Psalms
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Psalm 74
Psalm 74
1Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2Remember thy congregation, which thou hast gotten of old, Which thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of thine inheritance; And mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
1Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
2Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual ruins, All the evil that the enemy hath done in the sanctuary.
4Thine adversaries have roared in the midst of thine assembly; They have set up their ensigns for signs.
5They seemed as men that lifted up Axes upon a thicket of trees.
6And now all the carved work thereof They break down with hatchet and hammers.
3Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
5A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
6But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
Commentary · verses 3-6
The enemy had destroyed God's sanctuary.
7They have set thy sanctuary on fire; They have profaned the dwelling-place of thy name by casting it to the ground.
8They said in their heart, Let us make havoc of them altogether: They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
7They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
8They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
Commentary · verses 7-8
All of the synagogues were burned. Synagogues were places of teaching.
9We see not our signs: There is no more any prophet; Neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
9We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
Commentary · verses 9-10
The psalmist was wondering how long the enemy would prevail.
11Why drawest thou back thy hand, even thy right hand? Pluck it out of thy bosom and consume them.
12Yet God is my King of old, Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: Thou brakest the heads of the sea-monsters in the waters.
14Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces; Thou gavest him to be food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
11Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
12For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
Commentary · verses 11-14
This was one of the mentions in the Bible of "leviathan." This mention referred to the Egyptians who were destroyed in the Red Sea. Again, "leviathan" was an enemy of the righteous.
15Thou didst cleave fountain and flood: Thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16The day is thine, the night also is thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made summer and winter.
15Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
16The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
17Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
Commentary · verses 15-17
God was the Creator and Ruler over all the earth.
18Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Jehovah, And that a foolish people hath blasphemed thy name.
19Oh deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the wild beast: Forget not the life of thy poor for ever.
20Have respect unto the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of violence.
18Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
19O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
Commentary · verses 18-20
The psalmist reminded God of His covenant.
21Oh let not the oppressed return ashamed: Let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: Remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee all the day.
23Forget not the voice of thine adversaries: The tumult of those that rise up against thee ascendeth continually.
21O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
22Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
Commentary · verses 21-23
The psalmist wanted God to judge His adversaries.
The psalmist felt as if God had cast them off forever. He requested that God remember His congregation.