There are “wages of sin” no matter who sins. An individual who reads the Bible knows that sin ultimately “finds you out.” An assembly of believers that gets smugly complacent and thinks they “are rich and increased with goods and require nothing” is in danger of having the lampstand of testimony removed. A nation that turns to sin and idolatry may continue for a time as the “longsuffering of God” waits for some evidence of repentance and a return to righteousness. But payday always comes when there is no repentance or return to the Lord for mercy.
The sin and idolatry of Israel tried God’s patience for generations. Prophets gave warnings. Foreign countries were allowed a certain amount of power to wake the people up when they were temporarily overcome. But finally, God had had enough, and judgment came. The Babylonian forces came and conquered the last of the nation. The Assyrians had previously come and taken away the northern tribes. When the Babylonians arrived, they destroyed the city of Jerusalem and demolished the temple, carrying away precious treasures to Babylon.
In this situation, the words of this psalm are directed in a prayer to the Lord. The writer is appealing for vindication. They felt that God had forsaken the nation and forgotten His people. The city and temple were in ruins. The contrast between the quietness when the temple was built, without the sound of a hammer or saw, and the great noise when it was torn down broke the psalmist's heart. So, the psalm's first verses appeal to the Lord God to “remember Thy congregation.”
When sin befalls us, confession of sin is where we begin an appeal. Then, there must be real evidence of forsaking sin that gives reality to the confession. Words alone, without the change of heart needed, is not true repentance. It is then that mercy and forgiveness happen. Those two things go together. How thankful we should be that our God is a God of mercy and that, because of that mercy, we can justly be forgiven sins that have been dealt with lawfully. If a wrong course is persisted in, and we allow sin to continue, God’s patience is not forever.
There were different times when the enemies of Israel made the temple of God the focus of attention. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple Solomon had built. Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated the next temple. Titus and his Roman army leveled the temple in Jerusalem, where our Lord Jesus was present. The new temple that will be built will be desecrated by the antichrist when he sits in it as the place of his rule. The problem or plight of the nation of Israel was and still will be, “Thine enemies roar.” The temple had been profaned, the sanctuary had been destroyed, and the psalmist's desire was to “remember.” Remember the relationship that God had with Israel, which He had purchased. Remember the reproach of the enemies against the name of the Lord. Remember how the foolish people who say there is no God reproach God Himself?
When the people around us turn away from God in difficult times, let us not be distracted or discouraged by all that is against our Lord and His people. Let us use any influence we might have to bring about restoration. God can do wonderful things even in the most challenging times and difficult circumstances. We can trust Him. He is faithful. His people are the sheep of His pasture. They are His congregation, His heritage. He looks upon them like a dove, even when afflicted, downtrodden, and needy. When God is silent, and our patience is waning, be calm and wait quietly in faith and hope. God is at work in His own time and way.
The nation’s King was still God. “For God is my King of old.” The nation prayed, “Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause.” They were looking for God to display His divine power again. We may have often asked the question “Why?” and, like Israel, have, as yet, received no signs, no prophet with the answers we want, and no relief as yet. But God’s story is not all written yet, nor is ours. The God of creation is the God of our salvation. He will “come to our aid.” He will defend and restore us,” is the hope of Israel and the hope of His children. God has given us plenty of cause to praise Him amidst the uproar of the world around us. Let us “praise His name” and stay the course even in the clamor that is going on all around us.