Psalms 74:3

3 (73-3) Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

Psalms 74:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 74:3

Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations
That is, arise, hasten, move swiftly, and in the greatness of strength, and come and see the desolations made by the enemy, which look as if they would remain for ever; meaning either the desolations made in the city and temple of Jerusalem, either by Nebuchadnezzar, or by Titus; or the havocs and devastations made in the church of God by the tyranny and persecutions of antichrist; which have continued so long, that an end of them has been almost despaired of. So Jacob is said to "lift up his feet"; which we render went on his way, ( Genesis 29:1 ) . Some take these words in a different sense, as a prayer for the destruction of the church's enemies; so the Targum,

``lift up thy feet or goings, to make desolate the nations for ever;''

and Kimchi makes but one sentence of this and the following clause, and reads it thus,

``lift up thy feet, to make desolate for ever every enemy that does wickedly in the sanctuary:''

but the accent "athnach", which divides propositions, and is upon the word (xun) , forbids such a reading. The former sense is best, and most agreeable to the context;

even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary;
by profaning and destroying the temple, as did Nebuchadnezzar, Antiochus, and Titus; or by antichrist sitting in the temple and church of God, setting up idolatrous worship in it, and blaspheming the tabernacle of God, and those that dwell therein, ( 2 Thessalonians 2:4 ) ( Revelation 13:6 ) .

Psalms 74:3 In-Context

1 (73-1) <Understanding for Asaph.> O God, why hast thou cast us off unto the end: why is thy wrath enkindled against the sheep of thy pasture?
2 (73-2) Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt.
3 (73-3) Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
4 (73-4) And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs,
5 (73-5) And they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. As with axes in a wood of trees,
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