mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 74.xml

<div2 id="Ps.lxxv" n="lxxv" next="Ps.lxxvi" prev="Ps.lxxiv" progress="47.32%" title="Chapter LXXIV">
<h2 id="Ps.lxxv-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.lxxv-p0.2">PSALM LXXIV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.lxxv-p1">This psalm does so particularly describe the
destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, by Nebuchadnezzar and the
army of the Chaldeans, and can so ill be applied to any other event
we meet with in the Jewish history, that interpreters incline to
think that either it was penned by David, or Asaph in David's time,
with a prophetical reference to that sad event (which yet is not so
probable), or that it was penned by another Asaph, who lived at the
time of the captivity, or by Jeremiah (for it is of a piece with
his Lamentations,) or some other prophet, and, after the return out
of captivity, was delivered to the sons of Asaph, who were called
by his name, for the public service of the church. That was the
most eminent family of the singers in Ezra's time. See <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.2.41 Bible:Ezra.3.10 Bible:Neh.11.17 Bible:Neh.11.22 Bible:Neh.12.35 Bible:Neh.12.46" parsed="|Ezra|2|41|0|0;|Ezra|3|10|0|0;|Neh|11|17|0|0;|Neh|11|22|0|0;|Neh|12|35|0|0;|Neh|12|46|0|0" passage="Ezr 2:41,3:10,Ne 11:17,22,12:35,46">Ezra ii. 41; iii. 10;
Neh. xi. 17, 22; xii. 35, 46</scripRef>. The deplorable case of the
people of God at that time is here spread before the Lord, and left
with him. The prophet, in the name of the church I. Puts in
complaining pleas of the miseries they suffered, for the quickening
of their desires in prayer, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.1-Ps.74.11" parsed="|Ps|74|1|74|11" passage="Ps 74:1-11">ver.
1-11</scripRef>. II. He puts in comfortable pleas for the
encouraging of their faith in prayer, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.12-Ps.74.17" parsed="|Ps|74|12|74|17" passage="Ps 74:12-17">ver. 12-17</scripRef>. III. He concludes with divers
petitions to God for deliverances, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.18-Ps.74.23" parsed="|Ps|74|18|74|23" passage="Ps 74:18-23">ver. 18-23</scripRef>. In singing it we must be
affected with the former desolations of the church, for we are
members of the same body, and may apply it to any present
distresses or desolations of any part of the Christian church.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74" parsed="|Ps|74|0|0|0" passage="Ps 74" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.lxxv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.1-Ps.74.11" parsed="|Ps|74|1|74|11" passage="Ps 74:1-11" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.74.1-Ps.74.11">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxv-p1.7">Mournful Complaints.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.lxxv-p1.8">
<p id="Ps.lxxv-p2">Maschil of Asaph.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxv-p3">1 O God, why hast thou cast <i>us</i> off for
ever? <i>why</i> doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy
pasture?   2 Remember thy congregation, <i>which</i> thou hast
purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, <i>which</i> thou
hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.   3
Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; <i>even</i> all
<i>that</i> the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.   4
Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up
their ensigns <i>for</i> signs.   5 <i>A man</i> was famous
according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.   6
But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes
and hammers.   7 They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they
have defiled <i>by casting down</i> the dwelling place of thy name
to the ground.   8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy
them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the
land.   9 We see not our signs: <i>there is</i> no more any
prophet: neither <i>is there</i> among us any that knoweth how
long.   10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall
the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?   11 Why withdrawest
thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck <i>it</i> out of thy
bosom.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p4">This psalm is entitled <i>Maschil—a psalm
to give instruction,</i> for it was penned in a day of affliction,
which is intended for instruction; and this instruction in general
it gives us, That when we are, upon any account, in distress, it is
our wisdom and duty to apply to God by faithful and fervent prayer,
and we shall not find it in vain to do so. Three things the people
of God here complain of:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p5">I. The displeasure of God against them, as
that which was the cause and bitterness of all their calamities.
