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Psalm 74:1b "Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?"

Day 31 – Psalm 74

“Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?” Psalm 74:1b

RAISING QUESTIONS IN PRAYER

There will be times when perplexing questions will arise. These may arise from painfully difficult circumstances. How do we resolve these issues? There are two arenas where we may raise perplexing questions:-

1. We could address our souls.

Psalms 42-43 are examples.

2. We could address these questions in prayer to God.

Psalm 74is an example.

LIFE’S PERPLEXING QUESTIONS

Psalm 74 is a contemplation of a situation that was puzzling to the psalmist. He must have tried to obtain answers on his own. Finding no satisfactory answers he raised two questions to God in prayer.

“O God, why have You cast us off forever?
Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep
of Your pasture?”
Psalm 74:1

1. How were these questions raised to God in prayer?

a) How they were not raised up.

i) They were not meant to be accusations.

ii) They were not meant to challenge God.

b) How they were raised up.

i) They were expressions of deep sorrow.

ii) They were honest questions that pleaded for an answer from God.

2. The two issues that were raised up-

a) Had God decided to cast off His people?

i) Israel must have felt that God has cast them off.

ii) There must have been a feeling of being cut off from God.

b) Why had God seemed so angry with the sheep of His pasture?

i) The anger of God was described as “smoking angerâ??.

ii) Why was God angry with His people?