Psalms 74

The Church of God lamenteth over the fearful devastations which the enemies had made every where, especially in the Temple and Synagogues; and considering the cruelty and blasphemies of the enemy, the present want of Gods love-tokens, his former wonders and mercies, the afflicted estate of his beloved and helpless Church, and the stedfastness of his Covenant, she prayeth for deliverance, for Gods glory and the enemies confusion.

1. An instruction, [See Psalm 32.on ver.1.] for Asaph. [or, of Asaph. Which may be understood of Asaph himself, or his posterity. See Psalm 50.on v.1. Some think that Asaph himself composed this Psalm by a Prophetical spirit of the times to come, to be used when these troubles should befall the people of God.] O God why dost thou reject forever? [or, utterly, altogether; see of the Hebrew word Psalm 13.on v.2.] (why) should thine angry smoak [or, thy nose? Compare 2 Sam.22.16. otherwise, smoaking anger, is the same with burning anger, according as Gods wrath is often compared with fire, which useth to send up smoak. See Psalms 80:5. and Deut.29. verse 20.] against the sheep of thy pasture? [See Psalms 100:3.]

2. Remember thy congregation, [Thy Church thy people Israel.] (which) thou hast purchased of old; the od of thine heritage, [i.e. Israel which is thine heritage, which hast measured out unto thyself with rods as it were. So Jerem.10.16. compare Deut.32.on v.9. and Psalm.16.v.5.6.] which thou hast redeemed: the hill of Sion, whereupon thou hast dwelt.

3. Lift up thy feet [Or, goings, steps, i.e. make haste, come a pace, to take a view of those long-lasting desolations, and to take order accordingly; spoken of God after the manner of men,] to the everlasting desolations: [Heb. Desolations of eternity, i.e. exceeding long and lasting.] the enemy hath wasted [or defaced Heb. Properly made evil] all in the Sanctuary.

4. Thine adversaries have roared [Like lions] in the midst of thy gathering places: [where at set times thy people are gathered together to perform their solemn worship of God, and to hear the word of the Lord; such as were in those days the Temple and the Synagogues, whereof below, v.8.] they have set (up) their tokens for tokens: [They have replenished all with their idolatrous tokens, or warlike banners, in token of their conquest and mastery over us.

5. Every one is made known, [Heb. Is known; Every one, namely, of the enemy.i.e. every one of them grows famous and renowned, is taken notice of, as one that did notably acquit himself of his manhood or valour. Compare Prov.31.23. and above Psalms 9:17.] as one that getteth up the axes aloft, [i.e. they hewed and hacked not otherwise, then if they were cutting wood in a forest.] in the thickness of the trees [or wood, (wainscot,) for it may likewise b taken for the wrought tight wood or wainscot of the sanctuary, the meaning being all one, and then it might be rendered thus; as bringing up the axes on high, or, to the top, or, as having brought up or, plying, or laying on the axes aloft. i.e. every one was taken notice of and famous, as going to work in that manner, or, thereby that he thus did and bestirred himself; the particle as, or like, being not always taken for comparing of things, but sometimes also setting cut the very act and truth of things. See Nehem.7.on v.2. and Gen.27.on v.12.]

6. So have they now beaten in pieces the engravings of it: [i.e. the cut or carved work of the sanctuary, (whereof v.2.) where the congregation used to assemble, which seems to be implied by the pronoun of it; or of her Hebr. Her openings, of which word see Exod.28.11.] together with hatches, [the Hebrew word hath its denomition from hunting, falling, felling, or pulling down, signifying likewise such a tool or instrument, whereby something is torn or broken off to be pulled down; as pick axes, iron hooks, halberds] and hammers.

7. They have set, [Heb. Sent] thy sanctuaries on fire; to the ground have they prophened the habitation of thy Name. [i.e. to the very ground, or they have prophaned it, breaking it down, and raising it to the ground.]

8. They have said in their heart: let us spoil them altogether: [Or oppress them. Of the Hebrew word here used, there comes another signifying a Dove, the same being every mans prey as it were. Others, their children say in their heart, etc. They have, etc.] they have burnt all Gods assembling places in the land. [that is to say, all the synagogues and schools of the Prophets where the word of God was wont to be read and taught or expounded.]

9. We do not see our tokens (or signs:) [Neither the ordinary nor the extraordinary signs and tokens of Gods gracious presence and favourableness.] There is no Prophet more: Compare Ezech.7.v.26. From this passage, considering that the Author of this Psalm was a Prophet and man of God himself, the opinion of some seems the less strange, which hold that this Psalm was made by Asaph, or some other Prophet of that Name, (as we find the like Prophetical form prescribed elsewhere in the word of God) before this sad condition befell Gods people, and whilest the public worship of God was in use and practise yet; as may be gathered from v.1. to serve Gods Church in sundry times thereafter, partly in the Babylonian captivity, after that Ezek. Had ceased to Prophesy: partly under the grievous Tyranny of Antiochus, which some apply this peculiarly unto; in regard the time of the deliverance out of the Babylonian captivity was expressly prophesied by Jeremy. Some doe conceive, that this Psalm (and some others of like argument) were made in that time of Antiochus, by some man of God or prophet, that is by one of their Teachers, that taught Gods people then, and made this Psalm, but was no such Prophet, as the others were in former times, peculiarly called so, for that they had divine Revelations of things to come, of whom Malachias was the last] nor any with us, that knew how long: [i.e. how long those miseries and desolations were to last.]

