Psalm 74:18-23

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 74:18

Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord ,.... Or "hath reproached the Lord", as the Septuagint version and others render it, and very rightly; though not so well the former part of the clause, which it renders, or rather paraphrases, thus: "remember this thy creation", or "creature"; as if it referred to what goes before, as day and night, light and sun, the borders of the earth, summer and winter; whereas it is to be connected with what follows, the reproach of the Lord by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:19

O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove ,.... By which is meant the church, see Song of Solomon 2:14 , which is comparable to this creature for its cleanness and purity, for its amiableness and beauty, for its harmlessness and innocence, for its modesty and meekness, for its affection and chastity to its mate, for its mournful and bemoaning voice for the loss of it, for its being a timorous and fearful creature, a weak one, and exposed to the prey of others; all which is true of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:20

Have respect unto the covenant ,.... The Targum adds, "which thou hast made with our fathers;' meaning not the covenant of works, which being broken, no good thing was to be expected from it, not liberty, life, nor eternal salvation, but all the reverse; but the covenant of grace, made with Christ before the world was, and made manifest to Adam, to Noah, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to David, and others: this God has a respect unto, and does look unto it; he looks to the surety and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:21

O let not the oppressed return ashamed ,.... From the throne of grace, not having an answer of their prayer, but still continuing under the oppressions of their enemies: let the poor and needy praise thy name ; let them have occasion for it, by the destruction of their enemies, and their deliverance from them, as they will have ere long; see Revelation 19:1 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:22

Arise, O God, plead thine own cause ,.... The church's cause being the cause of God; and therefore she desires that he would arise and exert himself, and take vengeance on his and her enemies: this is an interesting argument, and a forcible one: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily ; this being so frequently repeated, as in Psalm 74:10 , shows how much the name and glory of God lay near her heart; the Targum is, "remember the reproach of thy people by a foolish king... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:23

Forget not the voice of thine enemies ,.... Their roaring in the midst of the sanctuary and the congregation, Psalm 74:4 , their reproaching and blaspheming voice, Psalm 74:10 , the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually , or "ascendeth" F9 עולה תמיד "ascendens semper", Montanus; "ascendit semper", V. L. Musculus, Gejerus. ; goes up to God, and is taken notice of by him; the cry of their sins, like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, and of the city of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:18

Remember this - The heathen not only deny these things, but give the honor of them to their false gods, and thus blaspheme thy name. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:19

Deliver not the soul of thy turtle-dove - Thy people Israel are helpless, defenceless, miserable, and afflicted: O deliver them no longer into the power of their brutal adversaries. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:20

Have respect unto the covenant - לברית הבט habbet labberith . Pay attention to the covenant sacrifice; to that offered by Abraham, Genesis 15:9 , etc., when the contracting parties, God and Abram, passed through between the separated parts of the covenant sacrifice. An indisputable type of Jesus Christ; and of God and man meeting in his sacrificed humanity. The dark places of the earth - The caves, dens, woods, etc., of the land are full of robbers, cut-throats, and murderers, who... read more

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