Psalms of Lament: Psalm 74

Wednesday of Oculi + March 6, 2024

The first Psalm of Lament we looked at, Psalm 6, came from fear of God’s permanent rejection after the psalmist had sinned grievously. Then last week’s Psalm was a national lament after a military defeat. Despite their fidelity to YHWH, He had still allowed them to suffer a great loss.

Tonight’s Psalm of Lament is of a still different type: it is a lament after the destruction of the Temple.

This happened in the years 587 and 586 BC. The armies of Nebuchadnezzar came up from Babylon, and Jerusalem fell. Many of the people were taken captive and removed to Babylon; some were able to escape to Egypt.

How did it happen? After the death of king Josiah, his son Jehoahaz reigned, “and he did evil in the sight of the Lord” [2 Kg 23.31]. He was soon replaced by two other kings, and finally Zedekiah. The same description keeps repeating: “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord.” This culminates in the destruction of Jerusalem and the burning of the Temple.

This is more than a military defeat. The destruction of the Temple indicates that YHWH has abandoned His people. Grace is gone. They are on their own. Hence the cry that opens Psalm 74: “O God, why do you cast us off forever?” God has rejected them. It appears absolute. Unending. “Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!”

But in the midst of the desolation, the Psalmist invites YHWH to visit, to return. “Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins,” with the subtext, “Make them not perpetual! Visit us, and repair the ruins! Dwell with us again.”

What does all of this mean? It means that the lament—a pain which is very real, and very deep—the lament does not give way to despair. Though the grief appears perpetual, still he express hope for an end. Though the rejection appears total, still he express hope for a restoration.

The psalmist reminds YHWH that the enemies of the people are enemies of YHWH.

Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!

Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt….

Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place.

The attack on the Temple was an attack on the Name of YHWH.

They set your sanctuary on fire;

They profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.

To attack the place of YHWH’s name is to attack YHWH Himself. And in this, the psalmist finds a paradoxical comfort. The appearance of YHWH’s defeat cannot remain. YHWH is the most high God; these other gods are false. As in other Psalms of Lament, the psalm calls upon God to be who He is. YHWH is the Creator, who made heaven and earth.

He divides seas. He crushed Leviathan, the ancient sea-monster. He makes water come forth from rocks. He makes rivers flow in the deserts.

“So remember, YHWH, who You are!” the psalm confesses. And these are words for us in our greatest distress. At the grave, where all we have is a corpse to plant into the earth, we call on the most high God to remember that He raises the dead. When we see a church rent asunder, we call on the most high God to unite His scattered people. When we struggle to make ends meet, we call on the most high God who pays taxes with money from the mouths of fish.

This psalm makes no personal claims, but makes claims on YHWH’s own promises.

Have regard for the covenant….

Let the poor and needy praise your name.

Arise, O God, defend your cause.

This is our cry in times of distress. The cause belongs to YHWH. If it is our own cause, let it perish. It is not worth the victory, if it is not the Lord’s victory. The only cause that matters if YHWH’s.

The psalm ends as it began, with the enemies still having the upper hand. The matter is not yet resolved.

Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!

The matter is placed into the hands of YHWH. The problem seems continual, the ruin perpetual. Only the One who creates ex nihilo can resolve this.

The Messiah is condemned to death. The Christ is pummeled with blows. Injustice has been done.

We wait. There is nothing for us to do. We set the matter before the most high God. We call on Him to see. We call on Him to remember. We lament, and we wait for Him to act.