10. How long, O God, shall the adversary reproach? Shall the enemy blaspheme thy Name forever? [i.e. continually, without end or ceasing. See on v.1.]

11. Why dost thou with-draw thine hand, yea thy right hand? [Whereby thou wast wont so powerfully to protect and save us, spoken after the manner of men] draw (pluck it) forth out of the midst of thy bosome, [i.e. imply it, or set it a work; the contrarily is said of them, that are loath to work. Prov.26.15.] make an end, [viz.of these desolations of the enemy, and of our miseries; or consume, viz. Those our enemies. Others, put it out fully out of the midst of thy bosome.

12. Yet God is my King of old; that worketh salvations, (or deliverances) in the midst of the earth.

13. Thou hast cleft (or spilt) the Sea, [understand the read sea, or the Reed-sea] by thy power: Thou hast broken the heads of the Dragons in the waters. [i.e. the stout and insolent Grandees and Commanders of Pharaoh.]

14. Thou hast bruised the heads [i.e. that great head which is in stead of many; like as the Elephant is called Behemoth, i.e. Beasts for being a beast of that bigness. Job 40:10. etc, or by these heads we may understand Pharaohs Captains] of the Leviathan. [That is, of that terrible Sea-monster, or Sea-Dragon, unto which Pharaoh and other great Tyrants are assimilated, Isa.27.1. comp. Also Ezek.29.3,4,5. And 32.2. see further of Leviathan, Job 40.v.20. etc] Thou hast given him for food to the people in dry places. [i.e. to the fowls and wild beasts, which devoured the dead carcases of the drowned Egyptians, being cast on land, or driven on the shore: (Exodus 14:30.) thus are the Pismires, Grasshoppers, Connies, Joel 1:6. Otherwise, it may likewise be understood thus, that God gave the spoil of the Egyptians to his people, for their maintenance in the wilderness; comp. Deut31.17. and Numb.14.9. with the Annot.]

15. Thou hast clest a fountain and a brook: [i.e. thou hast cleft a Rock, that a Fountain and brook issued thence.] Thou hast dried up strong Rivers: [Heb. Rivers of strength; as the waters of the river Jordan, that the children of Israel went over dry foot. The verse implieth, That he bringeth forth waters, where there is no appearance of any, and drieth them up, where they are in abundance.]

16. The day is thine, the night is thine also: thou hast prepared the light and the sun: [The light, i.e. a light giving, or shining body whereby the moon and stars may be understood here to give light by night, as the sun doth by day: See Gen.1.16. Psalms 136:7,8. And comp. Job 31:26. where by the light, the sun seems to be understood, but the moon is exprest by name.]

17. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth; summer and winter hast thou formed. (or fashioned.)

18. Remember this: The enemy hath reproached the LORD. [Others, the enemy hath reproached, (or, scorned) O LORD:] and a foolish people hath blasphemed thy Name.

19. Do not give up the soul of thy Turtle Dove, [that is, the life and being of thy Church, which is so powerless and helpless to withstand this fierce multitude, as a poor silly Turtle Dove is against the violence of ravous beasts or wild fowl, shrouding herself in stillness, with weeping and moaning to God, and remaining spiritually and inwardly fair, plain, or single hearted, me and faithfull to her God. To which sence and purpose, the similitude of Doves is frequently used in the holy Scriptures. See above Psalms 55:7. and 56.1. and 68.14. Cant.1.15. and 2.14. and 4.1. and 5.12. and 6.9. Isa.38.14. and 59.11. Ezek.7.16. Hos.11.11. Matth.10.16.] to the wild beast: [or to this wild fry: See of the Hebrew word, Psalm.68.on verse 11.] forget not the company of thy afflicted ones [such as belong to thee, and suffer for thy Names sake: Comp. Psalm 27.34. and 72.2.] forever. [i.e. continually evermore; as ab.v1.]

20. Look upon the Covenant: [Which thou hast made with Abraham and his seed grounded on the Messiah] for the dark places of the land are full of habitations of violence: [i.e. all the corners of the land , are like to murdering-dens, where the enemy practiseth all manner of cruelty and violence.]

21. Let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the afflicted and needy praise thy Name.

22. Arise O God, debate thy cause; [See Psal.35.1.] remember-the reproach (that lighteth) on thee from the foolish all the day. [Heb. Of thy reproach of a fool.]

23. Forget not the cry of thine adversary: [Hebr. The voice, etc.] the noise of them that rise up against thee, ascendeth continually: [i.e. increaseth still: Compare 1 Kings 22:35. or, mounteth up to thee towards heaven: as Jon.1.2.]