Psalm 74:1-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 74:1-11

This psalm is entitled Maschil?a psalm to give instruction, for it was penned in a day of affliction, which is intended for instruction; and this instruction in general it gives us, That when we are, upon any account, in distress, it is our wisdom and duty to apply to God by faithful and fervent prayer, and we shall not find it in vain to do so. Three things the people of God here complain of:? I. The displeasure of God against them, as that which was the cause and bitterness of all their... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 74:12-17

The lamenting church fastens upon something here which she calls to mind, and therefore hath she hope (as Lam. 3:21), with which she encourages herself and silences her own complaints. Two things quiet the minds of those that are here sorrowing for the solemn assembly:? I. That God is the God of Israel, a God in covenant with his people (Ps. 74:12): God is my King of old. This comes in both as a plea in prayer to God (Ps. 44:4; thou art my King, O God!) and as a prop to their own faith and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 74:18-23

The psalmist here, in the name of the church, most earnestly begs that God would appear fro them against their enemies, and put an end to their present troubles. To encourage his own faith, he interests God in this matter (Ps. 74:22): Arise, O God! plead thy own cause. This we may be sure he will do, for he is jealous for his own honour; whatever is his own cause he will plead it with a strong hand, will appear against those that oppose it and with and for those that cordially espouse it. He... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:1

O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever ?..... This the church supposed because of the prevalence, oppression, and triumph of the enemy, because of the hardships and afflictions she laboured under, and because of the hidings of the face of God from her, which unbelief interpreted of a casting off; see Psalm 77:7 when in reality it was not so, only in appearance, and according to a wrong judgment made of things; for God never did nor never will cast off, nor cast away, his people whom he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:2

Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old ,.... Alluding to the redemption of the congregation of Israel out of Egypt, when they were said to be "purchased", Exodus 15:16 and as that people were typical of the people of God, they may be said to be "purchased then", even of old; though the purchase in reality was not made till the blood of Christ was shed, with which he purchased his church, Acts 20:28 , indeed he was the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world, in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:3

Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations ,.... That is, arise, hasten, move swiftly, and in the greatness of strength, and come and see the desolations made by the enemy, which look as if they would remain for ever; meaning either the desolations made in the city and temple of Jerusalem, either by Nebuchadnezzar, or by Titus; or the havocs and devastations made in the church of God by the tyranny and persecutions of antichrist; which have continued so long, that an end of them has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:4

Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations ,.... Particular churches, gathered out of the world in Gospel order, and which meet together at particular times and places; in the midst of these, and against them their enemies, and who are the Lord's enemies, roar like lions, as Satan, and bloody persecutors, and particularly antichrist, whose mouth is the mouth of a lion, which is opened in blasphemy against God and his people, Revelation 13:2 , they set up their ensigns for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:5

A man was famous ,.... Or, "it was", or "is known" F13 יודע "cognitus erat", Munster; "noscitur", Cocceius; "cognoscitur, innotescit", Gejerus. ; the desolations the enemy made, the wickedness they committed, the terror they spread, and the signs they set in the sanctuary of the Lord: according as he had lifted up , or "as one that lifts up" axes upon the thick trees F14 כמביא "velut adducens", Montanus, Gejerus; "tanquam sursum tollens et desuper inducens", Michaelis. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:6

But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. Formerly it was an honour to be employed in cutting down a tree for the building of the temple; but now so little regard was paid to it, that all its fine carved work, which Solomon made, 1 Kings 6:18 , was demolished at once in a rude and furious manner with axes and hammers; which was done either by the Chaldeans in Nebuchadnezzar's time, or by the Syrians in the times of Antiochus, or by the Romans in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:7

They have cast fire into thy sanctuary ,.... Or, "thy sanctuary into the fire" F15 באש מקדשך "in ignem sanctuaria tua", Pagninus, Vatablus; so Cocceius, Gejerus, Michaelis. ; which denotes the utter destruction of it by fire, which was done both by the Chaldean and Roman armies; see 2 Kings 25:9 , they have defiled, by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground , or "to the earth they have defiled the habitation of thy name" F16 לארץ חללו משכן שמך ... read more

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