Psalm 74:12-17 NIV

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:12

For God is my King of old ,.... Or "but God", or "verily God", &c.; F4 ואלהים "atqui Deus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "at Deus" Vatablus, Cocceius; "equidem", Tigurine version; "certe", Schmidt. ; for these words contain the church's consolation under all the above melancholy circumstances, taken from what God was, and had been to her, even Christ, who is God over all; he was her King by the constitution and designation of his Father, and so he had been of old, even from... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:13

Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength ,.... This and the following instances from hence to Psalm 74:18 are proofs of God's working salvation in the midst of the earth; some of them seem peculiar to the people of Israel, and others are benefits common to mankind in general; which the church makes use of to encourage her faith and hope, in expectation of salvation, and deliverance out of her present distressed and melancholy circumstances. This seems to refer to the Lord's dividing of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:14

Thou breakest the heads of leviathan in pieces ,.... A large fish, generally thought to be the whale, by some the crocodile, described in Job 41:1 to which the king of Egypt or Babylon is compared, Isaiah 27:1 and so the Romish antichrist in one of his characters is represented as a sea beast with many heads, which will all be broken in pieces in due time, Revelation 13:1 , as here is one "leviathan" with heads in the plural number. Aben Ezra thinks the word כל is wanting, and may be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:15

Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood ,.... That is, the rocks at Horeb and at Kadesh, from whence water flowed as out of a fountain, and became a flood, whereby the people of Israel were supplied with water in the wilderness, and also their beasts; and from this instance it may be concluded that God will not leave his people, nor suffer them to want, but will supply all their need while they are in the wilderness, and will open fountains and rivers for them, Isaiah 41:17 he himself... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:16

The day is thine, and the night also is thine ,.... He made the one and the other, and divided the one from the other; and can make them longer or shorter, clear or cloudy, as he pleases: and the day of prosperity and night of adversity are at his disposal; all the times of his people and of his church are in his hands; sometimes it is a night of darkness, deadness, sleepiness, and security, as it now is; ere long there will be no more night, but bright day; the light of the moon will be as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:17

Thou hast set all the borders of the earth ,.... Of the whole world, and each of the nations, as of the land of Canaan, so of others, Deuteronomy 32:8 , and even has fixed and settled the bounds of every man's habitation, Acts 17:26 , thou hast made summer and winter ; see Genesis 8:22 , which, taken literally, are great benefits to the world; and, figuratively understood, may represent the two dispensations of the law and Gospel; see Song of Solomon 2:11 , and the different... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:12

For God is my King of old - We have always acknowledged thee as our sovereign; and thou hast reigned as a king in the midst of our land, dispensing salvation and deliverance from the center to every part of the circumference. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:13

Thou didst divide the sea - When our fathers came from Egypt. Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters - Pharaoh, his captains, and all his hosts were drowned in the Red Sea, when attempting to pursue them. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:14

The heads of leviathan - Leviathan might be intended here as a personification of the Egypttan government; and its heads, Pharaoh and his chief captains. To the people inhabiting the wilderness - Probably meaning the birds and beasts of prey. These were the people of the wilderness, which fed on the dead bodies of the Egyptians, which the tides had cast ashore. The Vulgate, Septuagint, Ethiopic, and Arabic read, "Thou hast given him for meat to the Ethiopians," or Abyssinians. read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 74:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:12

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:14

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