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. read more
5, 6. 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." read more
6. carved work— ( :-). thereof—that is, of the temple, in the writer's mind, though not expressed till :-, in which its utter destruction by fire is mentioned (2 Kings 25:9; Isaiah 64:11). read more
7. defiled—or, "profaned," as in Psalms 89:39. read more
Psalms 74The writer appears to have written this communal lament psalm after one of Israel’s enemies destroyed the sanctuary. [Note: See Ralph W. Klein, Israel in Exile: A Theological Interpretation, pp. 19-20.] The Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C. may therefore be the background. The writer asked the Lord to remember His people and defeat her enemies, as He had in the past, for His own glory (cf. Psalms 79; Psalms 137; Lam.)."The temple has been violated. The key... read more
There is no record that any of Israel’s enemies ever destroyed Israel’s central sanctuary in David’s day, or the temple in Solomon’s, to the extent that this verse implies. Perhaps Asaph was speaking hyperbolically, namely, describing the destruction in extreme terms for the sake of the effect. Probably this description is of what took place when the Babylonians destroyed the temple in 586 B.C. This would mean the writer was an Asaph who lived much later than David’s day, or perhaps Asaph... read more
2. A lament over the enemy’s destruction 74:3-9 read more
These descriptions of the destruction also picture a complete devastation of the sanctuary as the last of God’s successive meeting places (Psalms 74:8; cf. Exodus 20:24; Psalms 78:60-64). read more
Psalms 74, 79 seem to reflect the same historical situation, and are usually ascribed to the same author. Both were written in a time of national calamity, when the Temple was profaned (Psalms 74), and the Israelites ruthlessly slaughtered (Psalms 79) by a heathen enemy. The occasion described must have been either the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadrezzar’s army (586 b.c., 2 Kings 24; 2 Chronicles 36:11 f; Jeremiah 39:1-8; Jeremiah 52:1-4), or the persecution of the Jews by Antiochus... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Psalms 74:3
3. Lift . . . feet— ( :-) —that is, Come (to behold) the desolations ( :-). read more