Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 74

Cast us off. See Ps. 13:1; 43:2; 44:9; 79:5. It seems that God has disowned His people (see Lam. 5:20). Smoke. Smoke suggests fire; anger is frequently compared to fire (see Deut. 32:22; Ps. 18:7, 8; cf. Lam. 2:3). Sheep of thy pasture.. Compare Ps. 79:13; 95:7. In calling the people God’s sheep, the psalmist heightens the tenderness of his appeal. How strange, he implies, that God should cast off His defenseless people, who are most in need of His care.

Thou hast purchased. See Ex. 15:16. The rod. Heb. shebeṭ, “staff.” The “staff” came to denote the tribe, probably from its use as a symbol of authority, religious or secular. Inheritance. See Ps. 28:9; cf. Deut. 32:8. Israel is called the “rod of thine inheritance” (see Jer. 10:16). Thou hast redeemed. See the phraseology of Ex. 15:13. Mount Zion. See on Ps. 48:2.

Nichol, F. D. (1978). The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary : The Holy Bible with exegetical and expository comment. Commentary Reference Series (Ps 57:7). Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association.

Lift up thy feet. The psalmist beseeches God to come quickly to visit the ruins of Mt. Zion and to intervene. Perpetual desolations. Ruins so extensive as to appear complete and permanent. It seemed that they would never be built again. Hath done. The Babylonians had carried off everything that was valuable (see 2 Kings 25:13–17), and had set fire to the Temple (see Ps. 74:7). A description of the desecration follows in vs. 4–8. These details tend to establish the historical background of the psalm, as given in the Introduction.

Roar. The reference is to the tumult of war, the invading despoilers being likened to wild beasts (see Isa. 5:29; Jer. 2:15). Ensigns. They impudently set up their battle standards in place of the true emblems of Jehovah. The holy place fell under the sway of a foreign power (see Num. 2:2). Pagan standards set up in the Temple marked the height of ignominy for the Jews.

Lifted up axes. The enemy-soldiers are pictured as chopping up the woodwork of the Temple.

But. Or, “and.” The activities of vs. 5, 6 are continuous and contemporary, not contrasting. Carved work. See 1 Kings 6:29. This was cut down, broken off, probably for the sake of the gold overlay (see 1 Kings 6:22, 32, 35).

Have cast fire. The Babylonians actually set fire to the Temple (see 2 Kings 25:9). Dwelling place. See Ex. 20:24; Deut. 12:11. To the ground. The Temple was polluted by being made a heap of ruins (see Lam. 2:2).

Synagogues. Literally, “places of meeting.” The translation “synagogue” occurs here doubtless because it was not known that the synagogue was a late (postexilic) institution. The Jewish word for synagogue is beth hakkeneseth.

Our signs. See v. 4. Any prophet. Compare Lam. 2:9; Eze. 7:26. How long. This verse presents Israel’s cup of misery as filled; it is the saddest verse in the psalm.

Blaspheme thy name. Compare a similar appeal in vs. 18, 22. It seems that calamities will never cease. This appeal to the honor of God is frequent in the OT (see Ex. 32:12, 13; Num. 14:13–16; Deut. 9:28).

Out of thy bosom. Why does not God stretch forth His hand to deliver Israel? He appears to keep His hand in the folds of His robe. The psalmist expresses impatience because he thinks that God should demonstrate His power by annihilating the invaders.

For. The psalmist takes comfort in contemplating God’s previous deliverances of His people. Recounting the past gives comfort for the present and hope for the future (see LS 196). My King. See Ps. 44:4. The poet is sure that, despite appearances, God still rules. Salvation. Literally, “salvations,” that is, “divine acts of salvation.” Midst of the earth. Compare Ex. 8:22.

Thou. In the Hebrew the pronoun is in the emphatic initial position here and in vs. 14, 15, 17 (see Ps. 65:9–11). Didst divide the sea. At the time of the crossing of the Red Sea (see Ex. 14:21; cf. Ps. 77:16).

Dragons. Heb. tanninim, “see monsters,” presumably symbolic of Egyptian power (see Eze. 29:3). The allusion seems to be to the destruction of Pharaoh’s armies in the Red Sea (see Ex. 14:27–30; 15:4).

Heads of leviathan. See on Isa. 27:1. Evidently another allusion to Egypt’s power (see on v. 13). People inhabiting. The wild creatures of the desert (see Prov. 30:25, 26). The literal language portrays the monsters of the deep killed, thrown upon the shore, and made food for the wild creatures.

Thou didst cleave. The allusion may be to God’s bringing water out of the rock at the command of Moses (see Ex. 17:6; Num. 20:8; cf. Ps. 78:15, 16), or to the passage of the Red Sea (see Joshua 2:10), or to the crossing of the Jordan (see Joshua 3:13; 4:23; 5:1). Driedst up mighty rivers. An obvious allusion to the crossing of the Jordan (see Joshua 3:13; 4:23; 5:1).

Thine. The poet’s view enlarges from God’s miracles in delivering His people, to the wider view of God’s constant power and glory in nature. Light. Heb. ma’or, “luminary,” here probably the sun (see Gen. 1:15, 16; cf. Ps. 136:7–9).

Borders. Natural land and sea boundaries (see Gen. 1:9; Job 26:10; Jer. 5:22).

Remember. Compare v. 2. Hath reproached. See Lam. 1:7; 2:7, 15, 16; see on Ps. 74:10; cf. v. 22. Name. See on Ps. 5:11; 7:17.

Turtledove. God’s children are exquisitely compared to a tender and gentle dove, beloved of God.

Plead. The psalmist realizes that the cause is God’s, and that it is God’s honor that is concerned. Whatever is done to God’s children is regarded as done to Him. It is well for puny man to recognize God’s ultimate concern and adjust himself as an instrument in God’s hands to work out the will of God.

Forget not. The psalmist closes his prayer with a petition for just retribution upon the enemies (cf. 2 Kings 19:28). Tumult. The reference is evidently to the enemies invading Jerusalem with loud war cries. Those that rise up against thee. Those who set themselves in opposition to God’s purposes by working against His appointed leaders often deceive themselves into believing that their course of action is of no particular concern to God (see Ex. 16:8; 1 Sam. 8:7). Increaseath. Rather, “ascends.” The psalm seems to break off almost abruptly, as if the psalmist were stopped in the midst of his portrayal of the increasing depredations in the land.