Welcome to Day 2668 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2668 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 74:9-17– Daily Wisdom

Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script – Day 2668

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2668 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: Remembering Ancient Wonders – A Plea for Present Deliverance – A Trek Through Psalm 74:9-17

Today, we continue our poignant trek through Psalm 74 in the New Living Translation, encompassing verses 9 through 17.

In our last conversation, we plunged into the raw agony of communal lament found in Psalm 74:1-8. We experienced the profound despair of a people whose sacred Temple, the very dwelling place of God, lay in “perpetual ruins,” desecrated by enemies who “shouted their victorious battle cries” where God’s praise once resonated. We heard their desperate plea: “O God, why have you abandoned us forever?” as they wrestled with the unimaginable horror of God’s apparent absence and the systematic destruction of their places of worship. The weight of their loss and the depth of the sacrilege were palpable.

Now, as we move into this next section, the psalmist, Asaph, continues to voice their anguish, lamenting the continued mockery of the enemy and, crucially, the disheartening silence from heaven itself. But then, in a dramatic shift, he pivots to a powerful rhetorical strategy: he reminds God – and himself – of God’s awesome, unparalleled acts of cosmic power and historical deliverance in the ancient past. This becomes the foundation for his desperate plea for present intervention. It’s a profound lesson in how to appeal to God’s character and past faithfulness when facing seemingly insurmountable present crises.

So, let’s immerse ourselves in this cry for divine memory and a demonstration of power.

(Reads Psalm 74:9-11 NLT)

We see no miraculous signs. There are no prophets among us. And who can tell us how long this will last? How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to mock you? Will they insult your name forever? Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your power and destroy them.

Guthrie Chamberlain: The lament continues, but now it highlights a particularly agonizing aspect of their suffering: the spiritual silence and uncertainty. The psalmist cries: “We see no miraculous signs. There are no prophets among us. And who can tell us how long this will last?”

In ancient Israel, God often communicated His will and demonstrated His presence through “miraculous signs” (Hebrew: otot), powerful demonstrations of His intervention, like those at the Exodus. He also spoke through “prophets,” individuals who delivered direct messages from Him, offering guidance, warning, and comfort. To have no miraculous signs and no prophets was a profound crisis of spiritual guidance. It meant God seemed utterly silent, His presence hidden, and His will unknown. The most agonizing part was the unknown duration: “And who can tell us how long this will last?” This uncertainty, the lack of a clear timeline for their suffering, added immensely to their despair. It left them without hope for an end to their torment.

This spiritual desolation fuels a renewed plea against the enemy’s ongoing blasphemy: “How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to mock you? Will they insult your name forever?” The psalmist returns to the theme of God’s honor. The enemies weren’t just persecuting Israel; they were “mock[ing] God,” insulting His very “name” (His character, His reputation, His authority). For an Israelite, this was an unbearable affront. If God was truly powerful, why did He allow His name to be so openly scorned by pagan nations? The question “How long?” echoes through the Psalms, a desperate plea for an end to divine inaction and an appeal for God to uphold His own glory.

The plea for divine action becomes more direct: “Why do you hold back your strong right hand? Unleash your power and destroy them.” The “strong right hand” symbolizes God’s power, His active intervention, and His ability to execute judgment and deliverance. To “hold back” suggests God’s apparent restraint, which the psalmist finds inexplicable and agonizing in the face of such devastation and insult. He pleads with God to “unleash” His power, to release His mighty strength, and to “destroy” their tormentors. This is a fervent cry for God to rise up and vindicate His own name and His afflicted people.

This desperate lament sets the stage for a powerful shift in perspective. Unable to find answers in the present, Asaph turns to the glorious, undeniable past of God’s mighty deeds.

(Reads Psalm 74:12-17 NLT)

You, O God, are my king from ancient times, bringing salvation to the earth. You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan and fed him to the desert creatures. You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never ran dry. Both day and night belong to you; you made the moon and the sun. You set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.

Guthrie Chamberlain: In a profound turn from despair, Asaph now grounds his plea in the unchanging reality of God’s character and His historical actions: “You, O God, are my king from ancient times, bringing salvation to the earth.” He reaffirms God’s eternal sovereignty. God isn’t just a King who became so; He has been King “from ancient times,” from eternity past. And His kingship has always been about “bringing salvation” (deliverance, rescue, healing) not just to Israel, but ultimately “to the earth” – a cosmic scope. This historical and universal role of God as deliverer becomes the very argument for His present intervention. If He was King and Savior then, He is King and Savior now.

