Bible Commentary

Psalms 74:1-11

Matthew Henry on Psalms 74:1-11

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

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.

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:1O God, why hast thou cast us off forever? It could only have been in the extremity of distress that a devout Israelite believed, even for a time, that Israel was "cast off forever" (comp. Psalms 79:5, which must have be…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:1-23EXPOSITION "THE misery of the Jews is here at its deepest". The psalmist describes Jerusalem as fallen into "perpetual ruins" (Psalms 74:3). The temple is violated (Psalms 74:3); its carved work is ruthlessly cut down (…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:2Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; or, which thou didst purchase of old. The reference is to the redemption out of Egypt (see Exodus 15:16). God is besought, though he has forgotten, once more…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:3-8Hell's carnival. This is what is portrayed to us in these lamentations over the desecrations and destructions wreaked upon the temple at Jerusalem, probably at the time of Nebuchadnezzar's invasion (see 2 Chronicles 36:…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:3Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; or, the perpetual ruins. God is asked to visit and protect, or else to visit and inspect, the desolate ruins with which the Babylonians have covered Mount Zion. Even all…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:4Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; or, have roared; i.e. have created disturbances, or raised tumults. The temple did not pass into the enemy's hands without fighting and bloodshed; the battlecry of t…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:5A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees; rather, they seemed as men that plied aloft hatchets in a thicket of trees (so Kay, Canon Cook, Professor Cheyne, and the Revised Version); i.e.…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:6But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. The "carved work" (pittuchim) of the temple consisted of the cherubim and palm trees and open flowers which formed the decoration of the tem…Joseph S. Exell and contributors