Psalms 74
McGeePsalms 74THEME: A cry for deliverance when the temple is defiled by the enemyIn this psalm the temple is before us again, and this time it is being profaned. It is a maschil psalm, not of David but of Asaph, who is a Levite and a musician in the tabernacle.
Psalms 74:1
The psalmist asks, “Why have You done this to us?” Then he cries out:
Psalms 74:2
He gives us the geographic location. The psalmist obviously is talking about the land of Palestine and the nation Israel.
Psalms 74:3
Notice that it is the “sanctuary” that the enemy had profaned.
Psalms 74:4
What has happened? This is prophetic of that terrible invasion by the forces of Antiochus Epiphanes. (He was a Syrian, in the family of one of the four generals who divided up the empire of Alexander the Great after his death). In 175 B.C. he plundered Jerusalem, profaned the temple by pouring the broth of a sow all over the holy vessels, and placed an image of Jupiter in the holy place. This was called the abomination of desolation in Daniel 8. In A.D. 70 the destruction of Titus the Roman who profaned the temple and leveled it to the ground was also a fulfillment. However there will be further fulfillment of Asaph’s prophecy after the temple is rebuilt.
During the Tribulation the final abomination of desolation will be revealed which will profane the holy place. You will notice that in spite of all of this persecution and discouragement a godly remnant will say:
Psalms 74:12
Now hear their prayer:
Psalms 74:18
In other words, Israel is saying to God, “The enemy has taken us, and many of the people of our nation have been foolishthey have not turned to You.” But there is a faithful remnant.
Psalms 74:19
The psalmist cries out, “O God, save us in the midst of trouble.” He looks forward to that day of God’s deliverance. No matter how bad your trouble is, my friend, He will also deliver you. He has delivered His people out of much worse situations than we have been in, and He will do even greater things for them in the future.
Psalms 74:22
This is a call to God to move in victory; it is a prayer that recognizes God’s ability to do it. This psalm is a prayer of Asaph. It is a maschil psalm, instructing you and me that we can trust God in all our troubles.