The Book of Psalms
Psalm 74
Psalm LXXIV · Vol. II, pp. 1034–1036
1 The psalmist complaineth of the desolation of the sanctuary. 10 He moveth God to help in consideration of his power, 18 of his reproachful enemies, of his children, and of his covenant.
Maschil of Asaph.1
1 O God, awhy hast thou cast us off for ever? bwhy doth thine anger smoke against cthe sheep of thy pasture?
2 Remember dthy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod2 of thine inheritance,3 which thou hast redeemed; this emount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Liftg up thy feet4 unto the perpetual desolations; even all hthat the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.5
g Ps.68.1; 44.23,26; 80.1-16; 143.7.
4 Lift up thy feet. 'Hasten thy steps.'—Boothroyd.
h ver.7. Ps.79.1. 1 Ki.14.26. 2 Ki.25.9,13-17. Re.xiii.
5 This psalm is prophetic as well as descriptive. Reference is doubtless made in the first instance to the destruction of the city and temple by the hosts of Babylon; but the prophet's eye looks onward, and sees in the dim and distant future woe more dreadful and ruin more lasting. The psalm was probably written just after the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.—P.
5 A man was famous according as he jhad lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
j 1 Ki.5.6,15; 6.14-36.
6 But now they break down kthe carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
k 1 Ki.6.18,29,32,35, with Je.46.22,23.
7 They have cast fire into thy 7sanctuary; they have defiled by casting down the dwelling-place of thy name to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts, lLet us 8destroy them together: they have burnt up all the nsynagogues of God in the land.
9 Weo see not our signs:9 there is no more any prophet; neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
10 O God, phow long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
p Ps.44.16; 89.50,51. Is.37.4,23. Re.13.4-6.
11 Whyq withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
q La.2.3. Ps.44.23; 78.60-62,65. Pr.19.24.
12 Forr God is my King1 of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
r Ps.44.4. Ex.19.5,6. Is.63.9; 51.7,9. Hab.3.12-14.
1 My King—'our King.'—Boothroyd.
13 Thous didst divide2 the sea by thy strength: thou tbrakest the heads of the dragons3 in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be umeat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.4
u Nu.14.9. Ex.15.1-19.
4 Ravenous beasts and birds of prey, the tenants of the wilderness.—C.
16 They day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
A.M. cir. 2983. B.C. cir. 1021.
y Ge.1.14-16; 8.22. Ps.8.3; 136.7-9. Mat.5.45.
18 Remembera this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
a ver.22. Ps.89.50,51; 94.7,8. De.32.21, with Re.16.19. Ps.137.7.
19 O deliver not the soul of thy bturtle-dove8 unto the multitude9 of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
20 Havec respect unto the covenant:1 for the ddark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
c Ge.17.7,8. Ps.105.8-11. Je.32.20,21. Le.26.42,44,45. De.30.3,4. 1 Ki.8.50. 2 Sa.23.5. Ps.106.45. He.8.10.
1 'Thine own covenant.'—Boothroyd.
21 O elet not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
e Ps.9.18; 12.5; 102.17,20,21; 109.31. Re.19.1,2.
Notes
Ver. 1. This title (compare Ps. 95. 7 with He. 3. 17), together with the plurality and circumstances of the form of speech, clearly point to a church cruelly persecuted, and a nation grievously oppressed, pouring out their complaints, not in the ears of men, but of God. C.
Ver. 5. 'As men are seen with uplifted axes, cutting down the thick wood, so the whole carved work of thy temple with chisel and mallet they have hewed down.'—Boothroyd. The imagery in this translation seems forced and incongruous. May it not better be paraphrased thus:—'In former times, the Tyrian woodsman acquired respect and honour, even from his own Gentile fellow-citizens, by cutting down timber in the mountains for Solomon; but now, our Gentile invaders with axes and hammers, recklessly tear down the exquisite carved work of the temple, dedicated by the piety of former years.' C.
Ver. 9. No more any prophet. This statement has been supposed to carry the date of the psalm beyond the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar, because the prophet Jeremiah was then alive. But may not the psalm have been composed by one of the pious remnant that still lingered, in sorrow, amidst the ruins of the temple, after Jeremiah was carried down from Mizpah to Egypt (Je. 43. 6), and is it not, most probably, an expression of regret for that rebellious act of abduction? C.
Ver. 17. Summer and winter. Therefore the God by whose power the glory of light emerges from the deformity of darkness, and the beauty of summer from the desolation of winter, is able to grant deliverance from enemies, and bring comfort out of sorrow. See ver. 10. C.
Ver. 20. 'The prayer in this passage may with propriety be used by the people of God now. It is still true that 'the dark parts of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty;' and in view of this fact, and of the utter hopelessness of the renovation of the world by any human means, or by any progress which society can make of itself, it is proper to seek God's interposition. And it is proper in such prayers to him now, to make the ground of our appeal to him his own gracious covenant; his promises made to his church; his solemn assurance that this state of things shall not always continue, but that the time will arrive when the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord' (Barnes). P.
Reflections.—Alas! to what melancholy apprehensions of their state and case are the people of God sometimes reduced! They fear that the rod of his correction is the sword of his judgment. But though he cast them down, he will not forsake believers. They who are redeemed by Jesus' blood should not come under the bondage of corruption. The favours which they have received are a presage, and ought to be made a plea for greater. While worldly minds feel only worldly crosses, the interests of religion and welfare of the church are incomparably dearest to the children of God. And however certain the ruin which will fall upon the destroyers of his church at last, it is extremely affecting to behold them making havoc of God's truths, ordinances, or people, while there is none to comfort us or to explain the dark providences. But under sore troubles it is proper to commemorate and plead upon God's former and distinguished mercies. He who divided the Red Sea and destroyed Pharaoh and his host, and who brought waters from the rock for Israel; he who is the Sovereign of nature, can, at his pleasure, command our and his church's deliverance. Importunate wrestlings and pleadings with God for the relief of his church, which is so dear to him, and for fulfilling his promise, of which he is ever mindful, and for destroying his daring and implacable reproachers, will not be long unanswered.