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PSALM 74
STROPHE DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS
NASB | NKJV | NRSV | TEV | NJB |
An Appeal Against the Devastation of the Land by the Enemy MT Intro A Psalm of Asaph |
A Plea for Relief From Oppressors | Prayer for Deliverance from National Enemies | A Prayer for National Deliverance | Lament on the Sack of the Temple |
74:1-11 | 74:1-8 | 74:1-3 | 74:1-3 | 74:1-2 |
74:3-5a | ||||
74:4-8 | 74:4-8 | |||
74:5b-7 | ||||
74:8-9 | ||||
74:9-17 | 74:9-11 | 74:9-11 | ||
74:10-11 | ||||
74:12-17 | 74:12-17 | 74:12-17 | 74:12-13 | |
74:14-15 | ||||
74:16-17 | ||||
74:18-21 | 74:18-21 | 74:18-19 | 74:18-19 | 74:18-19 |
74:20-23 | 74:20-21 | 74:20-21 | ||
74:22-23 | 74:22-23 | 74:22-23 | 74:22-23 |
READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")
FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL
This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS
WORD AND PHRASE STUDY
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 74:1-11
1O God, why have
You rejected us
forever?
Why does Your anger smoke
against the sheep of Your pasture?
2Remember Your
congregation, which You have purchased of old,
Which You have redeemed to be
the tribe of Your inheritance;
And this Mount Zion,
where You have dwelt.
3Turn Your
footsteps toward the perpetual ruins;
The enemy has damaged
everything within the sanctuary.
4Your adversaries
have roared in the midst of Your meeting place;
They have set up their own
standards for signs.
5It seems as if one
had lifted up
His axe in a forest of
trees.
6And now all its
carved work
They smash with hatchet and
hammers.
7They have burned
Your sanctuary to the ground;
They have defiled the dwelling
place of Your name.
8They said in their
heart, "Let us completely subdue them."
They have burned all the
meeting places of God in the land.
9We do not see our
signs;
There is no longer any
prophet,
Nor is there any among us who
knows how long.
10How long, O God,
will the adversary revile,
And the enemy spurn
Your name forever?
11Why do You
withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
From within Your bosom,
destroy them!
74:1 The defeat and occupation of the Promised Land (cf. Gen. 12:1-3) was so shocking to the psalmist that he asked the question all the covenant people were thinking. They felt themselves "special" (cf. Exod. 19:5-6, but forgot that God's promises were conditional on their faithful obedience (cf. Exod. 19:5; Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-30). Abundant blessing and protection from God were God's part but His people also had a responsibility (i.e., obedience, cf. Deut. 10:12-13).
▣ "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam).
▣ "Your anger smoke" This is literally "your nostrils smolder." It is an anthropomorphic idiom of God's judgment.
SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism)
74:2 "Remember" This is the first of three uses of the term (BDB 269, KB 269, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 74:1,18,22). The psalmist is asking God to remember His covenant (cf. Ps. 74:20, "consider the covenant," BDB 613, KB 661, Hiphil IMPERATIVE, cf. Ps. 106:45; Lev. 26:42).
OT leaders often prayed this prayer. They wanted God to remember His promises and forget their sins! In essence they were praying for the merciful character of God to overlook their covenant violations. This does illustrate the weakness of human performance as the way to approach Deity! It does, however, point toward the need of a "new covenant" (cf. Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-38), based on YHWH's mercy as the basis of acceptance and gratitude as the call to godly living.
▣ "You have purchased" This is OT imagery using a commercial term ("purchase," BDB 888, KB 1111, Qal PERFECT) to describe YHWH's covenant (cf. Exod. 15:13,16; Deut. 32:6). They were His by His choice and His actions, not their merit (cf. Deut. 9:4-6).
▣ "of old" This phrase points to an act of God in the past. In Ps. 74:12-17 it refers to creation; here it refers to the Exodus.
In this Psalm the acts of God in both creation and the Exodus are merged. It is difficult to be specific on which idiom, VERB, or verse each refers.
The current state of the covenant people is tragic (cf. Ps. 74:3). The psalmist alludes to God's past acts of salvation/deliverance (i.e., either initial chaos or Egyptian bondage).
▣ "redeemed" The VERB (BDB 145, KB 169, Qal PERFECT) is a central concept in
▣ "the tribe of Your inheritance" This phrase does not refer to one of the thirteen tribes from Jacob, but to all of them collectively (cf. Jer. 10:16; 51:19). In Isa. 63:17 "tribe" is PLURAL but also refers to the seed of Jacob/Israel and the initial promises to Abram (cf. Genesis 12; 15; 17).
SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS
▣ "Mount Zion" This refers to Jerusalem and the temple mount where YHWH dwells between the wings of the Cherubim, over the Ark of the Covenant. See notes at Ps. 2:6; 9:11; and 20:2.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ARK OF THE COVENANT
74:3 The Hiphil IMPERATIVE ("lift up") is another prayer request asking God to return to the place of the temple where He has dwelt (cf. Ps. 74:2c, "has dwelt," BDB 1014, KB 1496, Qal PERFECT).
His sanctuary has been overrun, damaged, and occupied by pagan invaders (cf. Ps. 74:3-4).
▣ "the enemy" Notice the different ways the pagan invaders are characterized.
There have been two suggestions about the historical setting that called forth this national lament.
SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON
SPECIAL TOPIC: EDOM AND ISRAEL
74:4-8 Note the obvious parallelism using, "they. . ." (NASB). These verses describe what the pagan invaders have done which should cause YHWH to act on Israel's behalf.
74:4 "Your adversaries" If the burning of the temple mentioned in Ps. 74:7 is the same as 2 Kgs. 25:9, then the adversaries are the Babylonians (cf. Lamentations 2).
▣ "have roared in the midst of Your meeting place" This imagery describes the pagan occupation of the temple area. The VERB "roared" (BDB 980, KB 1367, Qal PERFECT) denotes the vicious and victorious demise of God's special dwelling place. This VERB is used of lions, which denotes the voracity and power of the pagan invaders (cf. Isa. 5:29; Jer. 2:15).
74:5-6 Dahood, in The Anchor Bible (vol. 17b, p. 202), says "Verses 5 and 6 are among the most obscure and difficult of the entire Psalter." In context it must describe something the pagan invaders did to the temple before they burned it. It denotes the anger of the invaders against YHWH's special worship place. They wanted to totally humiliate the God of Israel.
74:5 The LXX has the opening line as "as though into the entrance above" (i.e., the upper entrance of the temple). The Hebrew root, עלה (BDB 750-751) can mean
In this verse I assume it refers to an entrance to the temple or temple area.
74:6 "hatchet. . .hammers" These two terms (BDB 506 and BDB 476) occur only here in the OT. This Psalm has many rare and unique terms.
The imagery of "axes" and "hatchets" may reflect Jeremiah's description of the Babylonian army (cf. Jer. 46:22-23). They used lumber to build siege machines.
74:7 "Your name" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH
74:8 "Let us completely subdue them" There is uncertainty in the MT. The line may refer to
74:9-11 The covenant people could not comprehend YHWH's apparent absence and silence. He had chosen not to act and had even taken away His prophetic speakers. They implored Him to act, to defend His name and temple and people!
The problem has several aspects.
74:9 "prophet" See a parallel in Lam. 2:9.
SPECIAL TOPIC: OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY
74:10 YHWH used pagans to judge His people but they will eventually be judged also because
The IMPERFECT denotes an ongoing action and attitude.
▣ "How long" This is a recurrent question in the Psalms (cf. Ps. 6:3; 13:1; 44:23-24; 79:5; 80:4; 85:5; 89:46; 90:13; 94:3). This information had to come from a priest or prophet.
This is a question all suffering faithful followers ask in a fallen, imperfect world. The world may be fallen, but God is still in control (cf. Ps. 74:12-17).
▣ "Your name" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH.
74:11 YHWH's lack of support for Israel sends the wrong message to the world (cf. Ezek. 36:22-38). He must act to show the world who He is and His greater purpose (cf. Ps. 59:13-15).
▣ "Your hand" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism).
▣ "From within Your bosom" The term "bosom" (BDB 300) here, denotes the person of YHWH (i.e., instead of helping His covenant people with His strong right arm, He has put it into the fold of His garment, which is imagery for purposeful inaction). It is a question asking why YHWH has not destroyed Israel's pagan enemies!
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 74:12-17
12Yet God is my king
from of old,
Who works deeds of deliverance
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 crushed the
heads of Leviathan;
You gave him as food for the
creatures of the wilderness.
15You broke open
springs and torrents;
You dried up ever-flowing
streams.
16Yours is the day,
Yours also is the night;
You have prepared the light
and the sun.
17You have
established all the boundaries of the earth;
You have made summer and
winter.
74:12-17 This strophe was the psalmist's way of focusing on God's wonderful, creative acts (i.e., Genesis 1 or the Exodus). He was the God of creation! He brought this world into being for a purpose. Israel was a crucial part of that purpose (i.e., Ps. 74:12, see SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN).
