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74:1 O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?
74:2 Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
74:3 Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.
74:4 Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.
74:5 A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.
74:6 But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.
74:7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground.
74:8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.
74:9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.
74:10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
74:11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.
74:12 For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.
74:13 Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
74:14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.
74:15 Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.
74:16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.
74:17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
74:18 Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.
74:19 O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
74:20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
74:21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.
74:22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.
74:23 Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.



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Everything King James Bible:Psalms
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Psalms
Book: Psalms
Chapter: 74

Overview:
The desolations of the Sanctuary. (1-11) Pleas for encouraging
Faith. (12-17) Petitions for deliverances. (18-23)

1-11 This psalm appears to describe the Destruction of
Jerusalem and the Temple By the Chaldeans. The deplorable case
of the people of God, at the time, is spread before the Lord,
and left with him. They plead the great things God had done for
them. If the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was
encouragement to Hope that he would not cast them off, much more
reason have we to believe, that God will not cast off any whom
Christ has redeemed with his own Blood. Infidels and persecutors
may silence Faithful ministers, and shut up places of Worship,
and say they will destroy the people of God and their religion
together. For a long time they may prosper in these attempts,
and God's oppressed servants may see No prospect of deliverance;
but there is a remnant of believers, the seed of a future
Harvest, and the despised Church has survived those who once
triumphed over her. When the power of enemies is most
threatening, it is comfortable to flee to the power of God By
Earnest Prayer.

12-17 The Church silences her own complaints. What God had done
for his people, as their King of old, encouraged them to depend
On him. It was the Lord's doing, none besides could do it. This
Providence was Food to Faith and Hope, to support and encourage
in difficulties. The God of Israel is the God of nature. He that
is Faithful to his Covenant about the Day and the night, will
never cast off those whom he has Chosen. We have as much reason
to expect affliction, as to expect night and winter. But we have
No more reason to despair of the return of comfort, than to
despair of Day and summer. And in the world above we shall have
No more changes.

18-23 The psalmist begs that God would appear for the Church
against their enemies. The folly of such as revile his Gospel
and his servants will be Plain to all. Let us Call upon our God
to enlighten the dark nations of the Earth; and to rescue his
people, that the Poor and needy may praise his name. Blessed
Saviour, thou art the same yesterday, to-Day, and for ever. Make
thy people more than conquerors. Be thou, Lord, all in all to
them in every situation and circumstances; for then thy Poor and
needy people will praise thy name.

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