Psalms 74

Psalms 74:12-17

This psalm seems to refer to the miseries of the Jewish people in their captivity. If penned by Alipah, who died in the day of David, it is perpetual, though some suggest it was written by another of the same name, after their return from Babylon. It may also be considered as referring to the sufferings of the church in general in the latter days. The prophet, 1. Makes known to God the miseries that they suffered, ver. 1—11. 2. He encourages his and the people’s hopes, from the consideration of what God had done for them formerly, ver. 12—17. 3. He concludes with divers petitions to God for deliverance, ver. 18—23.

¶ ‘Máchil of ‘Ašph.

1. 1. O GOD, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doeth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? 2. Remember thy congregation which thou hast purchased of old: the rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed, this mount Zion wherein thou hast dwelt. 3. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual defoliations: ever all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. 4. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations: they set up their ensigns for signs. 5. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes against the thick trees. 6. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once, with axes and hammers. 7. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by sailing down the dwelling-place of thy name to the ground. 8. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burnt up all the synagogues of God in the land. 9. We see not our signs, there is no more any prophet, neither

2. O GOD, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doeth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? 2. Remember thy congregation which thou hast purchased of old: the rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed, this mount Zion wherein thou hast dwelt. 3. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual defoliations: ever all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. 4. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations: they set up their ensigns for signs. 5. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes against the thick trees. 6. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once, with axes and hammers. 7. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by sailing down the dwelling-place of thy name to the ground. 8. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burnt up all the synagogues of God in the land. 9. We see not our signs, there is no more any prophet, neither

is there among us any that knoweth how long. 10. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever? 11. Why with-drawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

9. 1—11. A day of trouble should be a day of prayer. Whence can we hope for relief, but by pouring our complaints into the bosom of our compassionate God? The Psalms here,

10. Humbly expounded with God on their calamities. O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? for so long their sufferings were continued, that they began to fear they would never end. Why doeth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? so fierce his wrath appeared against them, though the sheep of his pasture, whom once he had fed with a shepherd’s care; and though foolishly they had strayed from him, yet cannot they quit their hope, that he would still regard them to this endeared relation, and they the furiousness of his displeasure. Note, (1.) The people of God are sometimes brought to very melancholy apprehensions about their state, and to fear the rod of correction is the sword of judgment. (2.) Though God for a time cast down his people, he will never finally cast them off.

11. He pleads for a gracious remembrance from God. Remember thy congregation, chosen by him to be a peculiar people, which thou hast purchased of old, by the blood of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world; the rod of thine inheritance, to whom God had an effectual claim, which thou hast redeemed, not only by the eternal redemption of his Son, but by many temporal deliverances wrought for them, especially from Egypt, this mount Zion wherein thou hast dwelt, and from whence he in-treats God would not remove his residence. And this is applicable to the church in every age, redeemed by Jesus from sin, death, and hell; in the midst of which God is pleased to dwelt, and who may in every time of trouble expect a gracious remembrance from him. Note, (1.) The past favours we have received from God, may be made a plea for greater; for where he loves, he loves unto the end. (2.) They who are redeemed by the blood of Jesus, shall never perish under the bondage of corruption.

12. He complains of the distress to which they were reduced. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual defoliations, to come and see them; either those of the Chaldeans, which they feared would be perpetual, or of the Romans, of so much longer continuance: even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary, for though they had God’s commission to destroy, the spirit with which they did it, rendered them utterly guilty. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations, where once the voice of humble praise was heard, there riotous mirth and joy defile the sacred courts; or where they assembled for worship, they inflicted, disturbed, and dispersed them: they set up their ensigns for signs, on the battlements of the temple, as proud conquerors; and this defiance of God, his people could not behold without bitter anguish. A man was famous, or known, according as he had lifted up, or as one that left up axes upon the thick trees; formerly it was esteemed a man’s honour to have contributed to raise the temple, but now they break down the carved work thereof at once, with axes and hammers, eager to deface and destroy the glorious fabric: the sanctuary is in flames, and raised to the ground, 9. 7. They said in their hearts, such as their malicious purpose, let us destroy them together, that not a man may be left, or a place of worship remain. They have burnt up all the synagogues of God in the Land, so desirous they seemed to anticipate their holy religion, and put an end to their solemn assemblies. Note, Worldly minds only feel their worldly credits; to a child of God, the interests of religion are infinitely dearer to him, than any earthly concern.

13. No prospect of relief appeared. We see not our signs, none of the wonderful interpositions of God, to which they had been accustomed; none of the institutions and ordinances of God’s worship, which were a sign of God’s presence with them, but ceased on the destruction of the temple. There is no more any prophet, few were raised up in Babylon; in Malachi they ceased, and since their last dispersion, they have been left utterly destitute: neither is there any among us that knoweth how long; they understood not the prophecies concerning the end of the Babylonish captivity, and at present are entirely in the dark, without the least knowledge when their defoliations shall end.

