The King of Old
Bible Study Questions 10201
PASSAGE: Psalm 74:1-23
COMMENT: This psalm has three sections. First (v.1-11), the psalmist describes the destruction of the temple and cries for God’s deliverance. Second (v.12-17), he expounds on the greatness of God as the “King of old.” Third (v.18-23), he calls on God to remember the evils that have been done to God and His people.
WHAT DOES IT SAY?
1. Israel is referred to as the _______ of God’s inheritance who God has ___________.
2. The wicked have __________ by casting down the dwelling place or God’s _________ to the ground.
3. God has broken the heads of ______________ in pieces.
4. The psalmist pleads for the Lord not to deliver the soul of his ________________ to the multitude of the wicked.
5. The _________ places of the earth are full of the habitations of _____________.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
1. When the wicked defiled the congregations of God, “they set up their ensigns for signs” (v.4). Ensigns usually refer to banners; often the banners armies follow into battle. What do you think it means that the enemies of Israel replaced their signs with ensigns?
2. Most Bible scholars teach that the Jewish people did not develop synagogues until after the completion of the Old Testament. Yet this passage states that “they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land” (v.8). The question is, Did groups of Jews who were too far from Jerusalem for frequent visits regularly meet for times of prayer and instruction? Carefully read 2Kings 4:23, Ezekiel 33:31 and Acts 15:21. See if you can build a case for Old Testament synagogues.
3. The psalmist tells the Lord, “thou hast prepared the light and the sun” (v.16). What is the difference between the light and the sun? How does this distinction compare with the days of the creation week in the first chapter of Genesis?
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ME?
1. After the psalmist spends eleven verses describing the defilement of Israel and bemoans the lack of deliverance from the Lord, he suddenly switches emphasis in verse twelve. He takes six verses praising God for His mighty works in the past. He describes God as “my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth” (v.12). Why do you think he does this? How can we apply this principle to our own relationship with God?
2. As one of his final arguments for deliverance, the psalmist declares, “Arise, O God, plead thine own cause” (v.22). Is there a way for us to put this approach into practice in our own prayer life? Why is this a good approach?
SUGGESTED MEMORY VERSES: Psalm 74:12, 16, 22
TEXT: Psalm 74:1 O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
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.
3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
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