Bible Commentaries
Psalms 74

Verses 1-23

Psalms 74

Cast Off But Not Forever

This Is an Asaph Psalm cry of God’s suffering people, in sore distress and calamity, with their house of God desecrated and idol images and statutes put in their place. Asaph was a seer and chief musician of David’s time, author of Psalms 1, Psalms 73, and Psalms 78; Nehemiah 12:46. All the sacred songs of his sons came to be known as "Songs of Asaph." The frequently used "forever" is a mashil (instruction) to believers, to hold on to their faith and hope; tho the foe’s desolation and oppression seem "forever," it will not be so.

Scripture v. 1-23:

Verse 1 inquires why the Lord has cast off his people for ever. He has not, and does not, tho it may seem this way in times of His chastening visitation, as expressed Hebrews 12:11; La 5:20. He adds, "why doth thine anger smoke (arise like smoke) against the sheep (Israel) of thy pasture?" Smoke is a symbol of the consuming fire of God’s chastening or judgment anger, Psalms 18:8; Psalms 80:4; Deuteronomy 29:20: Psalms 79:13; Hosea 13:6; Jeremiah 25:36; Jeremiah 25:38. See also Psalms 100:3; Jeremiah 23:1; Ezekiel 34:8; Ezekiel 34:31.

Verse 2 appeals to the Lord to remember His congregation (Israel), whom He purchased or ransomed of old, or ancient times, out of Egypt. They are called the rod or tribe of His heritage, whom He has redeemed; And to remember Mount Zion wherein He dwelt, Deuteronomy 32:9; Jeremiah 10:16. See also Isaiah 43:3; Ezekiel 40:3; Isaiah 63:17; Jeremiah 51:19.

Verse 3 continues, "Lift up thy feet," thyself in thy might," unto the perpetual desolations (or temple ruins), even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary," as requested also Psalms 7:6; Psalms 94:2. His people cried to be remembered as the sheep of His pasture, wholly dependent upon Him, Isaiah 59:20; John 15:5. They asked that He come quickly in His might to rescue them, Psalms 145:18-19.

Verse 4 charges "Thins enemies roar (rage) in the midst of the congregations, place or places of public worship 1 Samuel 9:12; 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Samuel 19:20-24. It is added that enemies of God set up their ensigns for signs, their military standards: Where all formerly testified of the dominion of God, heathen symbols were now erected, as described Daniel 6:27; Jeremiah 6:1; Matthew 24:15; Luke 21:20.

Verses 5-7 first commend people of God for having:
1) made one famous as he lifted up axes to destroy the thick trees (of Lebanon), to build the temple, but now
2) they, the enemies, destroyed the carved work of the temple, desecrating it with destructive blows of axes and hammers, as the Babylonians did, Jeremiah 52:12-17; 2 Kings 15:13; 2 Chronicles 36:18 .
3) Third, they had "cast fire" into the sanctuary of the Lord, after having removed the gold, as related 1King ch. 6, 7. They burned or sacked the temple, La 2:2.

Verse 8 relates the boast of the Babylonian enemy, "They said in their hearts (with premeditated resolve), let us destroy them together," adding, ’They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land," or houses of sacred worship, where the people prayed and read the Law publicly, 2 Chronicles 17:7-9.

Verse 9 laments "we see not our signs" of Israel’s God or dominion. It is added, "There is (exists) no more any prophet. Neither is there among us anyone that knows how long this judgment may last," 1 Samuel 3:1; Amos 8:11-12; Micah 3:6. These removed signs of Israel’s God were: 1) The Passover 2) the Sabbath, 3) the Temple, 4) the Altar, 5) the Sacrifices, 6) -miracles wrought in Israel’s behalf, Exodus 12:13; Exodus 31:13; Psalms 78:43. Jeremiah had once told how long, but he was carried away, to die in Egypt, Zechariah 1:12; Ezekiel 3:26; Ezekiel 24:27; La 2:9.

