Psalm 74

Authorship

This psalm was authored by Asaph.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. Oh God, why? (1)

A. Why have You cast us off for ever?

B. Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?

II. Oh God, remember. (2)

A. Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old.

B. Remember the rod of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed.

C. Remember this mount Zion, wherein You have dwelt.

III. Oh God, act. (3-9)

A. The enemy has done wickedly in the sanctuary perpetually:

1. They roar in the midst of Your congregation.

2. They set up their ensigns for signs.

3. A sad contrast:

a. The planners: Famous for their handiwork.

b. The plunderers: Break down the carved work with axes and hammers.

4. They have cast fire into Your sanctuary.

5. They have defiled it by casting down the dwelling place of Thy name to the ground.

6. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together.

7. They have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

8. Our signs are gone.

9. There is no longer a prophet.

IV. Oh God, how long? (10-11)

A. No one among us knows how long.

B. How long shall the adversary reproach?

C. Shall the enemy blaspheme Thy name for ever?

D. Why do You withdraw Your right hand?

V. Oh God, our King. (12-17)

A. You are my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

B. You divided the sea by Your strength.

C. You broke heads of the dragons in the waters.

D. You broke the heads of leviathan in pieces and gave him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

E. You were the source of the fountain, the blood, and the draught.

F. The day is Yours, the night also is Yours.

G. You prepare the light and the sun.

H. You set all the borders of the earth.

I. You made summer and winter.

VI. Oh God, remember. (18)

A. Remember that the enemy hath reproached.

B. Remember that the foolish people have blasphemed Your name.

VII. Oh God, deliver. (19-21)

A. Deliver not the soul of Your turtledove (beloved) unto the multitude of the wicked.

B. Forget not the congregation of Your poor for ever.

C. Have respect unto the covenant, for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.

D. Let not the oppressed return ashamed.

E. Let the poor and needy praise Thy name.

VIII. Oh God, arise. (22-23)

A. Arise, O God, plead Your own cause.

B. Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.

C. Don’t forget the voice of Your enemies.

D. The tumult of those that rise up against You increases continually.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 74,2 גָּ֭אַלְתָּ שֵׁבֶט נַחֲלָתֶךָ {A}

Ps 74,3 פְעָמֶיךָ {B} MT, σ', Hebr, T // usu: G / err-graph: S clav פעליך

Ps 74,5A יִוָּדַע {B} MT, α' // lic: θ', σ', Hebr, S / paraphr: T

Ps 74,5B כְּמֵבִיא {C} MT // err-voc: G, α', σ', θ', Hebr clav כמבוא / lic: S, T

Ps 74,6A וְעַתָּה {B} MTQ, σ', Hebr // graph-defect: MTK ועת / lic: T / assim-ctext: G, S

Ps 74,6B פִּתּוּחֶיהָ {C} Mt, Hebr, T // err-voc: G, σ', S

Ps 74,9 אוֹתֹתֵינוּ {A} MT, G, ο'α'σ'θ', Hebr, T // assim vs 4: g, S clav אוֹתֹתָם

Ps 74,11 כַלֵּה {A} MT, σ'ε', Hebr, T / / assim-ctext: G, S

Ps 74,14 לְצִיִּים {B} MT // exeg: G, Hebr / assim-ctext: S, T / err-graph: α', ε' clav לְיוֹצְאִים

Ps 74,19 תּוֹרֶךָ {C} MT // midr: σ', Hebr, T / err-graph: G, S clav תודך

Ps 74,20 לַבְּרִיעת / כִּי {B} MT, G(?), Hebr, T // glos: G(?), S clav לבריתך / כי