Psalms 74

“O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed…” Naming Remember and Zion keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.” Naming Lift keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.” Naming Thine keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.” The line’s distinctive content terms include axes, famous, lifted. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.” The line’s distinctive content terms include axes, break, carved. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the…” The line’s distinctive content terms include casting, defiled, dwelling. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.” The line’s distinctive content terms include knoweth, long, prophet. Its relationship to verses 10 shows what work it does in this passage.

“O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.” The line’s distinctive content terms include light, night, prepared. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.” Naming Thou keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD , and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.” Naming Remember keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for…” The line’s distinctive content terms include congregation, deliver, forget. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.” The line’s distinctive content terms include ashamed, name, needy. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.” Naming Arise keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.” Naming Forget keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.