00:00:00.000 - 00:00:27.000

[ Silence ] [Music] [Music] ♪ Take away my pain ♪

00:00:27.000 - 00:00:56.720

♪ I was lost ♪ ♪ But now I'm found ♪ ♪ I won't cry ♪ ♪ For the pain I see ♪

00:00:56.720 - 00:01:27.820

♪ We are saved ♪ ♪ (dramatic music) ♪ I love you, my love ♪ ♪ I love you, my love ♪

00:01:27.820 - 00:01:53.160

♪ I'll be there ♪ ♪ In your arms ♪ ♪ For God's eye is ♪ ♪ And truth's voice ♪

00:01:53.160 - 00:02:41.540

♪ Are raised ♪ ♪ To you ♪ As we continue our consideration of the book of Psalms, our sermon series based on this particular book, we come today to Psalm number 74, the focal scripture, the 10th through

00:02:41.540 - 00:03:19.000

the 12th verses. How long, O God, is the foal to scoff? the enemy to revile thy name forever? Why dost thou hold back thy hand? Why dost thou keep thy right hand in thy bosom.

00:03:19.000 - 00:04:01.460

Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. The subject of the message, "Why doesn't God do something?" Why doesn't God do something? Amid the tragic circumstances of human existence, when evil triumphs over good and the innocent

00:04:01.460 - 00:04:28.580

suffer cries made in the form of a question. Why doesn't God do something? This is the plea of the lonely heart. It is the lament of the destitute and forsaken.

00:04:28.580 - 00:05:00.420

It is the plea of those who are wounded by the cruel clutch of circumstance. Why doesn't God do something? This is the cry of the oppressed peoples of the world. It is the lament of innocent and malnourished children

00:05:00.420 - 00:05:25.140

whose stomachs are bloated from starvation. It's the cry of innocent victims of terrorism. Why doesn't God do something? It's the cry of those in intense bodily and mental pain

00:05:25.140 - 00:06:14.060

mental pain. Why doesn't God do something? This is the plea of the psalmist who's responsible for the words that are recorded in Psalm 74. This hymn is the lament of the lonely. "Oh "Why hast thou cast us off forever?" he says. Events occur in such a manner that the fateful feel deserted, left to go it alone. It's a time in the life of the psalmist when he is hounded

00:06:14.060 - 00:07:06.880

and confounded by the absence of God. God does not seem to demonstrate his power in the presence of his people. Sometimes we wait and wait and wait for God to act and nothing seems to happen. And we ask the question, why doesn't God do something? Will he leave us alone forever? Things are in disarray. God must be angry. He has permitted the enemy to

00:07:06.880 - 00:07:40.900

Israel, His chosen people are humiliated, the temple is destroyed, the ruins may still be seen. How terrible Mount Zion, God's dwelling place in perpetual ruins. How did this this happen? In fact, Israel you see is defeated by the enemy and this is

00:07:40.900 - 00:08:17.780

considered a sign of God having forsaken his people because many said that the fact that Israel has been defeated is a sign that the God of the enemy is stronger than the God of Israel. If this is the case, why? Why doesn't God come back and fight again? Why doesn't he do something? On the other hand, there are

00:08:17.780 - 00:08:48.940

those who say that this has happened because of Israel's sin, that God is punishing his people. They say God is angry and that's why he has permitted Israel's defeat and humiliation that these are signs of God's wrath. If that is the case then how long will God hold his anger? Why does God's anger smoke

00:08:48.940 - 00:09:19.920

against the sheep of his own pasture? Why doesn't God put an end to this trouble? Why doesn't God do something? Well first of all, this is a prayer for the present. The petition you see is a plea for God to act now in the living present. There has been a waiting period. The expectation was that God would certainly

00:09:19.920 - 00:09:51.040

have acted before now. The psalmist knows what God can do because he has acted on many occasions in the past. The record is clear concerning what God has done but why doesn't God do something now? When we face tough times we would like for them to hurry up and be over. The sacred is profaned, the temple is in perpetual

00:09:51.040 - 00:10:21.500

ruins, and that is to say it's going to stay that way, the temple in perpetual ruins and nothing will be done about it. Why is it that Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, batters down the walls of Jerusalem, conquers the holy city, leaves the temple in smoke, destroys everything in the sanctuary, nothing is

00:10:21.500 - 00:11:01.400

holy. How can the King of Babylon do such things and get away with it? Why doesn't God do something. Well the psalmist describes what has happened the temple the upper entrance they have hacked the wooden trellis with axes the carved wood there that beautiful carved wood that decorated the Holy Temple has been

00:11:01.400 - 00:11:37.420

destroyed. The sanctuary has been burned. The sanctuary, that holy place is burned and the signs of Israel, those signs that Israel had about the temple, signs of the presence of God, the God of Israel, those signs have been removed and they have been replaced by the signs of the enemy. The holy is desecrated, that which is

