Psalm 74:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 74:1-11

This psalm is entitled Maschil?a psalm to give instruction, for it was penned in a day of affliction, which is intended for instruction; and this instruction in general it gives us, That when we are, upon any account, in distress, it is our wisdom and duty to apply to God by faithful and fervent prayer, and we shall not find it in vain to do so. Three things the people of God here complain of:? I. The displeasure of God against them, as that which was the cause and bitterness of all their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:1

O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever ?..... This the church supposed because of the prevalence, oppression, and triumph of the enemy, because of the hardships and afflictions she laboured under, and because of the hidings of the face of God from her, which unbelief interpreted of a casting off; see Psalm 77:7 when in reality it was not so, only in appearance, and according to a wrong judgment made of things; for God never did nor never will cast off, nor cast away, his people whom he... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:1

O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? - Hast thou determined that we shall never more be thy people? Are we never to see an end to our calamities? read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:1

Verse 1 1.O God! why hast thou east us off for ever? If this complaint was written when the people were captives in Babylon, although Jeremiah had assigned the 70th year of their captivity as the period of their deliverance, it is not wonderful that waiting so long was to them a very bitter affliction, that they daily groaned under it, and that so protracted a period seemed to them like an eternity. As to those who were persecuted by the cruelty of Antiochus, they might, not without reason,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 74:1

O God, why hast thou cast us off forever? It could only have been in the extremity of distress that a devout Israelite believed, even for a time, that Israel was " cast off forever " (comp. Psalms 79:5 , which must have been written nearly at the same period as this). Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? God's anger "smokes" when it is hot and furious (see Psalms 18:8 ; Psalms 104:32 ; Psalms 44:5 ). It is now smoking "against the sheep of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 74:1-23

In favour of the first is the ascription of the psalm in the "title" to Asaph. But all other considerations are against it. There is no evidence that Shishak ever entered Jerusalem. He certainly did not break down the carved work of the temple, or set the temple on fire, much less "cast it down to the ground." His invasion was a mere raid, and Rehoboam seems to have bought his retreat by the sacrifice of the temple treasury ( 2 Kings 14:25-28 ; 2 Chronicles 12:2-12 ). The circumstances... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 74:1

O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? - Thou seemest to have cast us off forever, or finally. Compare Psalms 44:9, note; Psalms 13:1, note. “Why doth thine anger smoke.” See Deuteronomy 29:20. The presence of smoke indicates fire, and the language here is such as often occurs in the Scriptures, when anger or wrath is compared with fire. See Deuteronomy 32:22; Jeremiah 15:14.Against the sheep of thy pasture - Thy people, represented as a flock. See Psalms 79:13; Psalms 95:7. This increases... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Psalms 74:1

Psalms 74:1. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever So as to leave us no visible hopes of restitution? Why doth thine anger smoke? That is, why doth it rise to such a degree, that all about us take notice of it, and ask, What meaneth the heat of this great anger? Deuteronomy 29:24. Compare Psalms 74:20, where the anger of the Lord and his jealousy are said to smoke against sinners. Against the sheep of thy pasture Against thy chosen people. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:1-23

Psalms 74:0 Israel in captivityThis psalm belongs to the time that followed the destruction of the nation Israel. Assyria conquered the northern kingdom in 722 BC, and Babylon the southern kingdom during the years 605-587 BC. The people were taken captive into foreign lands and the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed (2 Kings 25:8-12). Now, with the centre of their religious life gone, the people feel cut off from God. Worse than that, the bitter years in captivity lead them to doubt God’s... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Psalms 74:1

Title. Maschil = Instruction. The ninth of thirteen so named. See note on Title, Psalms 32:0 , 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... read more