My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.
This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.
I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.
Psalm 74:22 Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!
Psalm 74:23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!
It was just a few verses back when Asaph wrote…
Psalm 74:20 Have regard for the covenant.
He is continuing in this same vein of thought, but he is escalating the request. Back in verse 20, he reminded God of the covenant, and was asking God to consider the promises He made. To have an internal reminder so to speak.
In this verse, Asaph is becoming very bold. The phrase “defend your cause” is written as though in a fight for justice, even as in a court.
Defend
רִיב rîyb. (Strongs #7378) The Hebrew word is translated as plead, contend or strive in a majority of the times we find it in the Word. It is not a passive word, but full of action, activity, and argument.
Cause
רִיב rîyb (Strongs #7379) My astute readers will notice that I seemingly have repeated the same Hebrew word, and I would agree, if it were not for the fact that the Strong’ Exhaustive Concordance deemed it fit to assign it a separate number.
Is the general meaning the same? Somewhat. This term describes a contention, a strife or a dispute. The concept of referring to a case in court may be associated with this term.
But Asaph may be going even more hardcore before the Lord, in that some translations include the phrase “your own cause”
- KJV Arise, O God, plead thine own cause:
- NKJV Arise, O God, plead Your own cause;
- NASB95 Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause;
- LSB Arise, O God, and plead Your own cause;
- ASV Arise, O God, plead thine own cause:
- DBY Rise up, O God, plead thine own cause:
- WEB Arise, O God, plead thy own cause
- HNV Arise, God! Plead your own cause.
Might Asaph be reminding God of an obvious truth, inferring that God has dropped the ball in completing His purposes? This is your cause and Your cause alone, and though we, your people are suffering, You alone can fight this cause.
Asaph must have been in tremendouse tension, after seeing the tabernacle/temple destroyed by the enemies of God, and there was seemingly no response. God was quiet, even though His people and the meeting house were crushed. He was begging God to arise, to stand up for His cause, as in a courtroom.
He did arise for the nation. He made his arguments clear and his proof before the judge irrefutable. His enemies have been shamed, and they are without a charge.
Was it in the timing Asaph desired? Not by a long shot, but even in our prayers, God still is in charge. Yes prayer changes things, and God is gracious, merciful and good to all, but His timing in answering is per His will.
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 