The temple of God was decorated with carved palm trees and flowers, reminiscent of the garden of Eden, where God and man once walked together in perfect fellowship. Psalm 74 describes the destruction of the temple at the hands of Israel's enemies. The temple fell to their weapons like a forest of trees falls to a swinging ax (v.5). To add insult to injury, the temple was set ablaze and burnt to the ground (v.7). Yet in the midst of the destruction and despair, Psalm 74 leads the people to persevere in their hope in God: he created the earth and the stars (v.16-17), and he rules over the seas and the land (v.13, 15), over the day and the night (v.16), and over winter and summer (v.17). His power is without limit. We can hope in him. God can and will bring us salvation.
God of all comfort, as the temple burned and your people wailed, they cried out: "How long?" (v.10). This is a cry of anguish, lamenting the destruction all around them. Yet it is also a prayer of faith, trusting your promises to one day bring justice and peace and life forevermore. In the ongoing battle against the coronavirus and racial inequalities, we join this prayer, crying out: "How long? How long, O Lord, until you bring us relief?" In the midst of our own personal crises we pray: "How long? How long will financial burdens, and work concerns, and family struggles, and broken relationships, and bad habits, and sin, etc. continue to bring stress and worry, and headaches and tears into our lives?"
As all these things continue to weigh on us, O Lord, we turn our eyes to you. The burning temple helps us to see: our hope was never in a building. Our hope was always in you. An ailing world helps us to see: our hope was never merely in long life and good health. Whether we live or die, our hope is in Christ; and through him we will live again. Lord, even quicker than the temple timbers are turned to ash, we pray: let our worries disintegrate as we look to you. Though our hearts may be hurting, fill them with faith to pray: "How long?" and to continue to look to you for our salvation. Your power is beyond measure, without equal, and will be used for our good. You have saved your people by splitting a sea in two, shutting lions' mouths, calming a raging storm, and protecting your people though they walked through fire. Nothing is impossible for you. We can't always see the ways you will bring help in our times of need, but we trust you. You are the God who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). We will trust you and praise you, now and forever. Amen.
