Psalms 74

Psalm 74#sn Psalm 74. The psalmist, who has just experienced the devastation of the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem in 586 b.c., asks God to consider Israel’s sufferings and intervene on behalf of his people. He describes the ruined temple, recalls God’s mighty deeds in the past, begs for mercy, and calls for judgment upon God’s enemies.

A well-written song#tn The meaning of the Hebrew term מַשְׂכִּיל (maskil) is uncertain. The word is derived from a verb meaning “to be prudent; to be wise.” Various options are: “a contemplative song,” “a song imparting moral wisdom,” or “a skillful [i.e., well-written] song.” The term occurs in the superscriptions of Pss 32, 42, 44, 45, 52-55, 74, 78, 88, 89, and 142, as well as in Ps 47:7. by Asaph.

1Why, O God, have you permanently rejected us? Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?

2Remember your people whom you acquired in ancient times, whom you rescued so they could be your very own nation, as well as Mount Zion, where you dwell!

3Hurry and look at the permanent ruins, and all the damage the enemy has done to the temple!

4Your enemies roar in the middle of your sanctuary; they set up their battle flags.

5They invade like lumberjacks swinging their axes in a thick forest.

6And now they are tearing down all its engravings with axes and crowbars.

7They set your sanctuary on fire; they desecrate your dwelling place by knocking it to the ground.

8They say to themselves, “We will oppress all of them.” They burn down all the places where people worship God in the land.

9We do not see any signs of God’s presence; there are no longer any prophets and we have no one to tell us how long this will last.

10How long, O God, will the adversary hurl insults? Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

11Why do you remain inactive? Intervene and destroy him!

12But God has been my king from ancient times, performing acts of deliverance on the earth.

13You destroyed the sea by your strength; you shattered the heads of the sea monster in the water.

14You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you fed him to the people who live along the coast.

15You broke open the spring and the stream; you dried up perpetually flowing rivers.

16You established the cycle of day and night; you put the moon and sun in place.

17You set up all the boundaries of the earth; you created the cycle of summer and winter.

18Remember how the enemy hurls insults, O Lord, and how a foolish nation blasphemes your name!

19Do not hand the life of your dove over to a wild animal! Do not continue to disregard the lives of your oppressed people!

20Remember your covenant promises, for the dark regions of the earth are full of places where violence rules.

21Do not let the afflicted be turned back in shame! Let the oppressed and poor praise your name!

22Rise up, O God! Defend your honor! Remember how fools insult you all day long!

23Do not disregard what your enemies say, or the unceasing shouts of those who defy you.