The Eastern Cross/Bible/Psalms/Psalm 73
The Book of Psalms · the Psalter
Psalm 74 in the KJV and most English Bibles
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A Psalm of instruction for Asaph. Wherefore hast thou rejected us, O God, forever? Wherefore is thy wrath kindled against the sheep of thy pasture?
Συνέσεως τῷ Ἀσάφ. Ἱνατί ἀπόσω ὁ Θεὸς εἰς τέλος; ὠργίσθη ὁ θυμός σου ἐπὶ πρόβατα νομῆς σου;
"Wherefore have You repelled us, O God, unto the end?". "Have repelled unto the end," in the person of the congregation which is properly called Synagogue. "Wherefore have You repelled us, O God, unto the end?" He censures not, but inquires "wherefore," for what purpose, because of what have You done this? What have…
Remember thy congregation which thou hast purchased from the beginning; Thou didst ransom the rod of thine inheritance; This Mount Zion wherein thou hast dwelt.
Μνήσθητι τῆς συναγωγῆς σου ἧς ἐκτήσω ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς· ἐλυτρώσω ῥάβδον κληρονομίας σου· ὄρος Σιὼν τοῦτο ὃ κατεσκήνωσας ἐν αὐτῷ.
"Remember Thou Thy congregation, which Thou hast possessed from the beginning" (ver. 2). Can this by any means be the voice of the Gentiles? Hath He possessed the Gentiles from the beginning? Nay, but He hath possessed the seed of Abraham, the people of Israel even according to the flesh, born of the Patriarchs our…
Lift up thy hands against their pride continually; Because of all that the enemy has done wickedly in thy holy places.
Ἔπαρον τὰς χεῖράς σου ἐπὶ τὰς ὑπερηφανίας αὐτῶν εἰς τέλος· ὅσα ἐπονηρεύσατο ὁ ἐχθρὸς ἐν τοῖς ἁγίοις σου.
"Lift up Thine hand upon their pride at the end" (ver. 3). As Thou didst repel us at the end, so "lift up Thine hand upon the pride of them at the end." The pride of whom? Of those by whom Jerusalem was overthrown. But by whom was it, but by the kings of the Gentiles? Well was the hand of Him lifted up upon the pride…
And they that hate thee have boasted in the midst of thy feast; They have set up their standards for signs,
Καὶ ἐνεκαυχήσαντο οἱ μισοῦντές σε ἐν μέσῳ τῆς ἑορτῆς σου·
"And all they have boasted, that hate You". Observe the servants of demons, the servants of idols: such as at that time the Gentiles were, when they overthrew the temple and city of God, "and they boasted." "In the midst of Your festival." Remember what I said, that Jerusalem was overthrown at the time when the very…
Ignorantly as it were in the entrance above;
ἔθεντο τὰ σημεῖα αὐτῶν σημεῖα, καὶ οὐκ ἔγνωσαν, ὡς εἰς τὴν εἴσοδον ὑπεράνω· ὡς ἐν δρυμῷ ξύλων ἀξίναις ἐξέκοψαν
"They have set signs, their own signs, and they have not known". They had signs to place there, their standards, their eagles, their own dragons, the Roman signs; or even their statues which at first in the temple they placed; or perchance "their signs" are the things which they heard from the prophets of their…
They cut down its doors at once with axes as in a wood of trees; They have broken it down with hatchet and stone cutter.
τὰς θύρας αὐτῆς ἐπιτοαυτὸ, ἐν πελέκει καὶ λαξευτηρίῳ κατέῤῥαξαν αὐτήν.
Now let us hasten over the verses following after the destruction of Jerusalem, for the reason that they are both evident, and it does not please me to tarry over the punishment even of enemies. "As if in a forest of trees with axes, they have cut down the doors thereof at once; with mattock and hammer they have…
They have burned thy sanctuary with fire to the ground; They have profaned the habitation of thy name.
Ἐνεπύρισαν ἐν πυρὶ τὸ ἁγιαστήριόν σου εἰς τὴν γῆν, ἐβεβήλωσαν τὸ σκήνωμα τοῦ ὀνόματός σου.
They have said in their heart, even all their kindred together, Come, let us abolish the feasts of the Lord from the earth.
Εἶπαν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτῶν, ἡ συγγένεια αὐτῶν ἐπιτοαυτὸ, δεῦτε, καταπαύσωμεν τὰς ἑορτὰς Κυρίου ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς.
