741 O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
741 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?
741 You walked off and left us, and never looked back. God, how could you do that? We're your very own sheep; how can you stomp off in anger?
741 A Contemplation of Asaph. O God, why have You cast us off forever? Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
741 OÂ God, why have you rejected us so long? Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?
70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;
70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds:
70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;
70 Then he chose David, his servant, handpicked him from his work in the sheep pens.
70 He also chose David His servant, And took him from the sheepfolds;
70 He chose his servant David, calling him from the sheep pens.
(Read Psalm 78:56-72)
After the Israelites were settled in Canaan, the children were like their fathers. God gave them his testimonies, but they turned back. Presumptuous sins render even Israelites hateful to God's holiness, and exposed to his justice. Those whom the Lord forsakes become an easy prey to the destroyer. And sooner or later, God will disgrace his enemies. He set a good government over his people; a monarch after his own heart. With good reason does the psalmist make this finishing, crowning instance of God's favour to Israel; for David was a type of Christ, the great and good Shepherd, who was humbled first, and then exalted; and of whom it was foretold, that he should be filled with the Spirit of wisdom and understanding. On the uprightness of his heart, and the skilfulness of his hands, all his subjects may rely; and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. Every trial of human nature hitherto, confirms the testimony of Scripture, that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, and nothing but being created anew by the Holy Ghost can cure the ungodliness of any.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 74:1
Commentary on Psalm 74:1-11
(Read Psalm 74:1-11)
This psalm appears to describe the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Chaldeans. The deplorable case of the people of God, at the time, is spread before the Lord, and left with him. They plead the great things God had done for them. If the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was encouragement to hope that he would not cast them off, much more reason have we to believe, that God will not cast off any whom Christ has redeemed with his own blood. Infidels and persecutors may silence faithful ministers, and shut up places of worship, and say they will destroy the people of God and their religion together. For a long time they may prosper in these attempts, and God's oppressed servants may see no prospect of deliverance; but there is a remnant of believers, the seed of a future harvest, and the despised church has survived those who once triumphed over her. When the power of enemies is most threatening, it is comfortable to flee to the power of God by earnest prayer.