Psalm 74 (73):3Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As You once repelled us, so may You lift Your hand against their arrogance in the end. Whose arrogance? That of those who brought about Jerusalem's downfall. And who did this but the rulers of the nations? In the end, His hand rose above their pride, for they, too, have now come to acknowledge Christ. The culmination of the law is Christ, leading to righteousness for everyone who believes (Rom. 10:4). How graciously He wishes them well! Though His words may sound filled with wrath and appear harsh, if only the evil He describes were brought to fruition! Those who wield authority now heed the message of the Cross; thus, the prophesy shall find its completion: all the kings of the earth will bow down to Him, and all nations will serve Him.

You will raise Your hand against their arrogance in the end, specifically against the arrogance of those who stand against the Holy Sanctuary.

You shall place Your hand upon their arrogance to the fullest extent; You shall hold them responsible for their pride. The phrase, "You shall raise Your hands," is used metaphorically, deriving from those who strike out against those who have wronged them. The prophetic grace communicated this, recognizing that the adversaries lived in unrighteousness; for they were not envious of the Crucified but sought to dominate creation, thus engaging in this conflict. Yet God employed them as instruments of judgment, punishing the wicked through their actions. Elika, the wicked enemy, in Your sacred space.

You shall extend Your hands against their arrogance in the end. He instructs us to raise our hands to bring justice upon those who are haughty among us and those who are boastful. The phrase "to the end" signifies entirely. Theodoret comments that we should hold them accountable for the sin of pride. He uses the phrase "Lift up your hands" metaphorically, akin to how one punishes the guilty with their hands. Throughout the Scriptures, the "hand of God" refers to His actions, which are responsible for both good and evil outcomes. This idea is further supported by the subsequent words: Elika lukavnova the enemy in Your sacred place. He says to act in response to what the enemy has inflicted upon Your temple. Here, it is universally acknowledged that he refers to "Your holy place," not "Your holy places," indicating he is indeed speaking of the temple.

The faithful earnestly seek a severe penalty for these individuals, expressing their plea: ‘O Lord, there is no adequate retribution for such a vile and irreverent fury. Utterly eradicate without any chance for healing or mercy those who have so horrendously wronged Your sanctuary and Your people. Crush the prideful wickedness completely with Your strength, for it is beyond remedy. This supplication, inspired by the Holy Spirit through the voices of the faithful, reveals to us, firstly, the boundless love of God for us, as He responds so sternly to the offenses committed against His church; and secondly, the extent to which He safeguards the sanctity of His name by delivering severe justice upon those who scorn it.

Ultimately, in Christ, the Fulfillment of all righteousness, we offer hymns of gratitude and exalt Him for eternity. This psalm, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was given to David and entrusted to Asaph, the leader of the singers, so he could announce a prophetic message of joy regarding the impending victory against Sennacherib, the monarch of Assyria, symbolizing the triumph of the Holy Church over all its adversaries, a blessing from God through our Lord Jesus Christ. It is noteworthy that the Holy Spirit has intertwined the truths of Christian theology with the narrative of Jewish history, thereby providing comfort to the Jew who interprets these words literally, while simultaneously offering joy to the Christian who perceives their deeper significance.

Through this statement, the sacred author aims to illustrate the remarkable audacity of the adversary; not on the mountains, nor among the homes of individuals, but within the very sanctuary, he perpetrates a dreadful act.