They look above the instruments of their trouble, who, they knew,
could have no power against them unless it were given them from
above, and keep their eye upon God, by whose determined counsel
they were delivered up into the hands of wicked and unreasonable
men. Observe the liberty they take to expostulate with God
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.1" parsed="|Ps|74|1|0|0" passage="Ps 74:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>), we hope not
too great a liberty, for Christ himself, upon the cross, cried out,
<i>My God my God, why hast thou forsaken me?</i> So the church
here, <i>O God! why hast thou forsaken us for ever?</i> Here they
speak according to their present dark and melancholy apprehensions;
for otherwise, <i>Has God cast away his people? God forbid,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.11.1" parsed="|Rom|11|1|0|0" passage="Ro 11:1">Rom. xi. 1</scripRef>. The people of
God must not think that because they are cast down they are
therefore cast off, that because men cast them off therefore God
does, and that because he seems to cast them off for a time
therefore they are really cast off for ever: yet this expostulation
intimates that they dreaded God's casting them off more than any
thing, that they desired to be owned of him, whatever they suffered
from men, and were desirous to know wherefore he thus contended
with them: <i>Why does thy anger smoke?</i> that is, why does it
rise up to such a degree that all about us take notice of it, and
ask, <i>What means the heat of this great anger?</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.29.24" parsed="|Deut|29|24|0|0" passage="De 29:24">Deut. xxix. 24</scripRef>. Compare <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.29.20" parsed="|Deut|29|20|0|0" passage="De 29:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>, where the anger of the
Lord and his jealousy are said to smoke against sinners. Observe
what they plead with God, now that they lay under the tokens and
apprehensions of his wrath. 1. They plead their relation to him:
"We are <i>the sheep of thy pasture,</i> the sheep wherewith thou
hast been pleased to stock the pasture, thy peculiar people whom
thou art pleased to set apart for thyself and design for thy own
glory. That the wolves worry the sheep is not strange; but was ever
any shepherd thus displeased at his own sheep? <i>Remember,</i> we
are <i>thy congregation</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.2" parsed="|Ps|74|2|0|0" passage="Ps 74:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>), incorporated by thee and for thee, and devoted to
thy praise; we are <i>the rod,</i> or tribe, <i>of thy
inheritance,</i> whom thou hast been pleased to claim a special
property in above other people ( <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.9" parsed="|Deut|32|9|0|0" passage="De 32:9">Deut.
xxxii. 9</scripRef>), and from whom thou hast received the rents
and issues of praise and worship more than from the neighbouring
nations. Nay, a man's inheritance may lie at a great distance, but
we are pleading for <i>Mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt,</i>
which has been the place of thy peculiar delight and residence, thy
demesne and mansion." 2. They plead the great things God had done
for them and the vast expense he had been at upon them: "It is
<i>thy congregation,</i> which thou hast not only made with a
word's speaking, but <i>purchased of old</i> by many miracles of
mercy when they were first formed into a people; it is <i>thy
inheritance, which thou hast redeemed</i> when they were sold into
servitude." God <i>gave Egypt</i> to ruin <i>for their ransom, gave
men for them,</i> and <i>people for their life,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.7" osisRef="Bible:Isa.43.3-Isa.43.4" parsed="|Isa|43|3|43|4" passage="Isa 43:3,4">Isa. xliii. 3, 4</scripRef>. "Now, Lord, wilt
thou now abandon a people that cost thee so dear, and has been so
dear to thee?" And, if the redemption of Israel out of Egypt was an
encouragement to hope that he would not cast them off, much more
reason have we to hope that God will not cast off any whom Christ
has redeemed with his own blood; but the people of his purchase
shall be for ever the people of his praise. 3. They plead the
calamitous state that they were in (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p5.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.3" parsed="|Ps|74|3|0|0" passage="Ps 74:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): "<i>Lift up thy feet;</i> that
is, come with speed to repair the desolations that are made in thy
sanctuary, which otherwise will be perpetual an irreparable." It
has been sometimes said that the divine vengeance strikes with iron
hands, yet it comes with leaden feet; and then those who wait for
the day of the Lord, cry, <i>Lord, lift up thy feet; exalt thy
steps;</i> magnify thyself in the outgoing of thy providence. When
the desolations of the sanctuary have continued long we are tempted
