Seeing Jesus in Psalm 74

Psalm 74

Asaph in Psalm 74 reminded me of Moses in Exodus 32:9-14

Have you noticed that David, Asaph and others in the Bible talk to God as if He was unaware or not up-to-date? Have you noticed that sometimes a person in the bible is trying to convince God to act because they were afraid God wasn’t going to be seen by the people in the world accurately? In Exodus 32 Moses pleads with God to take a different course of action than the one God has revealed. And God responds by acting as Moses suggested, not as God had told Moses He would.

I think these people show us a level of love and concern for God that stands out even above their own well being, even above their own reputation. Moses, Asaph or David seem to have understood the character and plan of God so well that they want to protect the “image” of God. They want God to look good, they want the people to know the power, and goodness of God and to not misconstrue the current circumstances as bad publicity against the true character and plan of God. They are not asking for God simply to meet their needs, they are thinking of a much bigger picture. They are concerned for the reputation of God.
Sometimes I imagine myself as able to step outside the world, outside of my life, outside of my circumstances and to view a situation as an observer of "the world versus God." And I imagine as a spectator of such an event I am cheering for God. I take offence at the world using dirty tactics against God, I get angry when the world lies about God, I think that they’ll see, they ultimately get what they deserve when they sucker punch God. I am on team God, and I think if anyone is not wholeheartedly on team God, then they are an enemy and not to be trusted. They will steal the glory rightly deserved by God. And so if God takes it on the chin, or doesn’t protest to the referee when God sees an obvious foul against Him or a cheater taking advantage of Him, I'm really upset. I don’t want team God to get an unfair deal.
I think Asaph is cheering for team God in Psalm 74. So now the really difficult question, Does Jesus do that too?
I think Jesus does play that role too. Here are a few examples:

“we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father.” 

1 John 2:1-2

“He (Jesus)  is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”

Romans 8:34

“…He (Jesus) lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

Hebrews 7:24-25

Did you catch the switch here? Jesus (God/Man) is on team Man! Moses, David, Asaph are men who rally to Team God. Jesus rallies God to team Man.

Do you doubt me? I sometimes doubt myself in this observation and then I’m taken back by this coming up in my memory somehow as if I heard it with my own ears on that day:

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

Luke 23:34

If you have done your homework (William and dear reader) and you have read Psalm 74 carefully, you’ll see what appears to be a mix of motives. For Team Asaph and the suffering Israelites and Team God and God’s reputation. I wonder if I can hear that same mix in Jesus' prayer in John 11 when preparing to raise Lazarus from the dead. Before I quote that maybe you remember that Jesus wept in John 11:35. I and others will have reminded us all that Jesus cared and showed emotion, pointing to John 11:35. Don’t we all often go to the emotional appeal when we deeply care? Today I noticed as I was rereading John 11 that just before Jesus’ prayer it is clear Jesus is angry. I wonder if I have failed to bring enough attention to this anger, because it is a sign of Jesus struggling. It is not sin to have such a struggle. There is an epic struggle in the war against sin/wicked/evil/selfishness/ungodliness.

“Father, thank you for hearing me.”

“You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.”

John 11:41-42

It is in Jesus' prayer that I hear Jesus, the God/Man/mediator/advocate, bringing the needs of Team God and the needs of Team Man together in the same passionate prayer and plan of action.

Here are the places I see Asaph acting like Jesus in Psalm 74:

MAIN POINT: When we appeal to God for His cause on behalf of His people we are being like Jesus.

1. We can talk to God about how we feel about what we think He is doing. v.1
2. We can appeal to God on the basis of what we understand of His revealed plan. v.2, 18-21
3. We can empathise with God when we notice the offences made against God. vv.3-8
4. We can ask God to defend His own honour. vv.9-11
5. We can be confident as we rehearse before God His past greatness. (It builds faith) vv.12-17

I have pointed out a few places where Jesus does the above. Maybe you see it differently. Maybe you remember other instances where Jesus teaches or demonstrates the appeal to God’s promise. Please share those with me or others or with God in your prayers. I’m sure it will help.

I’ll not take the time now to do it but I think it would be instructive to compare Psalm 74 and Jesus' prayer in John 17.