Untitled Sermon

Psalm 74:title ESV

A Maskil of Asaph.

Within the Asaph group only Psalms 74 and 78 bear the “generic designation” maskil (art song/Wisdom song). It is possible that this characterizes the tendency common to both of them to find in a look back at collective catastrophic historical experiences a “lesson” for present and future.1

1 Hossfeld, F.-L., & Zenger, E. (2005). Psalms 2: a commentary on Psalms 51-100 (K. Baltzer, Ed.; L. M. Maloney, Trans.; p. 244). Fortress Press.

Psalm 73 deals with a personal crisis of faith, but Psalm 74 moves to the national scene and focuses on the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 587–86 b.c. The author is obviously not the Asaph of David’s day but a namesake among his descendants1

1 Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., p. 241). Cook Communications Ministries.

Composed by Asaph; either, 1. By that famous Asaph who flourished in David’s time, and by the Spirit of God foresaw and foretold the things here mentioned. But the clear, and exact, and particular, and most pathetical description of the thing here expressed, looks much more like a narrative of what is past than a prophecy of what is to come; which usually is delivered more darkly. Besides, such a prophecy of the destruction of the temple before it was built would have been a great discouragement to the building of it, and would probably have been taken notice of by Solomon in his1 prayer for it, when it was newly built. Or, 2. By some of his posterity, who is called by their father’s name, Asaph, as the children of Israel are frequently called Jacob, or Israel, and David’s successors David; as hath been noted. 1

1 Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, p. 117). Robert Carter and Brothers.

1 Poole, M. (1853). Annotations upon the Holy Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 116–117). Robert Carter and Brothers.