Show Don't Tell: Psalm 74

Instead of saying "Israel lamented the temple's destruction," hear the axes chopping. A maskil of Asaph. "O God, why have you rejected us forever? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—Mount Zion, where you dwelt." Rejection feels permanent. "Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins, all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary." Then the devastation: "Your foes roared in the place where you met with us; they set up their standards as signs. They behaved like men wielding axes to cut through a thicket of trees. They smashed all the carved paneling with their axes and hatchets. They burned your sanctuary to the ground; they defiled the dwelling place of your Name." Axes in the temple. Carved panels smashed. Fire consuming the holy place. "They said in their hearts, 'We will crush them completely!' They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land. We are given no signs from God; no prophets are left, and none of us knows how long this will be." No prophets—heaven silent. "How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever?" Then the appeal to creation: "But God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth. It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters." If you defeated chaos at creation, surely you can defeat these enemies.