Psalm 74 opens with this question: “Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?” (ESV). What a question! Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? Notice who it smokes against. It is the sheep of his pasture. Not the heathen. Not the pagans. Not the unbelievers. These are the sheep of his pasture. The author of this psalm was not in the New Covenant. He was looking forward to a future redeemer who would take away his sins and bear his iniquities but he wasn't in the New Covenant. He had never heard the glorious words “there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christi Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Today we celebrate the reality that the atoning sacrifice of God’s own Son Jesus the Christ was deemed perfect and entirely acceptable for the sins of the whole world through the resurrection of Christ on that blessed third day. The wrath of God was fully and completely appeased for all who are in Christ Jesus and we know this to be a fact because God did not leave His Son in the tomb. It is empty! He is risen. He is risen indeed. The disciples saw the empty tomb and we believe their message was NOT a cunningly, devised fable created to lure people into following a dead man. Instead this weekend billions of people collectively pause and remember the reality that Christ rose from the grave as the first fruits of all who will eventually experience this same glorious resurrection. Will you?
The number of false converts, illegitimate sons and daughters, and professing but not possessing Christians is utterly staggering. Christ said, “Many in that day shall say unto me ‘LORD, LORD’” and he will say unto those who said, “LORD, LORD” “Depart from me I never knew you” (Matt. 7:21-23).
Is he truly your LORD?
If He is NOT your LORD then the anger of the LORD smokes against you because you are not in the New Covenant with God (John 3:36). How can you get in the New Covenant with God as your Father and Christ as your mediator (1 Tim. 2:5)? Turn to God with your whole heart and put every ounce of faith and trust in Christ’s death for your sins and believe with your heart that Christ rose from the grave on the third day and is presently seated on the right hand of God the Father on high interceding for all who believe He is the LORD of LORDS and King of Kings (Rom. 8:34; 10:9).
You don’t believe…cry out to God with a broken and contrite heart for the faith to believe the gospel.
