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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Psalms 74: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationPsalms 74
74
A Prayer for National Deliverance#Ps 74 Hebrew title: A poem by Asaph.
1Why have you abandoned us like this, O God?
Will you be angry with your own people for ever?
2Remember your people, whom you chose for yourself long ago,
whom you brought out of slavery to be your own tribe.
Remember Mount Zion, where once you lived.
3Walk over these total ruins;
our enemies have destroyed everything in the Temple.
4Your enemies have shouted in triumph in your Temple;
they have placed their flags there as signs of victory.
5They looked like woodmen
cutting down trees with their axes.#74.5 Verse 5 in Hebrew is unclear.
6They smashed all the wooden panels
with their axes and sledgehammers.
7They wrecked your Temple and set it on fire;
they desecrated the place where you are worshipped.
8They wanted to crush us completely;
they burnt down every holy place in the land.
9All our sacred symbols are gone;
there are no prophets left,
and no one knows how long this will last.
10How long, O God, will our enemies laugh at you?
Will they insult your name for ever?
11Why have you refused to help us?
Why do you keep your hands behind you?#74.11 Probable text Why do you keep your hands behind you; Hebrew unclear.
12But you have been our king from the beginning, O God;
you have saved us many times.
13 #
Ex 14.21
With your mighty strength you divided the sea
and smashed the heads of the sea monsters;
14 #
Job 41.1; Ps 104.26; Is 27.1 you crushed the heads of the monster Leviathan#74.14 Leviathan: A legendary monster which was a symbol of the forces of chaos and evil.
and fed his body to desert animals.#74.14 animals; or people.
15You made springs and fountains flow;
you dried up large rivers.
16You created the day and the night;
you set the sun and the moon in their places;
17you set the limits of the earth;
you made summer and winter.
18But remember, O LORD, that your enemies laugh at you,
that they are godless and despise you.
19Don't abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies;
don't forget your persecuted people!
20Remember the covenant you made with us.
There is violence in every dark corner of the land.
21Don't let the oppressed be put to shame;
let those poor and needy people praise you.
22Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause!
Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.
23Don't forget the angry shouts of your enemies,
the continuous noise made by your foes.
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Good News Bible with Deuterocanonicals/Apocrypha. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.