heard that, he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon.
1Sa 23:26 And Saul went on this side of the mountain, and David and his men on that side of the mountain: and David made haste to get away for fear of Saul; for Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about to take them.

The question “how long shall the adversary reproach?” is going to be looked at along with what that reproach entails right with the first words of this Psalm “Maschil^H4905 of Asaph.^H623” as the Lord reminds us that it is through ‘instruction‘ (Pro 10:17) that is gathered as we go through a process of judgment that we are brought unto maturity in the Lord.

Pro 10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

– Strong’s: From H7919; instructive that is a didactic poem: – Maschil.
– Strong’s: From H622; collector;
Asaph the name of three Israelites and of the family of the first: – Asaph.

We must endure through this process and help one another along the road of many
tribulations knowing that this is accomplished through the comfirmation^G1991 or strengthening that we bring to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ spoken of in (Act 14:22).

Confirming^G1991
– Original: εu787 πu953 σu964 ηu961 ιu769 ζu969
– Transliteration: Episterizo
– Phonetic: ep-ee-stay-rid’-zo
– Definition:
1. to establish besides, strengthen more 2. to render more firm, confirm
– Origin: from G1909 and G4741
– TDNT entry: 17:53,1
– Part(s) of speech: Verb
– Strong’s: From G1909 and G4741; to support further that is reestablish: – confirm strengthen.
Total KJV Occurrences: 4
•confirmed, 1 Act_15:32
•confirming, 2 Act_14:22; Act_15:41
•strengthening, 1 Act_18:23

This strengthening and confirming is what we must do over and over if we are going to be able to endure until the end (Heb 10:25, Mat 24:13) trusting that even though the escape will feel narrow that the Lord has set before Christ’s body, it is nevertheless promised to happen to His glory and praise (1Pe 4:18, 1Co 3:15).

In light of all that we have discussed so far let’s look at what God’s word says in regard to why he has anger toward the sheep of his pasture, and how we all must go through this season of feeling God’s wrath upon our first man Adam and come to see our powerlessness over sin and our natural tendency to defile the temple of God until Christ gives us victory and begins the life long enduring to the end cleansing process that we are called unto (Joh 2:15, 1Jn 3:3, Col 1:27).

God allows this struggle to teach us of His sovereignty over the light and darkness (Isa 45:7) a light that comes out of the dark clay that everyone is in Adam. It is just the most perplexing thing for our minds to understand that God would actually allow us to sin and be marred in the Potter’s hand, so perplexing in fact that we dare even ask God why have you made me this way when we are yet contending with our Creator, to which He replies:

Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

Hopefully by the end of our Psalm we will be more reassured of how blessed we are to be judged of this marred condition in this age (1Pe 4:17), and how it is worth every trial and reproach that we must endure in order to be formed into the new creation that God is himself forming as the Master Potter (Rom 8:18). Somewhere along this process if we are to live by every word in this age we must understand that in order to become that new vessel of honour we must endure “with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” within us in this age.

Psa 74:1 Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

The word ‘forever’^H5331 here is more akin to the word ‘always’ or ‘constantly’; and without our understanding that God is putting off our sinful flesh we may question Him in this manner “why hast thou cast us off for ever?”, but God willing, we see that out of this ‘constant’ dying daily process, a new creation is being formed, by the [chastening] grace and faith that He affords the elect in this age (Eph 2:8, Heb 12:6).

If God’s anger does not smoke toward us, then we are yet bastards and no sons being received in this age via chastening and scourging, but if sons and daugthers then we must endure through His judgment today (Heb 12:8, 2Co 6:17-18).

Why doth thine anger^H639 smoke^H6225 against the sheep^H6629 of thy pasture^H4830? Looking at the other verse (Deu 29:20) that uses both these Strong’s numbers together gives us a clue:

That ‘pasture’ is where we ‘feed’… We first feed here:

Hos 13:6: According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

So we understand these words too:

Deu 29:20 The LORD will not spare him… [Who is him???]

[“him” = Deu_29:25: “…Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD God…]
and “him” = Deu 29:18: “…man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God…”]

Deu 29:20 cont’d] …but then the anger^H639 of the LORD and his jealousy shall smokeH6225 against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book shall lie upon him, and the LORD shall blot out his name from under heaven.

In Deu 29:29 [we read] The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

These things which we just read belong unto us, understanding “why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?” We are ‘they’, ‘him’, ‘the sheep’, ‘thy congregation to whom this is being revealed. The answer to this question is also clearly explained in Isa 53:1-4 if we see ourselves lifted up with Christ on the cross today, being given to mortify the deeds of our flesh so that all men can be drawn unto us, unto the saviours who will come up on mount Zion (Oba 1:21).


Isa 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Joh 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
Joh 12:33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Joh 12:34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
Joh 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Joh 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:
Joh 12:38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed?

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

And again to reiterate the word according found in the verse we’ve already mentioned to make this point very clear we read:

Hos 13:6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

Psa 74:2 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.

In the introduction tonight I made note:

That enemy that pursues us is primarily within us and the enemy without is the sword that God uses to chasten the enemy within us bringing us into subjection unto His will which is to save all men (1Co 15:52).

Clearly, “the rod of thine inheritance” is that sword of Isa 10:5, and the following verses help us understand that we, like our Father and Christ, purchase that sword by counting the cost. God the Father counted the cost of His son’s life and declared that it pleased him to bruise him (Isa 53:10, Act 4:27-28), and we are Christ’s body and must needs count that cost as well and recognize that our inheritance is tied into this reality of being purchased for a price.

1Co 6:20 and having to endure the stripes that the rod or word of God will inflict upon us (2Ti 2:12).
Job 9:34 where we start when we don’t see the need for correction.
Job 37:13 correction=rod
Lev 27:32
Isa 11:4
Eze 20:37
Mic 7:14

This verse 2 of our study clearly shows us that the elect are Christ’s inheritance (“the rod of thine inheritance”) who are first judged to be redeemed, that are also called “this mount Zion”, leaving no doubt who He is talking about (Oba 1:21).

The word rod is defined as a ‘rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe’ and also points to why the elect or Aaron and his sons in type and shadow are the Israel of God and what our function will be as the tribe of His inheritance (Num 18:20-24, Heb 13:10, Eph 1:18, Col 1:12)

Num 18:20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
Num 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 18:22 Neither must the children of Israel henceforth come nigh the tabernacle of the congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
Num 18:23 But the Levites shall do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations, that among the children of Israel they have no inheritance.
Num 18:24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as an heave offering unto the LORD, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Heb 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

1Co 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

rod^H7626
– Original: שu1473 בu1496 – Transliteration: Shebet
– Phonetic: shay’-bet
– Definition:
1. rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe

a. rod, staff
b. shaft (of spear, dart)
c. club (of shepherd’s implement)
d. truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority)
e. clan, tribe

– Origin: from an unused root probably meaning to branch off – TWOT entry: 2314a
– Part(s) of speech: Noun Masculine
– Strong’s: From an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion that is (literally) a stick (for punishing writing fighting ruling walking etc.) or (figuratively) a clan: – X correction dart rod sceptre staff tribe.