Psa 74:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | The psalmtst complains of the desolations of the sanctuary, and pleads with God, ; shows the insolence and wickedness of their enemies ; prays to God to act for them as he had done for their fathers, whom, by his miraculous power, he had saved, ; begs God to arise, and vindicate his own honor against his enemies, and the enemies of his people, . The title is, Maschil of Asaph, or, "A Psalm of Asaph, to give instruction." That this Psalm was written at a time when the temple was ruined, Jerusalem burnt, and the prophets scattered or destroyed, is evident. But it is not so clear whether the desolations here refer to the days of Nebuchadnezzar, or to the desolation that took place under the Romans about the seventieth year of the Christian era. Calmet inclines to the former opinion; and supposes the Psalm to be a lamentation over the temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Verse 1 O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? - Hast thou determined that we shall never more be thy people? Are we never to see an end to our calamities?

Psalms 74:1-3

Introduction

The psalmtst complains of the desolations of the sanctuary, and pleads with God, Psa 74:1-3; shows the insolence and wickedness of their enemies Psa 74:4-8; prays to God to act for them as he had done for their fathers, whom, by his miraculous power, he had saved, Psa 74:9-17; begs God to arise, and vindicate his own honor against his enemies, and the enemies of his people, Psa 74:18-23.

The title is, Maschil of Asaph, or, "A Psalm of Asaph, to give instruction." That this Psalm was written at a time when the temple was ruined, Jerusalem burnt, and the prophets scattered or destroyed, is evident. But it is not so clear whether the desolations here refer to the days of Nebuchadnezzar, or to the desolation that took place under the Romans about the seventieth year of the Christian era. Calmet inclines to the former opinion; and supposes the Psalm to be a lamentation over the temple destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

Verse 1

O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? - Hast thou determined that we shall never more be thy people? Are we never to see an end to our calamities? Verse 2

Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old - We are the descendants of that people whom thou didst take unto thyself; the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Wilt thou never more be reconciled to us? Verse 3

Lift up thy feet - Arise, and return to us, our desolations still continue. Thy sanctuary is profaned by thine and our enemies.