"They have said in their heart (the kindred of them is in one)"— Have said what? "Come ye, let us suppress the solemnities of the Lord from the land". "Of the Lord," has been inserted in the person of this man, that is, in the person of Asaph. For they raging would not have called Him the Lord whose temple they were…
We have not seen our signs; There is no longer a prophet; and God will not know us anymore.
Τὰ σημεῖα ἡμῶν οὐκ εἴδομεν, οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι προφήτης, καὶ ἡμᾶς οὐ γνώσεται ἔτι.
Let us see therefore in this place now the understanding of Asaph, let us see if he profiteth by tribulation. Observe what he saith: "Our signs we have not seen, no longer is there prophet, and us He will not know as yet" (ver. 9). Behold those Jews who say that they are not known as yet, that is, that they are yet in…
How long, O God, shall the enemy reproach? Shall the enemy provoke thy name forever?
Ἕως πότε ὁ Θεὸς, ὀνειδιεῖ ὁ ἐχθρὸς, παροξυνεῖ ὁ ὑπεναντίος τὸ ὄνομά σου εἰς τέλος;
"How long, O God, shall the enemy revile?". Cry out as if forsaken, as if deserted: cry out like a sick man, who hast chosen rather to smite the physician than to be made whole: not as yet does He know you. See what He has done, who does not know you as yet. For they to whom there has been no preaching of Him, shall…
Wherefore turnest thou away thy hand, And thy right hand from the midst of thy bosom forever?
Ἱνατί ἀποστρέφεις τὴν χεῖρά σου, καὶ τὴν δεξιάν σου ἐκ μέσου τοῦ κόλπου σου εἰς τέλος;
"Why do You turn away Your hand, and Your right hand from the midst of Your bosom unto the end?". Again, another sign which was given to Moses. For in like manner as above from the rod was a sign, so also from the right hand now. For when that thing had been done concerning the rod, God gave a second sign: "thrust,"…
But God is our King of old; He has wrought salvation in the midst of the earth.
Ὁ δὲ Θεὸς βασιλεὺς ἡμῶν πρὸ αἰῶνος, εἰργάσατο σωτηρίαν ἐν μέσῳ τῆς γῆς.
Asaph hath understood, because on the Title of the Psalm there is, "understanding of Asaph." And what saith he? "But God, our King before the worlds, hath wrought Salvation in the midst of the earth" (ver. 12). On the one hand we cry, "No longer is there prophet, and us He will not know as yet:" but on the other hand,…
Thou didst establish the sea, in thy might, Thou didst break to pieces the heads of the dragons in the water.
Σὺ ἐκραταίωσας ἐν τῇ δυνάμει σου τὴν θάλασσαν, σὺ συνέτριψας τὰς κεφαλὰς τῶν δρακόντων ἐπὶ τοῦ ὕδατος. Σὺ συνέτριψας τὰς κεφαλὰς τοῦ δράκοντος,
Now therefore, O Asaph, amend yourself according to your understanding, tell us what sort of Salvation God has wrought in the midst of the earth. When that earthly Salvation of yours was overthrown, what did He do, what did He promise? "You confirmed in Your virtue the sea". As though the nation of the Jews were as it…
Thou didst break to pieces the heads of the dragon; Thou didst give him for meat to the Ethiopian nations.
ἔδωκας αὐτὸν βρῶμα λαοῖς τοῖς Αἰθίοψι.
What more after the heads of dragons? For those dragons have their chief, and he is himself the first great dragon. And concerning him what hath He done that hath wrought Salvation in the midst of the earth? Hear: "Thou hast broken the head of the dragon" (ver. 14). Of what dragon? We understand by dragons all the…
Thou didst cleave fountains and torrents; Thou driedst up mighty rivers.
Σὺ διέῤῥηξας πηγὰς καὶ χειμάῤῥους, σὺ ἐξήρανας ποταμοὺς ἠθάμ.
"You have dried up the rivers of Etham"....What is Etham? For the word is Hebrew. What is Etham interpreted? Strong, stout. Who is this strong and stout one, whose rivers God dries up? Who but that very dragon? For "no one enters into the house of a strong man that he may spoil his vessels, unless first he shall have…
The day is thine, and the night is thine; Thou hast prepared the sun and the moon.
Σή ἐστιν ἡ ἡμέρα, καὶ σή ἐστιν ἡ νὺξ, σὺ κατηρτίσω ἥλιον καὶ σελήνην.
