1Eine Eingebungsweise Assafs. Warum, Gott, verabscheust du in die Dauer, raucht dein Zorn wider die Schafe deiner Weide? 2Gedenke deiner Gemeinde, die du ureinst erwarbst, erkauftest als Stab deines Eigens! dieses Zionsbergs, darauf du einwohntest! 3Hebe deine Tritte zu den Verheerungen, die dauern: alles mißhandelt hat der Feind im Geheiligten! 4Deine Bedränger brüllten auf drin an deiner Gegenwartsstatt, setzten ihre Zeichen als Zeichen. 5Zu kennen wars, wie wo einer ausholt nach oben im Baumgeflecht mit Äxten. 6Und nun, sein Schnitzwerk mitsammen, sie habens mit Barte und Beilen zerhackt. 7In Feuer steckten sie dein Heiligtum, zum Erdland preisgaben sie die Wohnung deines Namens. 8Sie sprachen in ihrem Herzen: »Ihre Brut mitsammen!« Sie verbrannten alle Begegnungsstätten der Gottheit im Land. 9Zeichen uns sehen wir nicht, es gibt keinen Künder mehr, nicht ist einer mit uns, der kennte, bis wann. 10Bis wann, Gott, darf der Bedränger höhnen? Darf der Feind deinen Namen schmähn in die Dauer? 11Warum ziehst du zurück deine Hand? Deine Rechte, hervor aus deinem Busen! beends! 12Ist doch Gott mein König von ureinst her, der Befreiungen wirkt im Innern des Erdlands! 13Du, du zerklobest mit deiner Macht das Meer, du zerbrachst Drachenhäupter überm Wasser, 14du, du zerstücktest die Häupter des Lindwurms, du gabst ihn als Fraß dem Wüstenspuk-Volk, 15du, du erspaltetest Quell und Bachtal, du, du vertrocknetest urständige Ströme. 16Dein ist der Tag, dein auch die Nacht, du, du festetest Geleucht und Sonne, 17du, du errichtest alle Schranken des Erdlands, Sommer und Winter, du, du bildetest sie. 18Gedenke dies: der Feind höhnt DICH! nichtig Volk schmähn deinen Namen! 19Nimmer gib dem Wildlebenden die Seele deiner Turtel! das Leben deiner Gebeugten, nimmer vergiß es in die Dauer! 20Blick auf den Bund! Denn gefüllt haben sich die finstern Plätze des Erdlands mit Triften der Unbill. 21Nimmer möge sich abkehren müssen der Geduckte beschimpft! der Gebeugte, der Dürftige sollen deinen Namen preisen! 22Steh auf, Gott! streite deinen Streit! gedenke deiner Verhöhnung durch den Nichtigen all den Tag! 23Vergiß nimmer die Stimme deiner Bedränger, das Toben der gegen dich Aufständischen, das stetig hinansteigt!
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 If the historical allusions of
Ps 74:6-
Ps 74:8, &c., be referred, as is probable, to the period of the captivity, the author was probably a descendant and namesake of Asaph, David's contemporary and singer (compare
2Chr 35:15;
Ezra 2:41). He complains of God's desertion of His Church, and appeals for aid, encouraging himself by recounting some of God's mighty deeds, and urges his prayer on the ground of God's covenant relation to His people, and the wickedness of His and their common enemy. (Psa. 74:1-23)
cast . . . off--with abhorrence (compare
Ps 43:2;
Ps 44:9). There is no disavowal of guilt implied. The figure of fire to denote God's anger is often used; and here, and in
Deut 29:20, by the word "smoke," suggests its continuance.
sheep . . . pasture--(Compare
Ps 80:1;
Ps 95:7).
2 The terms to denote God's relation to His people increase in force: "congregation"--"purchased"--"redeemed"--"Zion," His dwelling.
3 Lift . . . feet-- (
Gen 29:1) --that is, Come (to behold) the desolations (
Ps 73:19).
4 roar--with bestial fury.
congregations--literally, "worshipping assemblies."
ensigns--literally, "signs"--substituted their idolatrous objects, or tokens of authority, for those articles of the temple which denoted God's presence.
5 Though some terms and clauses here are very obscure, the general sense is that the spoilers destroyed the beauties of the temple with the violence of woodmen.
was famous--literally, "was known."
6 carved work-- (
1Kgs 6:29).
thereof--that is, of the temple, in the writer's mind, though not expressed till
Ps 74:7, in which its utter destruction by fire is mentioned (
2Kgs 25:9;
Isa 64:11).
7 defiled--or, "profaned," as in
Ps 89:39.
8 together--at once, all alike.
synagogues--literally, "assemblies," for places of assembly, whether such as schools of the prophets (
2Kgs 4:23), or "synagogues" in the usual sense, there is much doubt.
9 signs--of God's presence, as altar, ark, &c. (compare
Ps 74:4;
2Chr 36:18-19;
Dan 5:2).
no more any prophet-- (
Isa 3:2;
Jer 40:1;
Jer 43:6).
how long--this is to last. Jeremiah's prophecy (
Jer 25:11), if published, may not have been generally known or understood. To the bulk of the people, during the captivity, the occasional and local prophetical services of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel would not make an exception to the clause, "there is no more any prophet."
10 (Compare
Ps 31:1).
how long . . . reproach?--us, as deserted of God.
blaspheme thy name--or, "perfections," as power, goodness, &c. (
Ps 29:2).
11 Why cease to help us? (Compare
Ps 3:7;
Ps 7:6;
Ps 60:5).
12 For--literally, "And," in an adversative sense.
13 Examples of the "salvation wrought" are cited.
divide the sea--that is, Red Sea.
brakest . . . waters--Pharaoh and his host (compare
Isa 51:9-
Isa 51:10;
Ezek 29:3-
Ezek 29:4).
14 heads of leviathan--The word is a collective, and so used for many.
the people . . . wilderness--that is, wild beasts, as conies (
Pro 30:25-
Pro 30:26), are called a people. Others take the passages literally, that the sea monsters thrown out on dry land were food for the wandering Arabs.
15 cleave the fountain--that is, the rocks of Horeb and Kadesh; for fountains.
driedst up--Jordan, and, perhaps, Arnon and Jabbok (
Num 21:14).
16 The fixed orders of nature and bounds of earth are of God.
18 (Compare
Ps 74:10;
Deut 32:6). The contrast is striking--that such a God should be thus insulted!
19 multitude--literally, "beast," their flock or company of men (
Ps 68:10).
turtledove--that is, the meek and lonely Church.
congregation--literally, "the company," as above--thus the Church is represented as the spoiled and defeated remnant of an army, exposed to violence.
20 And the prevalence of injustice in heathen lands is a reason for invoking God's regard to His promise (compare
Num 14:21;
Ps 7:16;
Ps 18:48).
21 oppressed--broken (
Ps 9:9).
return--from seeking God.
ashamed-- (
Ps 35:4).
22 (Compare
Ps 3:7;
Ps 7:6). God hears the wicked to their own ruin (
Gen 4:10;
Gen 18:20).