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74
A psalm (maskil) of Asaph.
1 God, why have you rejected us? Is it forever? Why does your anger burn so hot against the sheep of your own field?
2 Remember the people you made your own long ago, the tribe you redeemed and made your own. Remember too Mount Zion, the place where you live.
3 Come and walk through the complete devastation.* Of Jerusalem. The enemy has totally destroyed your Temple.
4 The enemy shouted in triumph right where you met with us.† Referring to the Temple. There they set up their war banners as signs of their victory.
5 They acted like men chopping down a forest with axes.
6 With axes and hammers they smashed in the carved wooden panels.
7 Then they set fire to your Temple, burning it to the ground. They defiled the place where you live, the place that bears your name.
8 They said to themselves, “Let's destroy it all!” So they burned down every place where God was worshiped throughout the land.
9 We no longer see any signs.‡ Generally taken to mean miraculous signs from God. There are no prophets left. And no one among us knows how long this will last.
10 How long will the enemy ridicule you, God? Will they insult your character§ Literally, “name.” forever?
11 Why do you hold back from doing something? Take action and destroy them!* The Hebrew imagery here needs some interpretation. Literally, “Why do you hold back your hand? And your right hand from your bosom consume.”
12 But you, God, are our† Hebrew has “my.” king from long ago. You have saved us many times in the land.
13 You were the one‡ The personal pronoun is emphasized here and in subsequent verses. It may be to identify that it was the true God of Creation who did these things, in contrast to similar stories that gave credit to pagan gods. who split apart the sea by your strength; you broke the heads of the sea monsters.
14 You were the one who crushed the heads of Leviathan,§ A sea monster also mentioned in Job. and you gave its body to the desert animals to eat.
15 You were the one who made springs and rivers flow with water. You made permanent rivers dry up.
16 You created the day, and also the night; you made the moon* Literally, “luminary,” this may also include light from the stars. and the sun.
17 You set the boundaries of the earth;† See Genesis 1:9-10. you made summer and winter.
18 So keep in mind how the enemy ridiculed you, Lord, and how irreverent people insulted your reputation.
19 Don't let wild animals kill your turtledoves!‡ The people of Israel are compared to doves in their meekness and inability to defend themselves. Don't abandon your people forever!
20 Remember your promises in the agreement,§ Literally, “covenant.” because the land is full of dark places and violence.
21 Don't let those who suffer be mistreated again. Let the poor and needy praise you for you who are.
22 Stand up, God, and plead your case. Don't forget how these foolish people insulted you all the time.
23 Don't ignore what your enemies have said, for their loud accusations against you are getting worse and worse!

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*74:3 Of Jerusalem.

†74:4 Referring to the Temple.

‡74:9 Generally taken to mean miraculous signs from God.

§74:10 Literally, “name.”

*74:11 The Hebrew imagery here needs some interpretation. Literally, “Why do you hold back your hand? And your right hand from your bosom consume.”

†74:12 Hebrew has “my.”

‡74:13 The personal pronoun is emphasized here and in subsequent verses. It may be to identify that it was the true God of Creation who did these things, in contrast to similar stories that gave credit to pagan gods.

§74:14 A sea monster also mentioned in Job.

*74:16 Literally, “luminary,” this may also include light from the stars.

†74:17 See Genesis 1:9-10.

‡74:19 The people of Israel are compared to doves in their meekness and inability to defend themselves.

§74:20 Literally, “covenant.”

© 2018 Dr. Jonathan Gallagher