to think they will be perpetual; but it is a temptation; for God
will avenge his own elect, will avenge them speedily, though he
bear long with their oppressors and persecutors.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p6">II. They complain of the outrage and
cruelty of their enemies, not so much, no, not at all, of what they
had done to the prejudice of their secular interests; here are no
complaints of the burning of their cities and ravaging of their
country, but only what they had done against the sanctuary and the
synagogue. The concerns of religion should lie nearer our hearts
and affect us more than any worldly concern whatsoever. The
desolation of God's house should grieve us more than the desolation
of our own houses; for the matter is not great what becomes of us
and our families in this world provided God's name may be
sanctified, his kingdom may come, and his will be done.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p7">1. The psalmist complains of the
desolations of the sanctuary, as Daniel, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.9.17" parsed="|Dan|9|17|0|0" passage="Da 9:17"><i>ch.</i> ix. 17</scripRef>. The temple at Jerusalem was
the <i>dwelling-place of God's name,</i> and therefore the
<i>sanctuary,</i> or <i>holy place,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.7" parsed="|Ps|74|7|0|0" passage="Ps 74:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. In this the enemies did wickedly
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.3" parsed="|Ps|74|3|0|0" passage="Ps 74:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>), for they
destroyed it in downright contempt of God and affront to him. (1.)
They <i>roared in the midst of God's congregations,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.4" parsed="|Ps|74|4|0|0" passage="Ps 74:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. There where God's
faithful people attended on him with a humble reverent silence, or
softly speaking, they roared in a riotous revelling manner, being
elated with having made themselves masters of that sanctuary of
which they had sometimes heard formidable things. (2.) <i>They set
up their ensigns for signs.</i> The banners of their army they set
up in the temple (Israel's strongest castle, as long as they kept
closely to God) as trophies of their victory. There, where the
signs of God's presence used to be, now the enemy had set up their
ensigns. This daring defiance of God and his power touched his
people in a tender part. (3.) They took a pride in destroying
<i>the carved work</i> of the temple. As much as formerly men
thought it an honour to lend a hand to the building of the temple,
and he was thought famous that helped to fell timber for that work,
so much now they valued themselves upon their agency in destroying
it, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.5-Ps.74.6" parsed="|Ps|74|5|74|6" passage="Ps 74:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. Thus,
as formerly those were celebrated for wise men that did service to
religion, so now those are applauded as wits that help to run it
down. Some read it thus: <i>They show themselves, as one that lifts
up axes on high in a thicket of trees,</i> for so do they break
down the carved work of the temple they make no more scruple of
breaking down the rich wainscot of the temple than woodcutters do
of hewing trees in the forest; such indignation have they at the
sanctuary that the most curious carving that ever was seen is
beaten down by the common soldiers without any regard had to it,
either as a dedicated thing or as a piece of exquisite art. (4.)
They set fire to it, and so violated or <i>destroyed it to the
ground,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.7" parsed="|Ps|74|7|0|0" passage="Ps 74:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. The
Chaldeans burnt the house of God, that stately costly fabric,
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.36.19" parsed="|2Chr|36|19|0|0" passage="2Ch 36:19">2 Chron. xxxvi. 19</scripRef>. And
the Romans <i>left not there one stone upon another</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:Matt.24.2" parsed="|Matt|24|2|0|0" passage="Mt 24:2">Matt. xxiv. 2</scripRef>), rasing it, rasing it,
even to the foundations, till Zion, the holy mountain, was, by
Titus Vespasian, ploughed as a field.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p8">2. He complains of the desolations of the
synagogues, or schools of the prophets, which, before the
captivity, were in use, though much more afterwards. There God's
word was read and expounded, and his name praised and called upon,
without altars or sacrifices. These also they had a spite to
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.8" parsed="|Ps|74|8|0|0" passage="Ps 74:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>): <i>Let us
destroy them together;</i> not only the temple, but all the places
of religious worship and the worshippers with them. <i>Let us
destroy them together;</i> let them be consumed in the same flame.