00:11:37.420 - 00:12:12.040

profane is elevated, the enemy scoffs, they laugh at those who claim to be devout temple worshippers and faithful followers of the upward way, why doesn't God do something? The psalmist speaks for all the people of God in all periods of history in expressing the bewilderment, frustration of mind, and burden of the

00:12:12.040 - 00:12:49.080

heart. Haven't we suffered enough? Haven't we been persecuted enough? Haven't we been humiliated enough? Why doesn't God do something? The truth has been replaced with falsehood, wrong is exalted over right, why doesn't God do something? You see Israel thought that she could protect herself by forming alliances

00:12:49.080 - 00:13:24.920

with the ungodly, but their altars are left smoking and the shrines desecrated. You see, when the lamb lies down with the lions of this world, the lamb ends up in the stomach of the lions of this world. And this crisis occurs because the people think that they can take care of God's own

00:13:24.920 - 00:13:46.180

interests. The people think that they can help God out. think that they can take care of his church. You know there are people who think that God needs them to protect his church. And they go out and they try to set things right. And

00:13:46.180 - 00:14:08.800

they destroy the church trying to have their way in the church. We call them church fighters. They claim to be fighting for God. They try to destroy the church in the name of righteousness. This is what's happening.

00:14:08.800 - 00:14:27.100

Nebuchadnezzar comes in and he destroys the temple, leaves it smoking. The ruins are there. And one could well ask the question, why does God let this happen? Why does God let this happen to his holy place, his dwelling place?

00:14:27.100 - 00:14:45.740

Why does God let this happen? And you see people in the church who raise all kinds of hell and you wonder why in the world God left it happen Good righteous people wonder how in the world does God let this happen in his holy place Why doesn't God do something

00:14:45.740 - 00:15:01.060

And Titus and Tarkus Epiphanies Took over the land He conquered

00:15:01.060 - 00:15:15.180

Israel and he Took his forces After having completely subdued the people and he went into the holy of holies

00:15:15.180 - 00:15:33.540

and on the altar Sacrificed a pig That's the greatest abomination that could happen in the Holy of Holies. People who were so holy that they did not even have anything to do with pork. He takes a pig

00:15:33.540 - 00:15:52.620

in order to insult the people and to insult God. Sacrifices a pig on the Holy of Holies. That place where only the high priest went just once a year. But Antiochus Epiphanes goes in and There upon that holy altar sacrifices appear

00:15:52.620 - 00:16:10.460

Profane the holy and so the question is asked why doesn't God do something? Why does God let this happen? And that didn't just happen in a long ago it happens in our own age We have seen in our own time. We have seen churches burned and

00:16:10.460 - 00:16:44.140

Synagogues as well as churches have been bombed and little children waiting in the church for Sunday school have had their lives destroyed because churches have been bombed. One may ask the question why doesn't God do something? What's God doing? Why doesn't he do something? You know this is a plea for vengeance, a plea for vengeance. Psalmist goes on to say

00:16:44.140 - 00:17:22.700

How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile thy name forever? Why do you hold back your hand? Why do you keep your right hand in your bosom? Dear God, we talk about the hand of God being at work fighting our battle? And the psalmist said, "Well, it looks like, Lord, you got your hand in your bosom. You ought to have it out

00:17:22.700 - 00:17:51.020

fighting. Why do you have your hand in your bosom? Why don't you do something?" You know, this is a very understandable plea, a human cry for vengeance. Somebody's done something awful to us, we certainly want to get them back. We, "God, why don't you do something?

00:17:51.020 - 00:18:06.540

You know the rules, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Get even with Stephen." We understand that. When I was a child, we put it a different way, you know.

00:18:06.540 - 00:18:42.040

hit me I hit you but don't ever take the last lick. Be sure you don't take the last lick. Why doesn't God do something? You know the enemy is wrong Lord. Don't let him get away. Give the enemy that just desserts. Vengeance, vengeance. Take of me. We want to execute vengeance, retaliation. You know we have a way of

00:18:42.040 - 00:19:11.320

trying to put human hate into the heart of God, but we need to be reminded that we are not managers of God's vengeance. If we had our way we would have God knocking down all our enemies, burning them up, doing all those sort of things. If we had our way, Lord you go ahead and you take care of him. But our vengeance

00:19:11.320 - 00:19:38.560

is not God's vengeance and thank God for that. I know you see somebody many times inside the church doing everything they can to destroy the church and look like their health is better than than somebody who's doing everything they can to sustain the church and you wonder what is God doing? Why doesn't God do

00:19:38.560 - 00:20:01.540

something? I can remember a brother who was always out doing something and I suggested let's go visit the sick and all, Reverend you all can go visit the sick but I'm not going and of that group of us that went visiting the sick the Lord let him live long and all the others and he stayed sick long with all the others.

00:20:01.540 - 00:20:23.120

He stayed sick for years. Sometimes the Lord in his own compassion, he has a way of administering his compassion and it's his own way of ministering that compassion. It's his and we can't tell him how to distribute his compassion. It's not like our compassion.

00:20:23.120 - 00:20:35.440

The Lord is long-suffering. He cried out in his word, "Vengeance is mine. I will repay. I am God.