"Your own is the day and Your own is the night". Who is ignorant of this, seeing that He has Himself made all these things; for by the Word were made all things? [John 1:3] To that very One Himself who has wrought Salvation in the midst of the earth, to Him is said, "Your own is the night." Something here we ought to…
Thou hast made all the borders of the earth; Thou hast made summer and spring.
Σὺ ἐποίησας πάντα τὰ ὅρια τῆς γῆς, θέρος καὶ ἔαρ σὺ ἐποίησας.
"Thou hast made all the ends of the earth" (ver. 17). ...Behold in what manner He hath made the ends of the earth, that hath wrought Salvation in the midst of the earth. "Thou hast made all the ends of the earth. Summer and spring Thou hast made them." Men fervent in the Spirit are the summer. Thou, I say, hast made…
Remember this thy creation: an enemy has reproached the Lord, And a foolish people has provoked thy name.
Μνήσθητι ταύτης τῆς κτίσεώς σου· ἐχθρὸς ὠνείδισε τὸν Κύριον, καὶ λαὸς ἄφρων παρώξυνε τὸ ὄνομά σου.
"Mindful be Thou of this Thy creature" (ver. 18). Of what creature of Thine? "The enemy hath reviled the Lord." O Asaph, grieve over thine old blindness in understanding: "the enemy hath reviled the Lord." It was said to Christ in His own nation, "a sinner is this Man: we know not whence He is:" we know Moses, to him…
Deliver not to the wild beasts a soul that gives praise to thee: Forget not forever the souls of thy poor.
Μὴ παραδῷς τοῖς θηρίοις ψυχὴν ἐξομολογουμένην σοι, τῶν ψυχῶν τῶν πενήτων σου μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ εἰς τέλος.
But what sayest thou, O Asaph, now in understanding? "Deliver not to the beasts a soul confessing to Thee" (ver. 19). ...To what beasts, save to those the heads whereof were broken in pieces upon the water? For the same devil is called, beast, lion, and dragon. Do not, he saith, give to the Devil and his Angels a soul…
Look upon thy covenant: For the dark places of the earth are filled with the habitations of iniquity.
Ἐπίβλεψον εἰς τὴν διαθήκην σου, ὅτι ἐπληρωθήσαν οἱ ἐσκοτωμένοι τῆς γῆς οἴκων ἀνομιῶν.
"Have regard unto Thy Testament" (ver. 20). Fulfil that which Thou hast promised: the tables we have, for the inheritance we are looking. "Have regard unto Thy Testament," not that old one: not for the sake of the land of Canaan I ask, not for the sake of the temporal subduing of enemies, not for the sake of carnal…
Let not the afflicted and shamed one be rejected: The poor and needy shall praise thy name.
Μὴ ἀποστραφήτω τεταπεινωμένος καὶ κατῃσχυμμένος, πτωχὸς καὶ πένης αἰνέσουσι τὸ ὄνομά σου.
"Let not the humble man be turned away confounded" (ver. 21). For them pride hath confounded. "The needy and helpless man shall praise Thy name." Ye see, brethren, how sweet ought to be poverty: ye see that poor and helpless men belong to God, but "poor in spirit, for of them is the Kingdom of Heaven." Who are the…
Arise, O God, plead thy cause: Remember thy reproaches that come from the foolish one all the day.
Ἀνάστα ὁ Θεὸς, δίκασον τὴν δίκην σου, μνήσθητι τῶν ὀνειδισμῶν σου τῶν ὑπὸ ἄφρονος ὅλην τὴν ἡμέραν.
"Arise, O Lord, judge Thou my cause"....Because I am not able to show my God, as if I were following an empty thing, they revile me. And not only Heathen, or Jew, or heretic; but sometimes even a Catholic brother does make a grimace when the promises of God are being preached, when a future resurrection is being…
Forget not the voice of thy suppliants: Let the pride of them that hate thee continually ascend before thee.
Μὴ ἐπιλάθῃ τῆς φωνῆς τῶν ἱκετῶν σου, ἡ ὑπερηφανία τῶν μισούντων σε ἀναβαίη διαπαντὸς πρὸς σέ.
"Forget not the voice of them that implore You". While they groan for and expect now that which You have promised from the New Testament, and walk by that same Faith, "do Thou not forget the voice of them imploring You." But those still say, "Where is Your God? Let the pride of them that hate You come up always to…
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