is going to require a preface of sorts. We're going to deal with some gnarly, for lack of a better

word, and difficult psalms that deal with troublesome matters. And I think you'll see this once

we get into Psalm 74.

I think we need a little bit of a backstory before we jump in and then we'll open with prayer.

But we have to kind of bear with Asif tonight.

He's going to be the author by the Holy Spirit of the Psalms that we're going to study.

And we're told that Psalm 74 is a contemplation, or if you prefer, a meditation of Asif.

And it comes on the heels of the Babylonian invasion which took place in the year 586 BC and this

was the time when Jerusalem was totally and utterly destroyed and the psalmist is devastated

and he's just trying to wrap his mind around what has just happened. I just kind of wanted to set the stage so that

it's maybe a little bit easier to get through this Psalm and understand what the psalmist

is writing. So why don't we begin with a word of prayer if you would join with me. We'll ask

God's blessing on our time.

Loving Heavenly Father, we're just so grateful to you for your word and especially this

book of Psalms. It is so rich. It has such an impact, so powerful, so applicable to our lives, all these generations later.

Lord, we're so thankful that you inspired the writers to pen these songs, these Psalms,

that here we are in the year 2019, reading, studying, understanding, and applying to our lives.

So Lord, will you bless our time together in your word?

Will you speak clearly to us?

Help us, Lord, to give you our undivided attention so our minds don't wander, because

we don't want to miss anything that you have for us, anything that you desire to minister

to us.

...