Continuous ascension

Israel’s priests were to offer ascension offerings ( ‘olah ) continuously ( tamid ) before Yahweh. By performing these offerings, the priests were calling on God to remember His promises and act accordingly. Continuous ascension was a continuous memorial.

Psalm 74 ends with this: “Forget not the clamor of your adversaries, the tumult of your enemies that ascends continually.” “Ascends continually” translates ‘alah tamid , language that carries a strong liturgical charge. The clamor of the wicked is like a continuous ascension offering, which ensures that God will not forget to judge.

God’s enemies get it coming and going. Israel offers a continuous ascension of smoke that reminds God to do justice; the wicked oppose Israel, but their “continuous ascension” of rage has exactly the same effect . So, why fret at the apparent triumphs of the wicked? Their cries of triumph only remind God where they are so He can target them for destruction.