Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
Psalm 74 is one of a group of post-Davidic psalms associated with the Babylonian captivity. It reflects the sorrow and desolation of the captives, together with their longing and their prayers for deliverance. The verse belongs to a prophecy concerning the destruction of Israel's sanctuary. The sanctuary itself was burned to the ground, while the ground on which it stood was not itself the sanctuary.
The verse depicts God's enemies roaring in the midst of His congregations and setting up their banners or ensigns as signs of victory. Its surrounding context marks a time when the people had no prophet and were left without prophetic guidance and vision, as described in verse 9. That hostile victory sign connects with setting up a counterfeit sign in place of the Sabbath, which is God's sign.
Psalm 74 is one of a group of post-Davidic psalms associated with the Babylonian captivity. It reflects the sorrow and desolation of the captives, together with their longing and their prayers for deliverance. The verse belongs to a prophecy concerning the destruction of Israel's sanctuary. The sanctuary itself was burned to the ground, while the ground on which it stood was not itself the sanctuary.
The verse depicts God's enemies roaring in the midst of His congregations and setting up their banners or ensigns as signs of victory. Its surrounding context marks a time when the people had no prophet and were left without prophetic guidance and vision, as described in verse 9. That hostile victory sign connects with setting up a counterfeit sign in place of the Sabbath, which is God's sign.