Psalms 74

Psalms 74:3

3. Lift up thy feet &c.] God is represented as having withdrawn Himself, and departed afar off; He is therefore entreated to return without delay, to view the long lasting desolations of the once highly-favoured city, and the ravages made by enemies in the sanctuary. Bp. Horne.

Psalms 74:4

4. Thine enemies roar &c.] That is, they send up shouts of triumph in those places where thy people used to praise thy name. Bp. Patrick.

— they set up their ensigns for signs.] They erect their standards in token of victory. Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 74:5

5, 6. A man was famous &c.] It was formerly thought an employment of much honour, to cut down and prepare trees for the building of thy holy sanc-

Psalms 74:15

15. If I say, &c.] But, if I persevere in such discourse, and speak like these men, I shall betray the cause of all those who are thy true children, O God. Travell.

Psalms 74:17

17. Until I went &c.] Until I applied to Thee by prayer and meditation on thy word. See Ps. lxxvii. 13.

Psalms 74:20

20. As a dream &c.] Their prosperity is but as a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when Thou seest fit to punish them, Thou shalt cause all their glory and prosperity quickly to vanish. Dr. Wells.

Psalms 74:21

21. — I was pricked in my reins.] I was deeply wounded with disquieting thoughts and tormenting passions, envy, sorrow, and anger. Poole.

Psalms 74:23

23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee.] Notwithstanding these foolish thoughts, I am under the care of thy good providence. Bp. Patrick.

Psalms 74:27

27. — thou hast destroyed &c.] Thou hast destroyed those who, forsaking thy service, have devoted themselves to the worship of other gods. Bp. Patrick. See the note on Exod. xxxiv. 16.

This Psalm teaches us how we ought to judge of the prosperity of the wicked and the afflictions of the righteous. We ought never to believe that wicked men, who live in mirth and plenty in this world, and who enjoy all their wishes, are truly happy, or that the righteous, because they are afflicted, serve God in vain. Asaph has taught us, that to resist this temptation we

must meditate upon the word of God, and the ways of Providence: then we shall find that the felicity of worldly men is vain, and of short duration; and that they are set in slippery places, from whence they fall suddenly. Ostervald.

Psalm LXXIV. This Psalm was occasioned by the desolation of Jerusalem and the temple, and the rest of the country of Judea, made by Nebuchadnezzar, or the Babylonish forces. Dr. Wells.

Ver. 2. — the rod of thine inheritance.] The “tribe” or portion “of thine inheritance,” as in the margin. Bp. Horne. See the note on Jer. x. 16.