Pursuant to this impious resolve they <i>burnt up all the
synagogues of God in the land</i> and laid them all waste. So great
was their rage against religion that the religious houses, because
religious, were all levelled with the ground, that God's
worshippers might not glorify God, and edify one another, by
meeting in solemn assemblies.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p9">III. The great aggravation of all these
calamities was that they had no prospect at all of relief, nor
could they foresee an end of them (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.9" parsed="|Ps|74|9|0|0" passage="Ps 74:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): "We see our enemy's sign set up
in the sanctuary, but <i>we see not our signs,</i> none of the
tokens of God's presence, no hopeful indications of approaching
deliverance. <i>There is no more any prophet</i> to tell us how
long the trouble will last and when things concerning us shall have
an end, that the hope of an issue at last may support us under our
troubles." In the captivity in Babylon they had prophets, and had
been told how long the captivity should continue, but the day was
cloudy and dark (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.34.12" parsed="|Ezek|34|12|0|0" passage="Eze 34:12">Ezek. xxxiv.
12</scripRef>), and they had not as yet the comfort of these
gracious discoveries. God spoke once, yea, twice, good words and
comfortable words, but they perceived them not. Observe, They do
not complain, "We see not our armies; there are no men of war to
command our forces, nor any to go forth with our hosts;" but, "no
prophets, none to tell us how long." This puts them upon
expostulating with God, as delaying, 1. To assert his honour
(<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.10" parsed="|Ps|74|10|0|0" passage="Ps 74:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>): <i>How long
shall the adversary reproach and blaspheme thy name?</i> In the
desolations of the sanctuary our chief concern should be for the
glory of God, that it may not be injured by the blasphemies of
those who persecute his people for his sake, because they are his;
and therefore our enquiry should be, not "How long shall we be
troubled?" but "How long shall God be blasphemed?" 2. To exert his
power (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.11" parsed="|Ps|74|11|0|0" passage="Ps 74:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>):
"<i>Why withdrawest thou thy hand,</i> and dost not stretch it out,
to deliver thy people and destroy thy enemies? <i>Pluck it out of
thy bosom,</i> and be not <i>as a man astonished, as a mighty man
that cannot save,</i> or will not," <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.14.9" parsed="|Jer|14|9|0|0" passage="Jer 14:9">Jer. xiv. 9</scripRef>. When the power of enemies is
most threatening it is comfortable to fly to the power of God.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxxv-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.12-Ps.74.17" parsed="|Ps|74|12|74|17" passage="Ps 74:12-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.74.12-Ps.74.17">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxv-p9.7">Acknowledgments of Divine
Power.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxv-p10">12 For God <i>is</i> my King of old, working
salvation in the midst of the earth.   13 Thou didst divide
the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in
the waters.   14 Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in
pieces, <i>and</i> gavest him <i>to be</i> meat to the people
inhabiting the wilderness.   15 Thou didst cleave the fountain
and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.   16 The day
<i>is</i> thine, the night also <i>is</i> thine: thou hast prepared
the light and the sun.   17 Thou hast set all the borders of
the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p11">The lamenting church fastens upon something
here which she calls to mind, and <i>therefore hath she hope</i>
(as <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Lam.3.21" parsed="|Lam|3|21|0|0" passage="La 3:21">Lam. iii. 21</scripRef>), 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:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p12">I. That God is the God of Israel, a God in
covenant with his people (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.12" parsed="|Ps|74|12|0|0" passage="Ps 74:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>): <i>God is my King of old.</i> This comes in both as
a plea in prayer to God (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.44.4" parsed="|Ps|44|4|0|0" passage="Ps 44:4">Ps. xliv.
4</scripRef>, <i>thou art my King, O God!</i>) and as a prop to
their own faith and hope, to encourage themselves to expect
deliverance, considering the <i>days of old,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.77.5" parsed="|Ps|77|5|0|0" passage="Ps 77:5">Ps. lxxvii. 5</scripRef>. The church speaks as a complex
body, the same in every age, and therefore calls God, "My King, my
King of old," or, "from antiquity;" he of old put himself into that
relation to them and appeared and acted for them in that relation.
