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Psalms 74
1God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?
2Remember your congregation, which you purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your inheritance; Mount Zion, in which you have lived.
3Lift up your feet to the perpetual ruins, all the evil that the enemy has done in the sanctuary.
4Your adversaries have roared in the midst of your assembly. They have set up their standards as signs.
5They behaved like men wielding axes, cutting through a thicket of trees.
6Now they break all its carved work down with hatchet and hammers.
7They have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have profaned the dwelling place of your Name.
8They said in their heart, "We will crush them completely." They have burned up all the places in the land where God was worshiped.
9We see no miraculous signs. There is no longer any prophet, neither is there among us anyone who knows how long.
10How long, God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme your name forever?
11Why do you draw back your hand, even your right hand? Take it out of your pocket and consume them!
12Yet God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
13You divided the sea by your strength. You broke the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.
14You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces. You gave him as food to people and desert creatures.
15You opened up spring and stream. You dried up mighty rivers.
16The day is yours, the night is also yours. You have prepared the light and the sun.
17You have set all the boundaries of the earth. You have made summer and winter.
18Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh. Foolish people have blasphemed your name.
19Don't deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don't forget the life of your poor forever.
20Honor your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth.
21Don't let the oppressed return ashamed. Let the poor and needy praise your name.
22Arise, God! Plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day.
23Don't forget the voice of your adversaries. The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually. For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A Psalm by Asaph. A song.
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Afflictions and Adversities: Prayer In Psalm 74:1, 3, 10, 11, 19, 21–23
A Maskil of Asaph. Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture? / Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed. / How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever?
Anger: Anger of God Psalm 74:1
A Maskil of Asaph. Why have You rejected us forever, O God? Why does Your anger smolder against the sheep of Your pasture?
Arson: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 74:7, 8
They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name. / They said in their hearts, “We will crush them completely.” They burned down every place where God met us in the land.
Ax: An Implement Psalm 74:5, 6
like men wielding axes in a thicket of trees / and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.
Blasphemy: Connected with Folly and Pride Psalm 74:18
Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.
Blasphemy: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 74:18
Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.
Blasphemy: Saints Grieved to Hear Psalm 74:10, 18, 22
How long, O God, will the enemy taunt You? Will the foe revile Your name forever? / Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name. / Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.
Blasphemy: The Wicked Addicted To Psalm 74:18
Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.
Carving: Woodwork of the Temple Was Decorated with Carvings of Flowers, Cherubim, and Palm Trees Psalm 74:6
and smashing all the carvings with hatchets and picks.
Church: Congregation of the Lord's Poor Psalm 74:19
Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever.
Church: Sanctuary Psalm 74:3, 7
Turn Your steps to the everlasting ruins, to everything in the sanctuary the enemy has destroyed. / They have burned Your sanctuary to the ground; they have defiled the dwelling place of Your Name.
Church: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Psalm 74:2
Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance—Mount Zion where You dwell.
Church: Zion Psalm 74:2
Remember Your congregation, which You purchased long ago and redeemed as the tribe of Your inheritance—Mount Zion where You dwell.
Crocodiles Psalm 74:14
You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.
Day: Made for the Glory of God Psalm 74:16
The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.
Dragon of the Sea Psalm 74:13
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
Dragons Psalm 74:13
You divided the sea by Your strength; You smashed the heads of the dragons of the sea;
Ensign: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 74:4
Your foes have roared within Your meeting place; they have unfurled their banners as signs,
Faith: Exemplified Psalm 74:12
Yet God is my King from ancient times, working salvation on the earth.
Fishes: Leviathan Psalm 74:14
You crushed the heads of Leviathan; You fed him to the creatures of the desert.
Fool: General Scriptures Concerning Psalm 74:18–22
Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name. / Do not deliver the soul of Your dove to beasts; do not forget the lives of Your afflicted forever. / Consider Your covenant, for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.
Fools: Blaspheme God Psalm 74:18
Remember how the enemy has mocked You, O LORD, how a foolish people has spurned Your name.
Fools: Reproach God Psalm 74:22
Rise up, O God; defend Your cause! Remember how the fool mocks You all day long.
Fountains and Springs: Created by God Psalm 74:15
You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers.
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Psalms 74:1-11 Verses 1-11
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.
Psalms 74:12-17 Verses 12-17
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.
Psalms 74:18-23 Verses 18-23
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.