The Meaning of Psalms 74:1 Explained

Psalms 74:1

KJV: {Maschil of Asaph.} O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

YLT: An Instruction of Asaph. Why, O God, hast Thou cast off for ever? Thine anger smoketh against the flock of Thy pasture.

Darby: {An instruction: of Asaph.} Why, O God, hast thou cast off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

ASV: O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

{{Maschil  of Asaph.  }} O God,  why hast thou cast [us] off  for ever?  [why] doth thine anger  smoke  against the sheep  of thy pasture? 

What does Psalms 74:1 Mean?

Study Notes

Maschil
Maschil, instruction.

Context Summary

Psalms 74:1-11 - The Sanctuary Of God Profaned
This psalm probably dates from the time when the Chaldeans destroyed the Temple and the city of Jerusalem. Compare Psalms 74:8 with Jeremiah 3:13-17. The main emphasis of Psalms 74:1 lies in the argument which arose from Israel's close relationship with God. Were they not His congregation! Was not the Temple His own chosen sanctuary? Did not these facts constitute the reason why He should come with swift footsteps to undo the evils that their foes were inflicting? The invaders were His (Thine) adversaries. The Temple was the dwelling-place of His (Thy) name. The whole psalm is dominated by this note. It says very little of the sufferings which the enemy has inflicted, but constantly recurs to the insult and reproach, done to God.
When we live only for Jesus Christ, so that our case and His have become one, we can use language like this. But this position is not acquired lightly, nor without much watchfulness and prayer. We by nature watch out for our own dignity and welfare much more quickly than for the interests of God's kingdom and glory. When, however, we are absolutely identified with the kingdom and glory of Jesus, our argument for deliverance is omnipotent. [source]

Chapter Summary: Psalms 74

1  The prophet complains of the desolation of the sanctuary
10  He moves God to help in consideration of his power
18  Of his reproachful enemies, or his children and of his covenant

What do the individual words in Psalms 74:1 mean?

A Contemplation of Asaph Why God have You cast [us] off forever [Why] does smoke Your anger against the sheep of Your pasture
מַשְׂכִּ֗יל לְאָ֫סָ֥ף לָמָ֣ה אֱ֭לֹהִים זָנַ֣חְתָּ ؟ לָנֶ֑צַח יֶעְשַׁ֥ן אַ֝פְּךָ֗ בְּצֹ֣אן ؟ מַרְעִיתֶֽךָ

מַשְׂכִּ֗יל  A  Contemplation 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַשְׂכִּיל  
Sense: (Hiphil) poem, song or poem of contemplation.
לְאָ֫סָ֥ף  of  Asaph 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסָף  
Sense: the father of Hezekiah’s secretary.
לָמָ֣ה  Why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
אֱ֭לֹהִים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
זָנַ֣חְתָּ  have  You  cast  [us]  off 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: זָנַח 
Sense: to cast off, reject, spurn.
؟ לָנֶ֑צַח  forever 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נֵצַח  
Sense: eminence, perpetuity, strength, victory, enduring, everlastingness.
יֶעְשַׁ֥ן  [Why]  does  smoke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: עָשַׁן  
Sense: to smoke, be angry, be wroth.
אַ֝פְּךָ֗  Your  anger 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
בְּצֹ֣אן  against  the  sheep 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: צֹאן  
Sense: small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks.
؟ מַרְעִיתֶֽךָ  of  Your  pasture 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מַרְעִית  
Sense: pasturing, pasturage, shepherding.