As Israel's King, he wrought salvation in the midst of the nations
of the earth; for what he did, in the government of the world,
tended towards the salvation of his church. Several things are here
mentioned which God had done for his people as their King of old,
which encouraged them to commit themselves to him and depend upon
him.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p13">1. He had divided the sea before them when
they came out of Egypt, not by the strength of Moses or his rod,
but by his own strength; and he that could do that could do any
thing.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p14">2. He had destroyed Pharaoh and the
Egyptians. Pharaoh was the <i>leviathan;</i> the Egyptians were
<i>the dragons,</i> fierce and cruel. Observe, (1.) The victory
obtained over these enemies. God broke their heads, baffled their
politics, as when Israel, the more they were afflicted by them,
multiplied the more. God crushed their powers, though complicated,
ruined their country by ten plagues, and at last drowned them all
in the Red Sea. <i>This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.31.18" parsed="|Ezek|31|18|0|0" passage="Eze 31:18">Ezek. xxxi. 18</scripRef>. It was the
Lord's doing; none besides could do it, and he did it with a strong
hand and an outstretched arm. This was typical of Christ's victory
over Satan and his kingdom, pursuant to the first promise, that the
seed of the woman should break the serpent's head. (2.) The
improvement of this victory for the encouragement of the church:
<i>Thou gavest him to be meat to the people</i> of Israel, now
going to <i>inhabit the wilderness.</i> The spoil of the Egyptians
enriched them; they stripped their slain, and so got the Egyptians'
arms and weapons, as before they had got their jewels. Or, rather,
this providence was meat to their faith and hope, to support and
encourage them in reference to the other difficulties they were
likely to meet with in the wilderness. It was part of the spiritual
meat which they were all made to eat of. Note, The breaking of the
heads of the church's enemies is the joy and strength of the hearts
of the church's friends. Thus the companions make a banquet even of
leviathan, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.41.6" parsed="|Job|41|6|0|0" passage="Job 41:6">Job xli. 6</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p15">3. God had both ways altered the course of
nature, both in fetching streams out of the rock and turning
streams into rock, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.15" parsed="|Ps|74|15|0|0" passage="Ps 74:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. (1.) He had dissolved the rock into waters: <i>Thou
didst bring out the fountain and the flood</i> (so some read it);
and every one knows whence it was brought, out of the rock, out of
the flinty rock. Let this never be forgotten, but let it especially
be remembered that the rock was Christ, and the waters out of it
were spiritual drink. (2.) He had congealed the waters into rock:
<i>Thou driedst up mighty</i> rapid <i>rivers,</i> Jordan
particularly at the time when it overflowed all its banks. He that
did these things could now deliver his oppressed people, and break
the yoke of the oppressors, as he had done formerly; nay, he would
do it, for his justice and goodness, his wisdom and truth, are
still the same, as well as his power.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p16">II. That the God of Israel is the God of
nature, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.16-Ps.74.17" parsed="|Ps|74|16|74|17" passage="Ps 74:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16,
17</scripRef>. It is he that orders the regular successions and
revolutions, 1. Of day and night. He is the Lord of all time. The
evening and the morning are of his ordaining. It is he that opens
the eyelids of the morning light, and draws the curtains of the
evening shadow. <i>He has prepared the moon and the sun</i> (so
some read it), the two great lights, to rule by day and by night
alternately. The preparing of them denotes their constant readiness
and exact observance of their time, which they never miss a moment.
