For God is my King of old ( comp. Psalms 44:4 ). As "King," he has power to perform all that he wills, to set up and to cast down, to give into the enemy's hand and to deliver. Working salvation in the midst of the earth. Not in any imaginary earth centre, but, as Professor Cheyne says, "quite broadly, in various parts of the earth" (comp. Exodus 8:22 ). read more
Comfort springs from the thought of God's previous deliverances of his people, and of his other great mercies. The deliverance from Egypt has the foremost place ( Psalms 74:13 , Psalms 74:14 ), as the most striking. Then the deliverance from the wilderness, and the passage of Jordan ( Psalms 74:15 ). From these the poet passes to God's mercies in nature—day and night, light and sun, set bounds of earth and sea, alternations of the seasons—all formed and arranged by the Almighty ( Psalms... read more
Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength. A clear reference to Exodus 14:21 (comp. Psalms 77:16 ; Psalms 78:13 ; Psalms 106:9 ). Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters . The dragon ( tannim ) is frequently used as a symbol of Egyptian power (see Isaiah 51:9 ; Ezekiel 29:3 ; Ezekiel 32:2 ). The allusion here is to the destruction of Pharaoh's host in the waters of the Red Sea ( Exodus 14:27-30 ; Exodus 15:4 ). read more
Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces. Here the metaphor is only slightly varied, leviathan, "the crocodile," being substituted for tannim, "the dragon," or "sea monster," as the representative of the might of Egypt. And gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. The corpses of the Egyptians thrown up upon the Red Sea shores ( Exodus 14:30 ) are certainly the "meat" intended. Whether the "people of dwellers in the wilderness" are cannibal tribes, or jackals... read more
For God is my King of old - That is, the king, or ruler of his people. The people had acknowledged him as their king and ruler, and he had showed himself to be such. This is given as a reason why he should now interpose in their behalf. It is an argument, proper always to be urged, drawn from the faithfulness and unchangeableness of God.Working salvation in the midst of the earth - Salvation for his people. The reference here particularly is to what he had done for his people in delivering them... read more
Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength - Margin, as in Hebrew, “break.” That is, he had by his power “broken up” the strength of the sea so that it offered no resistance to their passing through it. The allusion is evidently to the passage through the Red Sea, Exodus 14:21.Thou brakest the heads of the dragons - Margin, “whales.” On the meaning of the word used here - תנין tannı̂yn - see the notes at Isaiah 13:22; notes at Job 30:29. It refers here, undoubtedly, to crocodiles or sea... read more
Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces - On the meaning of the word “leviathan,” see the notes at Job 41:1. The word is used here as descriptive of sea monsters.And gavest him to be meat - Gavest him for “food.”To the people inhabiting the wilderness - That is, the sea monsters were killed, and, being thrown on shore, were gathered for food. The “inhabitants of the wilderness” or the desert, may refer either to the wild and savage tribes of men that lived on the shores of the sea, and... read more
Psalms 74:10-12. How long shall the adversary reproach Namely, thy name, (which is expressed in the next clause,) by saying that thou art either unkind to thy people, or unfaithful in thy covenant, or unable to deliver us out of our miseries. Why withdrawest thou thy hand? Why dost thou suspend or forbear the exercise of that power which thou hast so often exerted in behalf of thy people? Pluck it out of thy bosom In which thou now seemest to hide it, as idle persons used to do. This... read more
Psalms 74:13-14 . Thou didst divide the sea, &c. “The first part of this verse alludes to that marvellous act of omnipotence which divided the Red sea for Israel to pass over; the second part to the return of its waves upon the heads of the Egyptians, who, like so many sea-monsters, opening their mouths to devour the people of God, were overwhelmed, and perished in the mighty waters.” Horne. Thou brakest the heads of the dragons The crocodiles, meaning Pharaoh’s mighty men, who were... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 74:7-12
The destructive work of man and the constructive work of God. The prayer in Psalms 74:1 , Psalms 74:2 , to help the people sunk in the deepest misery, is followed by its basis or ground, which consists of a picture of this misery ( Psalms 74:3-9 ); the sanctuary is destroyed, and all traces of the presence of God among his people have disappeared. The short prayer in Psalms 74:10 , Psalms 74:11 seeks support and stay in the thought of the omnipotence of the God of Israel ( ... read more