The psalmist then launches into a magnificent recital of God’s powerful acts, starting with primordial creation and cosmic victories: “You split the sea by your strength and smashed the heads of the sea monsters. You crushed the heads of Leviathan and fed him to the desert creatures.”

“You split the sea by your strength” is a direct reference to the miraculous parting of the Red Sea during the Exodus (Exodus 14), a foundational act of salvation for Israel. This was the ultimate demonstration of God’s power over the forces of nature, providing a way of escape where there was none.

The imagery of “smashed the heads of the sea monsters” and “crushed the heads of Leviathan” is drawn from ancient Near Eastern mythology, where sea monsters (like Rahab or Leviathan) often symbolized primeval chaos or hostile cosmic forces. In the biblical context, these often become metaphors for powerful, chaotic enemies or nations, particularly Egypt, which was defeated when God “split the sea.” By using this language, the psalmist emphasizes that God is the supreme sovereign over all forces of chaos and all powerful empires. He utterly defeats His enemies, reducing their power to nothing, metaphorically feeding their remains to scavengers (“desert creatures”). This is a declaration that God’s power is absolute, limitless, and capable of conquering even the most formidable adversaries.

The psalmist continues to recount God’s powerful control over water and the natural world: “You caused the springs and streams to gush forth, and you dried up rivers that never ran dry.” “Caused the springs and streams to gush forth” could refer to God miraculously providing water from rocks in the wilderness (Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11), a direct act of sustaining His people in a barren land. “You dried up rivers that never ran dry” likely refers to the miraculous parting of the Jordan River, allowing Israel to enter the Promised Land (Joshua 3:15-17). These were all undeniable demonstrations of God’s power to control the very elements of creation for the sake of His people.

Finally, Asaph celebrates God’s absolute sovereignty over the entire cosmos and the natural order: “Both day and night belong to you; you made the moon and the sun. You set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.” This is a profound affirmation of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He establishes the rhythm of time (day and night, sun and moon) and the cycles of the seasons (summer and winter). He also sets “all the boundaries of the earth,” implying His sovereign control over nations, territories, and the very physical geography of the world.

This comprehensive list of God’s cosmic and historical acts serves as a powerful theological argument: If God, the eternal King, performed these mighty, foundational, and life-giving wonders in the past, if He controls the very fabric of creation, then He certainly has the power, the right, and the character to intervene in the current crisis, to silence the enemy’s mockery, and to restore His people. His past faithfulness is the guarantee of His future action. The “Why?” of verse 1 finds its answer not in human logic, but in divine history.

What profound wisdom can we draw from this section of Psalm 74 for our Wisdom-Trek today?

Firstly, it validates the pain of spiritual silence and the uncertainty of enduring trials. It’s legitimate to lament when we don’t see signs or hear prophetic voices, and to ask, “How long?”

Secondly, it teaches us a powerful strategy for faith in crisis: when we are overwhelmed by present difficulties, we can turn to the undeniable truth of God’s past faithfulness and His cosmic power. Remembering God’s historical wonders—His creation, His Red Sea deliverance, His wilderness provision—becomes a powerful argument for His present intervention.

Thirdly, it reminds us that God is truly King “from ancient times.” His sovereignty is not limited by time or circumstance. He remains the one who “alone does wonderful things,” capable of controlling all the forces of nature and all the powers of nations.

Finally, the enemy’s mockery is ultimately aimed at God’s name, not just at us. This should stir our hearts to appeal to God to vindicate His own glory, trusting that the One who crushed Leviathan and split the sea can certainly deal with our contemporary adversaries.

Let us, like Asaph, anchor our present prayers in the unwavering reality of God’s past mighty acts, trusting that the same God who ruled in ancient times still reigns today, ready to bring salvation to the earth.

Guthrie Chamberlain: Thank you for joining me on this profound trek through Psalm 74:9-17. I trust that this exploration of God’s ancient wonders and His enduring power has deepened your faith and given you new hope today. Join me again next time as we conclude our trek through Psalm 74 and continue to seek and apply the timeless truths of God’s Word.

Reflect…

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to’ Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday! See you next time for more daily wisdom!