2. Of summer and winter: "Thou hast <i>appointed all the bounds of
the earth,</i> and the different climates of its several regions,
for <i>thou hast made summer and winter,</i> the frigid and the
torrid zones; or, rather, the constant revolutions of the year and
its several seasons." Herein we are to acknowledge God, from whom
all the laws and powers of nature are derived; but how does this
come in here? (1.) He that had power at first to settle, and still
to preserve, this course of nature by the diurnal and annual
motions of the heavenly bodies, has certainly all power both to
save and to destroy, and with him nothing is impossible, nor are
any difficulties or oppositions insuperable. (2.) He that is
faithful to his covenant with the day and with the night, and
preserves the ordinances of heaven inviolable will certainly make
good his promise to his people and never cast off those whom he has
chosen, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.36 Bible:Jer.33.20-Jer.33.21" parsed="|Jer|31|36|0|0;|Jer|33|20|33|21" passage="Jer 31:36,33:20,21">Jer. xxxi. 35, 36;
xxxiii. 20, 21</scripRef>. His covenant with Abraham and his seed
is as firm as that with Noah and his sons, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.8.21" parsed="|Gen|8|21|0|0" passage="Ge 8:21">Gen. viii. 21</scripRef>. (3.) Day and night, summer and
winter, being counterchanged in the course of nature, throughout
all the borders of the earth, we can expect no other than that
trouble and peace, prosperity and adversity, should be, in like
manner, counterchanged in all the borders of the church. We have as
much reason to expect affliction as to expect night and winter. But
we have then no more reason to despair of the return of comfort
than we have to despair of day and summer.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ps.lxxv-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.18-Ps.74.23" parsed="|Ps|74|18|74|23" passage="Ps 74:18-23" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.74.18-Ps.74.23">
<h4 id="Ps.lxxv-p16.5">Earnest Supplications; Pleading with
God.</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.lxxv-p17">18 Remember this, <i>that</i> the enemy hath
reproached, <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.lxxv-p17.1">O Lord</span>, and <i>that</i>
the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.   19 O deliver
not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude <i>of the
wicked:</i> forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.
  20 Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of
the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.   21 O let
not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy
name.   22 Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how
the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.   23 Forget not the
voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against
thee increaseth continually.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p18">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 (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.22" parsed="|Ps|74|22|0|0" passage="Ps 74:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>): <i>Arise, O God! plead
thy own cause.</i> 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 will arise and
plead it, though for a time he seems to neglect it; he will stir up
himself, will manifest himself, will do his own work in his own
time. Note, The cause of religion is God's own cause and he will
certainly plead it. Now, to make it out that the cause is God's, he
pleads,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p19">I. That the persecutors are God's sworn
enemies: "Lord, they have not only abused us, but they have been,
and are, abusive to thee; what is done against us, for thy sake,
does, by consequence, reflect upon thee. But that is not all; they
have directly and immediately reproached thee, and <i>blasphemed
thy name,</i>" <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.18" parsed="|Ps|74|18|0|0" passage="Ps 74:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>. This was that which they roared in the sanctuary;
they triumphed as if they had now got the mastery of the God is
Israel, of whom they had heard such great things. As nothing
grieves the saints more than to hear God's name blasphemed, so
nothing encourages them more to hope that God will appear against
their enemies than when they have arrived at such a pitch of
wickedness as to reproach God himself; this fills the measure of
their sins apace and hastens their ruin. The psalmist insists much
upon this: "We dare not answer their reproaches; Lord, do thou
answer them. Remember that the <i>foolish people have blasphemed
thy name</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.18" parsed="|Ps|74|18|0|0" passage="Ps 74:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>)
and that still <i>the foolish man reproaches thee daily.</i>"
Observe the character of those that reproach God; they are foolish.
As atheism is folly (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.14.1" parsed="|Ps|14|1|0|0" passage="Ps 14:1">Ps. xiv.