Verse 10, 11 inquire, fervently inquire,. if God will permit the enemy to degrade and blaspheme His holy name and honor forever, asking, just why He drew or held back His right hand of omnipotent judgment power from falling on His enemies. They appeal, "pluck it out of your bosom," and use it! is the idea, Psalms 13:2; Proverbs 19:24; La 2:3; Psalms 59:13. "Put an end to them," is the cry of Israel.

Verse 12 vows "God is my king of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth," Psalms 44:4. This especially alludes to Him as Guardian "of the land of Palestine," and of the people of Israel from old times. His past care and deliverance of them implies that He will keep His covenant with them, to work for their salvation from their enemies again, Exodus 8:22; Isaiah 10:23.

Verses 13, 14 relate that as absolute King-ruler He had "divided the sea," by His strength, and broken the "heads of the dragons (or crocodiles) in the waters." This refers to the destruction of Pharaoh and his princes and his armies in the Red Sea, in the salvation of Israel from Egypt, is the idea, Psalms 66:6; Ezekiel 29:19. The crocodiles were rulers of the waters of the Nile river as Pharaoh and his princes were of the land of Egypt, is the idea, Isaiah 51:9-10; Job 26:12-13.
Verse 14 adds that He had broken the heads of leviathan in pieces and given him to be meat (food) to the people (of Israel) who were living in the wilderness. The terms crocodiles (Heb Tamin) and leviathan, equal to many heads, Job 41 refer to Saurian and Cetacean tribes in Pharaoh’s extended empire, beyond the Nile Valley, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. God gave these defeated armies at the Red Sea, their bodies, supplies, and horses to be bread and meat for the Israelites in the wilderness, as alluded to Numbers 14:9; Proverbs 30:25-26; Psalms 72:9.

Verse 15 adds also "Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood." or cause the fountain of water supply to break forth, to supply Israel water, Exodus 17:5-6; Numbers 20:11; Job 28:10. It is further added "Thou driest up mighty rivers," rivers of strength, the Jordan and those rivers that fed it, Joshua 3:13. The Chaldiac adds to the Jordan Amon and the Jabbok, perhaps alluded to Numbers 21:14; Deuteronomy 2:36-37.

Verses 16, 17 assert that day and night, the light, and the sun have been prepared by and belong to the mighty King’s dominion, v. 12; Genesis 1:3; Genesis 1:14-16; Joshua 10:12. He is further said to have fixed or set all the "borders of the earth," its boundaries, toward the sea, Job 38:8; Psalms 24:2; Acts 17:26. He too "made summer and winter," Genesis 8:22.

Verse 18 calls on the covenant keeping God to remember that the self-wise and foolish people, His and Israel’s enemies, had reproached the Lord and blasphemed His name, v. 2, 11; Psalms 39:8; Revelation 16:19.

Verses 19, 20 appeal to the Lord to "deliver not the soul (life) of His turtle dove (His people Israel) to the multitude of the wicked," those who reproached His name. David simply said, "Lord don’t stand off any longer; do something to save us, if you care for us still," Psalms 68:13; Song of Solomon 2:14; Song of Solomon 6:9; Isaiah 60:8; Matthew 10:16. He would have the Lord forget riot the assembly of the poor, in delaying to rescue them for ever.

Verse 21 cries "O let not the oppressed (of the Lord) return ashamed," adding the refrain of petitionary prayer, "let the poor and needy (be caused) to praise thy name," Psalms 9:18. The idea is, give them cause to praise you before the heathen, by saving or delivering them from the cruelty of the oppressors.

Verses 22, 23 conclude "Arise (stand up for defense) O God, plead thine own cause, remember (recall) how the foolish man reproaches you daily," and react by destroying them, is David’s desire, Isaiah 37:23. He added "Forget not the voice (clamor-voice) of thine enemies: The tumult (insurrection cries) of those who rise up (in rebellion) against thee continually increases," or rises up, Jonah 1:2; Genesis 4:10; Genesis 18:21; Genesis 19:13.