Psalm 74:20-23

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 74:20

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 74:20

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:21

Let not the oppressed return ashamed - Do not permit thy people to be so diminished, that when, according to thy promise, they are restored to their own land, they may appear to be but a handful of men. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:22

Plead thine own cause - Thy honor is concerned, as well as our safety and salvation. The fool - the idolater, reproacheth thee daily - he boasts of the superiority of his idols, by whose power, he asserts, we are brought under their domination. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:23

Forget not the voice - While we pray to thee for our own salvation, we call upon thee to vindicate thy injured honor: and let all the nations see that thou lovest thy followers, and hatest those who are thy enemies. Let not man prevail against thee or thine. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 74:20

Verse 20 20.Have regard to thy covenant. That God may be the more inclined to show mercy, the prophet brings to his remembrance the Divine covenant; even as the refuge of the saints, when they have found themselves involved in extreme dangers, has always been to hope for deliverance, because God had promised, in the covenant which he made with them, to be a father to then, From this we learn, that the only firm support on which our prayers can rest is, that God has adopted us to be his people... read more

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