00:20:35.440 - 00:20:46.040

I will repay." So if God wants to show vengeance, that's his to manage it, then he'll manage it the way he wants to manage it.

00:20:46.920 - 00:21:12.840

You see, God in the third place is still in the process of saving. There is a process of salvation that's in God's hand. He's in the process of delivering his people. God has not lost his power of concern.

00:21:12.840 - 00:21:30.240

And just because the temple is destroyed does not mean that God is not God. Sure, sure, we love the beautiful building with its stained windows and with its cushioned pews. Oh, that's wonderful.

00:21:30.240 - 00:21:57.280

But if all of this is destroyed, God is still God. He doesn't need this building in order to be God. see religious institutions are perishable. At best they are feeble expressions of our humanity and God doesn't need the temple in Jerusalem in

00:21:57.280 - 00:22:28.240

order to be God. Go there today and you can see what's left of just the ruins of the temple, Solomon's temple. Just the wall is left there, the wailing wall and godly people, Jews and others from all over the world go there and just see the wall that's left, just a wall. But you see God doesn't need the temple to remain, that structure to remain in order to be God.

00:22:28.240 - 00:23:01.640

Destroy the temple, abolish the holy altars, destroy the beautiful woodwork, break down the glass stained windows, desecrate the holy if you please, but God is still God. He's still God and He's still on His throne. He may just fold His arms and look at us many times with all of our devil men and be quiet but he's still God and the cry of

00:23:01.640 - 00:23:33.920

the innocent will go up. Why doesn't God do something? Lord how long will you put up with this? How long will you permit the enemy to scoff? How long will you let your name be taken in derision. You let that last forever? Then the psalmist comes back with a ringing affirmation. He said, "Yet God my King is from of old, working

00:23:33.920 - 00:24:10.400

salvation in the midst of the earth." That's the wonderful thing about the because you have a lament, you have a cry, and then following that petition that you have in that lament you have praise. Cry it out to God and then in the end he says, "Well, no matter what happens I'll praise you because you're my king. I don't understand how you're working it out, but I know that you are king. You're Lord of Lords and

00:24:10.400 - 00:24:38.600

King of Kings. I know you have everything in your hand. And he goes on to say, I know what you have done Lord. I know what you have done. You're creator. You created the world, the heavens and the earth. I know what you have done. I know how you scooped up the mountains and how you made the I know what you have done. I know you're the creator. I know what you have done. I

00:24:38.600 - 00:25:11.740

don't understand what you're doing now. Seems that you're silent. Seems like you're absent from the scene, but I know what you will do. I know that you will win the battle. I know that you're king. I know that though the heathen rage and though the waters roar and other mountains are carried into the midst of the sea, I know that you are still God, and besides you there is none other.

00:25:11.740 - 00:25:38.960

I know you're King. That's a wonderful thing, that's an affirmation we ought to be able to make in the midst of all of our bewilderment, midst of all of our confusions, in the midst of all of our frustration, to be able to say yes Lord I know you're King because you're King in my life. I'm gonna stay with the Lord. I'm gonna hold on to your hand. I'm gonna be guided by your

00:25:38.960 - 00:26:01.360

spirit. I'm not gonna worry about how you do it. I'm just gonna leave it in your hands. That's my King. Is there anyone who can help us? One who understands our hearts. For the sounds of life have pierced them

00:26:01.360 - 00:26:15.360

till they bleed. One who sympathizes with us, one who's loved and loved and loved and loved. And just as one, only one,

00:26:15.360 - 00:26:38.360

is blessed, blessed alone. He's one. [ Music ] [MUSIC]

00:26:38.360 - 00:26:56.360

♪ Where the heart of Christ ♪ ♪ The bitter field may be ♪ ♪ One who shall the wisest of hosts ♪ ♪ One who wonders how in love ♪

00:26:56.360 - 00:27:21.060

♪ Drugs from every, every fancy can be made ♪ ♪ As the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ The past and present ♪ ♪ Keep us in the now ♪

00:27:21.060 - 00:27:43.200

♪ May affection rest us all ♪ ♪ With days of joyful glow ♪ ♪ God, you made a way to help you meet the goal ♪ ♪ With a ribbon in the bosom ♪

00:27:43.200 - 00:27:59.980

♪ With a heart that's so hard to crack ♪ ♪ And we played our part ♪ ♪ We gave it a little love ♪ ♪ For each day that is filled with works ♪

00:27:59.980 - 00:28:20.900

♪ And of every kind of share ♪ ♪ And so prosper the year that has begun ♪ ♪ Let it go on ♪ ♪ Let it go on ♪

00:28:20.900 - 00:28:41.880

♪ The past and present is our little world ♪ ♪ Where the vision of Christ was shown ♪ ♪ Where grace was shown ♪ ♪ And beauty, our great new value is our own ♪

00:28:41.880 - 00:29:00.440

♪ Faithful one ♪ [ Music ] [BLANK_AUDIO]