Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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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.