1</scripRef>), profaneness and blasphemy are no less so. Perhaps
those are cried up as the wits of the age that ridicule religion
and sacred things; but really they are the greatest fools, and will
shortly be made to appear so before all the world. And yet see
their malice—They reproach God daily, as constantly as his
faithful worshippers pray to him and praise him; see their
impudence—They do not hide their blasphemous thoughts in their own
bosoms, but proclaim them with a loud voice (<i>forget not the
voice of thy enemies,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.23" parsed="|Ps|74|23|0|0" passage="Ps 74:23"><i>v.</i>
23</scripRef>), and this with a daring defiance of divine justice;
they <i>rise up against thee,</i> and by their blasphemies even
wage war with heaven and take up arms against the Almighty. Their
noise and <i>tumult ascend continually</i> (so some), as the cry of
Sodom came up before God, calling for vengeance, <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.18.21" parsed="|Gen|18|21|0|0" passage="Ge 18:21">Gen. xviii. 21</scripRef>. <i>It increases
continually</i> (so we read it); they grow worse and worse, and are
hardened in their impieties by their successes. Now, Lord,
<i>remember this; do not forget it.</i> God needs not to be put in
remembrance by us of what he has to do, but thus we must show our
concern for his honour and believe that he will vindicate us.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.lxxv-p20">II. That the persecuted are his
covenant-people. 1. See what distress they are in. They have fallen
into the hands of <i>the multitude of the wicked,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.19" parsed="|Ps|74|19|0|0" passage="Ps 74:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. <i>How are those
increased that trouble them!</i> There is no standing before an
enraged multitude, especially like these, armed with power; and, as
they are numerous, so they are barbarous: <i>The dark places of the
earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.</i> The land of the
Chaldeans, where there was none of the light of the knowledge of
the true God (though otherwise it was famed for learning and arts),
was indeed a dark place; the inhabitants of it were <i>alienated
from the life of God through the ignorance that was in them,</i>
and therefore they were cruel: where there was no true divinity
there was scarcely to be found common humanity. They were
especially cruel to the people of God; certainly those have no
knowledge who <i>eat them up,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.14.4" parsed="|Ps|14|4|0|0" passage="Ps 14:4">Ps.
xiv. 4</scripRef>. They are oppressed (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.21" parsed="|Ps|74|21|0|0" passage="Ps 74:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>) because they are poor and
unable to help themselves; they are oppressed, and so impoverished
and made poor. 2. See what reason they had to hope that God would
appear for their relief and not suffer them to be always thus
trampled upon. Observe how the psalmist pleads with God for them.
(1.) "It is <i>thy turtle-dove</i> that is ready to be swallowed up
by the multitude of the wicked," <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.19" parsed="|Ps|74|19|0|0" passage="Ps 74:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. The church is a dove for
harmlessness and mildness, innocency and inoffensiveness, purity
and fruitfulness, a dove for mournfulness in a day of distress, a
turtle-dove for fidelity and the constancy of love: turtle-doves
and pigeons were the only fowls that were offered in sacrifice to
God. "Shall thy turtle-dove, that is true to thee and devoted to
thy honour, be delivered, its life and soul and all, into the
<i>hand of the multitude of the wicked,</i> to whom it will soon
become an easy and acceptable prey? Lord, it will be thy honour to
help the weak, especially to help thy own." (2.) "It is <i>the
congregation of thy poor,</i> and they are not the less thine for
their being poor (for God has <i>chosen the poor of this world,</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Jas.2.5" parsed="|Jas|2|5|0|0" passage="Jam 2:5">Jam. ii. 5</scripRef>), but they have
the more reason to expect thou wilt appear for them because they
are many: it is <i>the congregation of thy poor;</i> let them not
be abandoned and forgotten for ever." (3.) "They are in covenant
with thee; and wilt thou not <i>have respect unto the covenant?</i>
<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.20" parsed="|Ps|74|20|0|0" passage="Ps 74:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. Wilt thou not
perform the promises thou hast, in thy covenant, made to them? Wilt
thou not own those whom thou hast brought into the bond of the
covenant?" When God delivers his people it is <i>in remembrance of
his covenant,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Lev.26.42" parsed="|Lev|26|42|0|0" passage="Le 26:42">Lev. xxvi.
42</scripRef>. "Lord, though we are unworthy to be respected, yet
have respect to the covenant." (4.) "They trust in thee, and boast
of their relation to thee and expectations from thee. O let not
them return ashamed of their hope (<scripRef id="Ps.lxxv-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.74.21" parsed="|Ps|74|21|0|0" passage="Ps 74:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), as they will be if they be
disappointed." (5.) "If thou deliver them, they will praise thy
name and give thee the glory of their deliverance. Appear, Lord,
for those that will praise thy name, against those that blaspheme
it."</p>
</div></div2>