1.
O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
Title. Maschil = Instruction. The ninth of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32 , and App-65 of Asaph. The third of the twelve Asaph Psalms. See App-63 . Not David's Asaph, but a successor bearing the same name.
God. Hebrew Elohim. App-4 .
why . . . ? Figure of speech. Erotesis. See App-6 .
cast us off. Compare Psalms 43:2 ; Psalms 44:9 .
smoke. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. Compare Psalms 18:8 .
sheep of Thy pasture. Occurs frequently in the Asaph Psalms (Psalms 79:13 ); also in Jeremiah 23:1 .Ezekiel 34:31 .
2.
Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
congregation = assembly. The subject of Book II.
purchased = acquired as a possession. Hebrew. kanah. Compare Psalms 78:54 .
of old = aforetime. Refers to Exodus 15:16 .
rod = sceptre.
redeemed. Hebrew. ga'al. See note on Exodus 6:6 .
This. Shows that the writer wrote while the scenes described were enacted. Compare Psalms 79 and Lamentations 2:1-9 .
mount Zion. See App-68 .
3.
Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
Lift up Thy feet unto = Hasten to [and see]. Compare Idiom (Genesis 29:1 ).
feet. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia.
perpetual. Same word as "for ever", Psalms 74:1 .
4.
Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
enemies = adversaries.
Thy congregations = Thine assembly.
their. Compare "our", Psalms 74:9 .
ensigns for signs = signs as signs [for us].
signs. Same word as "ensigns" and "standard" in Numbers 2 .
5.
A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
was = used to be [considered]. The contrast is with "now" in the next line.
Axes. Compare Jeremiah 46:22 , Jeremiah 46:23 .
6.
But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
7.
They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
cast fire into, &c. = cast Thy holy place into the fire.
sanctuary. Some codices, with three early printed editions, read "holy places" (plural)
dwelling place. Hebrew. mishkan. App-40 (2).
8.
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
together: or, at once.
synagogues = meeting-places. See note on "congregations", Psalms 74:4 . This rendering comes from the Septuagint
GOD. Hebrew El. App-4 .
9.
We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
signs: i.e. the signs of God ' s presence and power, or miraculous signs. Compare "their" of Psalms 74:4 with "our", Psalms 74:9 .
prophet. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for prophetic utterances.
10.
O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
how long . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. Compare Psalms 74:1 . Figure of speech Ellipsis , "how long [this shall last]".
11.
Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
bosom. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Septuagint adds here "Selah". If this was in the primitive text, it marks the division of the Structure; and connects the conclusion of the prayer with the wonderful ground of the plea based upon it; which, with (Psalms 74:12 ) and (verses: Psalms 74:13-17 ) constitute the central members and subjects of the Psalm.
12.
For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
salvation = deliverances. Plural of majesty = great deliverance.
in the midst, &c. Compare Exodus 8:22 . (Hebrew. Psalms 74:15 ).
13.
Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
divide = cleave. Compare Exodus 14:21 , describing a sudden vehement act. Hebrew. parar.
dragons = crocodiles. (No Art.) Symbolical of Egypt.
14.
Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
people inhabiting = inhabitants: i.e. the wild beasts.
15.
Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
cleave = sunder, open a passage. Hebrew. baka'.
fountain. Compare Exodus 17:6 . Numbers 20:11 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the rook from which the water flowed. flood. Compare Joshua 3:13 .
16.
The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
light. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, read "moon".
17.
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
18.
Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .
Thy name = Thee. See note on Psalms 20:1 .
19.
O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
the soul = the life. Hebrew. nephesh.
multitude = company, or host; same word as "congregation" in next line.
poor = oppressed. Hebrew. 'anah. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
20.
Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
the. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "Thy".
covenant. Compare Genesis 15:18 ; Genesis 17:7 , Genesis 17:8 .
the earth: or the land.
21.
O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
the oppressed = an oppressed one. Same as Psalms 74:19 .
return. Compare Psalms 6:10 .
the poor and needy praise = a poor one, and a needy one will praise.
22.
Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
23.
Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.
To the chief Musician. See App-64 . Al-taschith = Destroy not. See App-65 .