14. He intrudes an immediate exertion of God’s power on their behalf. How long shall the adversary reproach and blaspheme thy name for ever? for this is the most generous part of their calamity, that God is so dishonoured by the insulting Son. Why withdraweth thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom, and destroy our enemies. Note, The enemies of God, however prosperous for a while, will be consumed at the last with an utter destruction.

15. For ‘God is my king of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 1. Thou disst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the § dragons in

the waters. 14. Thou baskest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be ‘meant to the people inhabiting the wilderness. 15. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: ’thou driest up mighty rivers. 16. The day of thine, the night also a thine: ’thou hast prepared the light and the sun. 17. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: ’thou hast made summer and winter.’

We have here two confederations suggested for the quieting the people of God under their troubles.

1. God is Israel’s King, working wonders for their salvation. God is my King of old, protecting and preserving his people from their foes, working salvation in the midst of the earth; that spiritual and eternal salvation which all nations should partake of through Jesus Christ; or an interposing in a miraculous manner, in delivering the Jewish people, dividing the red sea for their passage, and destroying Pharaoh and his captains in the waters, v. 13. though fierce as dragons, and strong as leviathan, and with their spoil enriched his people; and hereby also he fed their hopes, and supported their faith during their long abode in the wilderness, v. 14. forth from the rock, at God’s command, the fountain gushed to relieve their thirst, and followed them their journey through; and Jordan’s mighty waters were dried up, to open a way for the retirement to yell over, v. 15. Miracles like these might well raise their expectation of deliverance from their pretext troubles, seeing his hand is not governed. Note, (1.) The head of the old dragon is bruised by our divine Lord, and we may triumph over him as a vanquished foe. (2.) The same rock that followed Israel follows us, for that rock was Christ, and from the waters of his grace and confessions, believers are daily comforted and strengthened in their journey through this wilderness. (3.) If we see not these outward miracles, as great spiritual wonders are still wrought for God’s Israel, who, through difficulties to human apprehension insurmountable, are led safely to their heavenly Canaan.

2. He is the God of nature. The day is thine, the night also is thine; he opens the eye-lids of the morning, and draws the curtains of the evening, and in regular succession the luminaries of heaven move in their orbits: he hath prepared the moon and the sun, that alternately give light to the world. Thus hast set all the borders of the earth; settling the bounds of nations, and fixing the habitation of each individual: thou hast made summer and winter: and surely, he who made all these hath power to save his people; if his covenant of nature abide, his covenant of grace with them is more unchangeable, and with the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other, the other

3. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. 19. O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the wicked, forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. 20. Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. 21. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name. 22. Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how: the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. 23. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee, + increaseth continually.

Psalms 74:18-23

Conscious that their help cometh only from the Lord, the plaintiff calls upon him to arise and plead, not merely on their behalf, but thine own cause, his glory being intimately connected with their salvation.

1. God was reproached and blasphemed daily by their enemies, as if he was unable to deliver them, or unfaithful to his promises, and disappointed their hopes, v. 18. their success intoxicated them, and daily they increased their proud boastings. This their foolishness and wickedness, David hopes God will remember, and not forget for the sake of his own glory, so dishonoured hereby, v. 22, 23. Note, (1.) Success often makes sincere more daring, and ripens them for ruin. (2.) The enemies of God’s people triumph often, as if the day was their own, but the prosperity of fools destroys them. (3.) Unguilty knows think they are very wise when they turn things sacred into ridicule; but, in their confusion, they will be proved in the end as foolish as they are wicked. (4.) God needs no memorial, he sees and notes the ways of men; but it is right we should plead this as a testimony of our regard for God’s glory, and of our confidence he will appear to vindicate it.

2. His people were oppressed and persecuted: they are called God’s turtle-dove, so mournful, harmless, pure, affectionate, constant; his poor, humble and lowly in spirit, such as God

promises as regard; therefore the plaintiff prays, O deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove unto the multitude of the wicked, who waited but for permission to destroy them, forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever; though for a time they had formed forsaken, he hopes God will at last remember them in mercy. Have respect unto the covenant; the conditions of which being fulfilled in the Redeemer, though we are unworthy, it is sure to all the seed: for the dark places of the earth, and such were the mansions of their captivity, are full of the habitations of cruelty, which rendered their flats more wretched and pitsible, being so cruelly roamed by their enemies. O let not the oppressed return ashamed; as disappointed of their requests at a throne of grace: let the poor and needy praise thy name: give them comfort to do so, for the destruction of their enemies, and their own salvation; and give them a heart to do so, that whilst the wicked blaspheme, they may adore thee.