Chapter: Psalm 74

Laments

More than 1/3 of the Psalms fall into the category of complaints to God in situations of limitation or threat. These laments were a form of prayer and praise based on the conviction that God is concerned about people and answers the human cry in ways surpassing human expectation or understanding. Israel’s laments out of distress were a way of praising God even when he seemed absent. The faith of the psalmists is founded on the good news that God intervenes in desperate situations to help those who are distressed. The psalmists share a deep confidence that God is compassionate, concerned, hearing his people and involved with them; God is faithful and trustworthy. A lament is an outcry to God from a responsive heart. Laments came from individuals or from the community.

Examples: Psalms 3-5, 22, 27:7-14, 42, 51, 69, 90, 130, 137 and many others

74

Ut quid, Deus?

¹ O God, why have you utterly cast us off? *

Why is your wrath so hot against the sheep of your pasture?

² O think upon your congregation *

whom you have purchased and redeemed of old.

³ Think upon the tribe of your inheritance, *

and Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.

⁴ Draw near and behold how all is made desolate *

and how the enemy has destroyed all that is in your sanctuary.

⁵ Your adversaries roar in the midst of your holy place *

and set up their banners as tokens of victory.

⁶ Like hewers of timber in a thicket of trees, *

so have they broken down all the carved work with axes and hammers.

⁷ They have set fire to your holy place *

and have defiled the dwelling place of your Name, even to the ground.

⁸ They said in their hearts, “Let us make havoc of them altogether.” *

Thus have they burnt up all the houses of God in the land.

⁹ We do not see any signs; there is not one prophet anymore; *

there is no one who knows how long these things shall continue.

¹⁰ O God, how long shall the adversary do this dishonor? *

How long shall the enemy blaspheme your Name, for ever?

¹¹ Why do you withdraw your hand? *

Why do you not take your right hand out of your bosom to consume the enemy?

¹² For God is my King of old; *

he is the one bringing help upon the earth.

¹³ You divided the sea through your power; *

you broke the heads of the dragons in the waters.

¹⁴ You smote the heads of Leviathan in pieces *

and gave him to be food for the people in the wilderness.

¹⁵ You brought fountains and waters out of the hard rocks, *

and you dried up mighty waters.

¹⁶ The day is yours, and the night 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, O Lord, how the enemy scoffed, *

and how the foolish people have blasphemed your Name.

¹⁹ Deliver not the soul of your turtledove to the wild beasts, *

and forget not for ever the lives of your poor.

²⁰ Look upon your covenant, *

for the dark places of the earth are full of violence.

²¹ Let not the oppressed go away ashamed, *

but let the poor and needy give praise to your Name.

²² Arise, O God, maintain your own cause; *

remember how the foolish one blasphemes you daily.

²³ Forget not the voice of your enemies, *

nor the tumult of those who hate you, which increases ever more and more.