Psalm 74 (73):7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

From the Lord, there was an insertion into the life of this individual, specifically in the figure of Asaph. In their rage, they refused to acknowledge Him as Lord, the very one whose sanctuary they had devastated. Let us eradicate all of the Lord's successes in this land. And what of Asaph? What insight does he draw from these statements? Does he not derive even a modicum of benefit from the chastisement he faces? Is not the disarray of the heart being restored? Everything that originated at the beginning has been overturned: there is no priest found, no Jewish altar, no sacrifices, no temple. Shouldn’t there have been some acknowledgment of what came after this departure? Or would this promise have been taken away if the fulfillment of that which was promised had not arrived? Let us now contemplate Asaph’s thoughts in this situation and determine whether his sorrow yields any gain. Observe his claim: ‘Our signs we have not seen, there is no longer a prophet, and He does not yet recognize us.’

They have set ablaze Your sacred sanctuary. In our profound sorrow, when they attacked us, their sole intent was to obliterate the Law that You bestowed upon us. The prophet refers to ‘feasts’ (Psalms 73:8) as a righteous observance. Despite witnessing the miracles performed during the days of our forebears and without shame regarding the prophetic gift, they brazenly acted against this. In an instant, they found themselves devoid of these divine signs, while prior to and following their return from exile, prophets such as Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi were present. The earlier prophets revealed future events to the people and their rulers, exposing the malevolence of their adversaries, as can be easily understood from historical accounts.

They did not limit their wrath to the destruction of other structures, but instead unleashed their anger upon Your sacred temple, setting some ablaze while laying waste to others with their own hands, treating what is holy as if it were common.

David refers to God’s dwelling as the temple, as noted in the previous psalm. He stated that they desecrated it, meaning this sanctuary was irreverently and maliciously brought low, rendering sacred matters ordinary. It is fitting to describe it as the abode of God's name, given that the essence of God cannot be fully articulated. Some phrases, such as "thy name," can be understood as alternative expressions for "thine," leading to the interpretation: they have desecrated thy abode. The defiled dwelling of God represents the soul that once bore the likeness of heavenly realities but subsequently succumbed to the consuming fire of desire and became ensnared by sin. Theodoret explains that it is not solely the impure that is deemed profane, but often the ordinary. As Abimelech the priest told David, "There are no common (i.e., profane) loaves in my possession, but only holy ones" (1 Sam. 21:4). The ordinary loaves are those that all may partake of, which are neither sanctified nor impure.

The faithful recount the brutal deeds committed by their adversaries in Jerusalem, likening their actions to those of marauders and thieves. Armed with implements of wood and iron, they ravaged the city's walls and swung axes to fell the temple doors, leaving the once exquisitely crafted structures in ruin, resembling a desolated forest. Their insatiable wrath drove them to set ablaze the most splendid temple dedicated to God's glory. To illustrate the extent of their cruelty, the Prophet depicts these foes urging one another to show no mercy, easily highlighting their relentless destruction. The term feasts refers to the sacred gatherings in the Synagogues, not only for the reading and expounding of the Prophets but also for the worship of God and invoking His name. This suggests that the wicked employed every strategy to obliterate the worship of God in Judah.

Ultimately, in Christ, the Fulfillment of all goodness, who is celebrated through hymns of gratitude and will be exalted forever. This Psalm was inspired by the Holy Spirit to David and passed on to Asaph, the head of the singers, so that he could proclaim a joyful prophecy to the Jews about the forthcoming triumph over Sennacherib, king of Assyria (4 Sam. 19:35). This event symbolizes the victory of the Holy Church against all its adversaries, granted by God through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).