Psalms74
New International Version
1 O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2 Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed— Mount Zion, where you dwelt.
3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.
4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs.
5 They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees.
6 They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets.
7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.
8 They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.
9 We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be.
10 How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?
11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!
12 But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth.
13 It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.
14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan and gave it as food to the creatures of the desert.
15 It was you who opened up springs and streams; you dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
16 The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.
17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, Lord, how foolish people have reviled your name.
19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts; do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.
20 Have regard for your covenant, because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace; may the poor and needy praise your name.
22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long.
23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.
Study
Psalms 74Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 74. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The desolations of the sanctuary. (1–11). Pleas for encouraging faith. (12–17). Petitions for deliverances. (18–23).
vv1-11
This psalm appears to describe the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Chaldeans. The deplorable case of the people of God, at the time, is spread before the Lord, and left with him. They plead the great things God had done for them. If the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was encouragement to hope that he would not cast them off, much more reason have we to believe, that God will not cast off any whom Christ has redeemed with his own blood. Infidels and persecutors may silence faithful ministers, and shut up places of worship, and say they will destroy the people of God and their religion together. For a long time they may prosper in these attempts, and God's oppressed servants may see no prospect of deliverance; but there is a remnant of believers, the seed of a future harvest, and the despised church has survived those who once triumphed over her. When the power of enemies is most threatening, it is comfortable to flee to the power of God by earnest prayer.
vv12-17
The church silences her own complaints. What God had done for his people, as their King of old, encouraged them to depend on him. It was the Lord's doing, none besides could do it. This providence was food to faith and hope, to support and encourage in difficulties. The God of Israel is the God of nature. He that is faithful to his covenant about the day and the night, will never cast off those whom he has chosen. We have as much reason to expect affliction, as to expect night and winter. But we have no more reason to despair of the return of comfort, than to despair of day and summer. And in the world above we shall have no more changes.
vv18-23
The psalmist begs that God would appear for the church against their enemies. The folly of such as revile his gospel and his servants will be plain to all. Let us call upon our God to enlighten the dark nations of the earth; and to rescue his people, that the poor and needy may praise his name. Blessed Saviour, thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Make thy people more than conquerors. Be thou, Lord, all in all to them in every situation and circumstances; for then thy poor and needy people will praise thy name.
Key Words
מַשְׂכִּיל: instructive, i.e. a didactic poem
אָסָף: Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first
אֱלֹהִים: gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God; occasionally applied by way of deference to magistrates; and sometimes as a superlative
מָה: properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses
זָנַח: reject, forsake, fail
נֶצַח: properly, a goal, i.e. the bright object at adistance travelled towards; hence (figuratively), splendor, or (subjectively) truthfulness, or (objectively) confidence; but usually (adverbially), continually (i.e. to the most distant point of view)
אַף: properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
עָשַׁן: to smoke, whether literal or figurative
צֹאן: a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
מִרְעִית: pasturage; concretely, a flock
Cross References
Psalms 74Explicit reference to the carved work of the temple which the enemies broke down with axes.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Parallel lament over the cessation of prophecy during the exile ('her prophets find no vision').
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Identifies the Lord cutting Rahab/dragons, a clear parallel to breaking the heads of the dragons.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Asks if they thus requite the Lord, calling them a 'foolish people' whom He purchased.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
The Lord has cast off His altar; enemies make a noise/roar in the house of assembly.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Historical record of the Chaldeans burning the house of the Lord, fulfilling this lament.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Verbal link to the anger of the Lord 'smoking' against His covenant people.
Supported by JFB
Refers to the congregation of God which He purchased 'of old' at the Exodus.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Defines the Lord's portion as His people, Israel as the 'rod/lot of his inheritance'.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Pharaoh depicted as the great dragon (leviathan) in the midst of his waters.
Supported by JFB
God's covenant promise establishing the perpetual seasons of summer and winter.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jerusalem trodden down by the Gentiles, matching the 'perpetual desolations' of the sanctuary.
Supported by John Calvin
Parallels the profaning/defiling of the crown and sanctuary cast down to the ground.
Supported by JFB
Urges God to awake and not cast His people off forever, drawing out His hand.
Supported by JFB