Psalms 74
74
We Need You Now
Asaph’s poem of instruction
1Are you really going to leave us, God?
Would you turn your back on us, rejecting your people?
We are yours, your very own. # 74:1 Or “the sheep of your pasture.”
Will your anger smolder against us forever?
2Don’t forget that we are your beloved ones.
Wrap us back into your heart again, for you chose us.
You brought us out of our slavery and bondage
and made us your favored ones, your Zion-people,
your home on earth.
3Turn your steps toward this devastation.
Come running to bring your restoring grace to these ruins, # 74:3 This verse reads differently in the Aramaic: “Lift up your servants with your might above those who take them captive, for those who oppress us are enemies to your holiness.”
to what the enemy has done to devastate your Holy Place.
4They have come into the very midst of your dwelling place,
roaring like beasts, setting up their banners to flaunt their conquest.
5Now everything is in shambles! They’ve totally destroyed it.
Like a forest chopped down to the ground,
there’s nothing left.
6All of the beauty of the craftsmanship
of the inner place has been ruined,
smashed, broken, and shattered. # 74:6 This psalm describes physical destruction as well as what the enemy of our souls has done spiritually to mar the image of God in the “inner place” of man’s spirit. God will fully restore all things, including his image within us, as our hearts become his Holy Place on the earth.
7They’ve burned it all to the ground.
They’ve violated your sanctuary,
the very dwelling place of your glory and your name.
8They boasted, “Let’s completely crush them!
Let’s wipe out every trace of this God.
Let’s burn up every sacred place where they worship this God.”
9We don’t see any miraculous signs anymore.
There’s no longer a prophet among us
who can tell us how long this devastation will continue.
10God, how much longer will you let this go on
and allow these barbarians to blaspheme your name?
Will you stand back and watch them get away with this forever?
11Why don’t you do something?
You have the power to break in,
so why would you hide your great power from us?
Don’t hold back! Unleash your might and give them a final blow.
12You have always been, and always will be, my King.
You are the mighty conqueror, working wonders all over the world.
13It was you who split the sea in two by your glorious strength.
You smashed the power of Tannin, the sea monster.
14You crushed the might of Leviathan, # 74:14 Leviathan is mentioned six times in Job 41. Leviathan means “twisted” or “coiled” and is considered to be a sea monster. See Gen. 1:21. the great dragon,
then you took the crumbs and fed them to the sharks.
15With your glory you opened up springs and fountains,
then you spoke, and the ever-flowing springs of Jordan
dried up so we could cross over.
16You own the day and the night.
Sunlight and starlight call you Creator.
17The four corners of the earth were formed by your hands,
and every changing season owes its beauty to you.
18O Yahweh, don’t ever forget how these arrogant enemies,
like fools, have mocked your name.
19Lord, aren’t we your beloved dove that praises you? # 74:19 As translated from the Septuagint, Syriac, and one Hebrew manuscript.
Protect us from these wild beasts who want to harm us.
Don’t leave us as lambs among wolves!
You can’t abandon us after all we’ve been through!
20Remember your promises to us,
for darkness covers the land,
giving the violent ones a hiding place.
21Don’t let these insults continue.
Can’t you see that we are your downtrodden
and oppressed people?
Make the poor and needy into a choir of praise to you!
22Don’t ignore these ignorant words, this continual mocking.
Rise up, God; it’s time to defend yourself from all this.
23Never forget what your adversaries are saying.
For their rage and uproar rise continually against you.
It’s time to stand up to them!
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 74
74
A maskil of Asaph.
1God, why have you turned away from us for so long?
Why are you still angry with us, your own flock?
2Remember the people you bought so long ago.
You saved us, and we belong to you.
And remember Mount Zion, the place where you lived.
3God, come walk through these ancient ruins.
Come back to the Holy Place that the enemy destroyed.
4The enemy shouted their war cries in the Temple.
They put up their flags there to show they had won the war.
5Their soldiers attacked the doors,
like workmen chopping down trees.
6Using axes and hatchets,
they smashed the carved panels inside.
7They burned down your Holy Place.
It was built to honor your name,
but they pulled it down to the ground.
8The enemy decided to crush us completely.
They burned every holy place#74:8 holy place Or “El meeting place.” This means every place where people went to meet with God. in the country.
9We do not see any of our signs.#74:9 signs These were probably signal fires that people burned as a way of passing messages from one town to the next. In war, this was a way people showed other towns that the enemy had not yet destroyed their own town.
There are no more prophets.
And no one knows how long this will last.
10God, how much longer will the enemy make fun of us?
Will you let them insult your name forever?
11Why won’t you help us?
Use your power to defeat our enemies!
12God, you have been our King for a long time.
You have saved us many times on this earth.
13With your great power you split open the sea
and broke the heads of the sea monster.
14Yes, you smashed the heads of Leviathan#74:13-14 sea monster … Leviathan These were creatures from ancient stories. People believed that they kept the world from being a safe, orderly place. So this verse means that God controls every part of the world and everything in it.
and left his body for animals to eat.
15You make the springs and rivers flow,
and you make the rivers dry up.
16You control the day and the night.
You made the sun and the moon.
17You set the limits for everything on earth.
And you created summer and winter.
18Lord, remember, the enemy insulted you!
Those foolish people hate your name!
19Don’t give us like a helpless dove to those wild animals.
Never forget your poor, suffering people.
20Remember the agreement you gave us,
because violence fills every dark place in this land.
21Your people were treated badly.
Don’t let them be hurt anymore.
Let your poor, helpless people praise you.
22God, get up and defend yourself!
Remember, those fools challenged you.
23Don’t forget the shouts of your enemies.
They insulted you again and again.
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