O God, Why Have You Cast Us Off Forever?

The psalm starts with the question to God asking Him why has he abandoned His people whom he had redeemed. Interesting reminder that God had purchased the congregation and also the reference of redeemed. This may be pointing towards our Lord Jesus redemptive work on the Cross, since at the time the psalm was written, the idea of a Purchased people has only a vague connection.

The sense of God's abandonment arose because of the victories and destruction by their enemies over Israel. It seemed that God's Temple or holy places have been overrun by the enemies. Some of these have been set on fire. In addition the prophets are no longer there, adding to the sense of abandonment by God. So they remembered a time when they regarded God as their King, and God used to deliver them from their enemies. And they acknowledged that God is the creator of the universe, including light and day.

So the desperate people plea to God to remember the Covenant and deal with the enemies who blaspheme God's name.


Psalm 74
A Contemplation[a] of Asaph.

 1 O God, why have You cast us off forever?
         Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
 2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old,
         The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have redeemed—
         This Mount Zion where You have dwelt.
 3 Lift up Your feet to the perpetual desolations.
         The enemy has damaged everything in the sanctuary.
 4 Your enemies roar in the midst of Your meeting place;
         They set up their banners for signs.
 5 They seem like men who lift up
         Axes among the thick trees.
 6 And now they break down its carved work, all at once,
         With axes and hammers.
 7 They have set fire to Your sanctuary;
         They have defiled the dwelling place of Your name to the ground.
 8 They said in their hearts,
         “Let us destroy them altogether.”
         They have burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.
        
 9 We do not see our signs;
         There is no longer any prophet;
         Nor is there any among us who knows how long.
 10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach?
         Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
 11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand?
         Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
 12 For God is my King from of old,
         Working salvation in the midst of the earth.
 13 You divided the sea by Your strength;
         You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters.
 14 You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces,
         And gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
 15 You broke open the fountain and the flood;
         You dried up mighty rivers.
 16 The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
         You have prepared the light and the sun.
 17 You have set all the borders of the earth;
         You have made summer and winter.
        
 18 Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O LORD,
         And that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name.
 19 Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast!
         Do not forget the life of Your poor forever.
 20 Have respect to the covenant;
         For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty.
 21 Oh, do not let the oppressed return ashamed!
         Let the poor and needy praise Your name.
        
 22 Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
         Remember how the foolish man reproaches You daily.
 23 Do not forget the voice of Your enemies;
         The tumult of those who rise up against You increases continually.