Notice the parallelism (i.e., "You. . .," BDB 61 used seven times with PERFECT TENSES), which could refer to the initial creation of Genesis 1 or the defeat of Egypt and the Exodus.
74:12 "my King" I think the concept of YHWH as "King" has two possible references.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ANE CREATION AND FLOOD MYTHS
74:14 "Leviathan" This term was common in Ugaritic mythology (cf. Isa. 27:1). See below my note from Isaiah 27:1:
▣ "Leviathan the fleeing serpent" Leviathan (BDB 531) seems to be a Ugaritic mythological sea animal (i.e., Job 41:19-21) mentioned in Job 3:8; Ps. 104:26; Amos 9:3. However, sometimes it is used as a symbol for an evil nation (cf. Ps. 74:13-14, possibly Egypt). It resembles a river snaking through their land. Sometimes this term is linked specifically to "Rahab," which is a way of referring to Egypt (cf. Ps. 87:4; 89:9-10; and Isa. 30:7). It seems to me that, in context, we are talking about a river symbolizing a national enemy, either Egypt or Assyria (cf. Ps. 74:12). The reason this term can be used symbolically so easily is that it was previously used in some of the mythological literature of Canaan (cf. Ps. 74:12-17; see G. Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 239-240).
There is a parallelism between
- 1.the fleeing serpent (BDB 638 I) or sea monster (NASB footnote)
- the twisted sea monster
- the dragon who lives in the sea
This same allusion is found in (1) Ugaritic poems and (2) Isa. 51:9, using "Rahab," who is also identified by the term "dragon" (BDB 1072).
The only apparent connection between this verse and the context is Isa. 27:11-12.
- YHWH as creator, Ps. 74:11
- flowing streams of the Euphrates and the brook of Egypt in Ps. 74:12
- the end of time is like the beginning of time (i.e., Genesis 1-2; Revelation 21-22)
Apparently Isaiah is a compilation of his writings over many years and compiled on the basis of word plays or themes, not history.
▣ | |
NASB, NRSV | "the creatures of the wilderness" |
NKJV | "to the people inhabiting the wilderness" |
REB | "to the sharks for food" |
NJB | "to the wild animals" |
JPSOA | "the denizens of the desert" |
JPSOA footnote | "seafaring men" |
Peshitta | "as food to strong people" |
LXX | "as food to the Ethiopian people" |
The MT has "desert-dwellers" (BDB 850 II). YHWH defeated the chaos creature, Leviathan and now feeds it to
74:16 This verse is asserting YHWH's creation and control over the heavenly lights. This is a depreciation of Babylonian astral worship.
This functions against sun, moon, and star worship as the plagues of the Exodus function against the animal gods and sun worship of Egypt.
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 74:18-21
18Remember this, O Lord, that the enemy has reviled,
And a foolish people has
spurned Your name.
19Do not deliver the
soul of Your turtledove to the wild beast;
Do not forget the life of Your
afflicted forever.
20Consider the
covenant;
For the dark places of the
land are full of the habitations of violence.
21Let not the
oppressed return dishonored;
Let the afflicted and needy
praise Your name.
74:18-21 This strophe alludes to the initial prayer of Ps. 74:1-11. YHWH needs to act in deliverance
There are four JUSSIVES and two IMPERATIVES.
74:18 "a foolish people" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOOLISH
74:19 "soul" See SPECIAL TOPIC: NEPHESH
▣ "turtledove" This word (BDB 1076 II) is used
There is another, more common, word for "dove" (BDB 401) also used in the above ways (i.e., Sol. 2:14; 5:2; 6:9). The term in Psalm 74 could denote
The NEB, following the LXX, suggests an emendation of "of your dove," תורך, to "which praise you," תודך. The UBS Text Project (p. 325) gives "of your dove" a "C" rating (considerable doubt).
74:20 This is a difficult verse to interpret. Does it refer to
It seems best to me to view Ps. 74:20 and 21 together as the oppression being suffered by the covenant people. If the historical setting is Neo-Babylon, then exile; if Edom, then in the land of Canaan.
74:21 "the afflicted and needy" This does not refer specifically to the poor but to the suffering, covenant people (i.e., the faithful remnant, cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 459).
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 74:22-23
22Arise, O God,
and plead Your own cause;
Remember how the foolish man
reproaches You all day long.
23Do not forget the
voice of Your adversaries,
The uproar of those who rise
against You which ascends continually.
74:22-23 This is a final prayer for YHWH to act.
YHWH, please act! Act so the world may know (cf. Ps. 55:13; 83:18; Ezek. 36:22-38).
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.
These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.
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