Ps. 74-76
I don’t know that this is the case, but it seems to me that part of conquering a people back in Bible times would have involved destroying the temple/s of their god/s. I see that as a defiant statement of superiority, as if to say, “Your gods can’t save you from us”. Psalm 74 speaks of the destruction of God’s temple when those who conquered His people took them into exile. But His people knew that the power of God was not in the temple. They knew their God was still on His throne. So the Psalm asks, “How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever?” (Ps. 74:10).
God will not be mocked. Eventually, all will know that it is He who executes judgment; He who lifts up and tears down. “I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn’” (Ps. 75:4). Indeed, we know from the books of the prophets that God did execute judgment on those who destroyed His temple and did not fear His name. They learned the truth about God the hard way. “But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?” (Ps. 76:7).
Rev. 5
In the Old Testament, God set apart the sons of Levi, which included Moses and Aaron, for His service. They represented all of the first-born, whom God redeemed from the Angel of Death at the Passover in Egypt. Instead of receiving a land inheritance like the other tribes, God told the Levites that He was their portion. They were the ones who cared for the Tabernacle and Temple and who served as priests before God. I keep saying that the story of God’s people in the Bible is our story. They are in many ways a scale version of the whole world. From reading Revelation 5, it occurred to me that the Levites are the image of us, as believers in Christ.
“For you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:9b-10). Those of us who are covered by Christ’s blood have been made priests to our God. We have direct access to Him, dedicate our lives to His service, and receive our portion in Him.