Psalms 74

Psalms 74:1

Title. Maschil of Asaph] Or, A Psalm for Asaph to give instruction, Psal. 32. tit.

of Asaph] Either it was a prophesie of Asaph, or committed to his children, being composed in time of the Babilonian captivity.

WHy hast thou cast us off for ever?] The church of God being oppressed, prayeth to God, by whose hand this yoke was laid upon them for their sins in the Babilonian captivity, when the temple was burnt, verse 7.

Psalms 74:2

the rod of thine inheritance] Which inheritance, thou hast measured out for thy self, as with a line or rod.

rod] Or, tribe.

Psalms 74:3

Lift up thy feet] Come quickly, to see what hurt they have done in thy temple.

the perpetuall desolations] Which have lasted long, and will do for ever, unlesse thou help.

Psalms 74:4

Thine enemies rore in the midst of thy congregations] Crie out, as conquerours.

for signes] In signe of victory over us and our religion.

Psalms 74:5

as he bad lifted up axes] He commendeth the temple for the costly matter, the excellent workmanship and beautie thereof, which notwithstanding the enemies did destroy.

Psalms 74:7

They have cast fire into thy sanctuary] Heb. they have sent thy sanctuary into the fire. 2 Kings 25:9.

Psalms 74:8

They said in their hearts] They were so cruell, that they purposed to destroy Gods people, and to suppresse all religion.

destroy] Heb. break.

in the land] For there were synagogues in other places besides Jerusalem, to pray in, read the law, and instruct the people, Luke 4. 15. and 7. 5. Acts 15:21.

Psalms 74:9

We see not our signes] Miracles, as signes of deliverance.

there is no more any prophet] For Ezekiel prophesied but to the fourteenth yeer after the destruction of Jerusalem, Ezekiel 40:1. and it is likely Jeremiah was dead before: or, it is spoken in the person of those who knew not of any prophets then being, though there might be some, 1 Kings 19:10.

neither is there among us any that knoweth how long] They lament that they have no prophet among them, to shew them how long their miseries should endure, and when they might expect deliverance.

Psalms 74:12

in the midst of the earth] Meaning, in the sight of all the world.

Psalms 74:13

Thou didst divide the sea] Exodus 14:21.

divide] Heb. break.

of the dragons] The captains of Pharaohs army, Exodus 15:4.

dragons] Or, whales, as psal. 44. 19.

Psalms 74:14

the heads of the leviathan] The great power of Pharaoh.

to the people inhabiting the wildernesse] To the wilde beasts and fowls in the deserts, who fed on their carcases, being cast on shore, Ezekiel 38:20. Psalms 79:2. So ants and conies are called people, Proverbs 30:25-26.

Psalms 74:15

Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood] Exodus 17:5. Numbers 20:11.

thou driedst up the mightie rivers] Joshua 3:13.

mightie rivers] Heb. rivers of strength.

Psalms 74:16

The day is thine] Seeing that God, by his providence, governeth and disposeth all things, he prayeth, that he would take speciall care for his children.

thou hast prepared the light and the sun] Either he means the moon, or the light created before the sun: or, the light which the sun giveth.

and the sun] Or, that is, the sun.

Psalms 74:17

Thou hast set all the borders of the earth] By dividing sea and land. Acts 17:26.

thou hast made summer and winter] Genesis 8:22.

made] Heb. made them.

Psalms 74:19

of thy turtle-dove] He meaneth the Church of God, Cant. 2. 14. and 5. 2. and 6. 9. which is exposed as a prey to the wicked.

Psalms 74:20

for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty] That is, all places where thy word shineth not, are full of tyrannie and ambition.

Psalms 74:21

O let not the oppressed return ashamed] Deny not their suit, lest they be ashamed; but deliver them, that they may praise thee.

Psalms 74:22

plead thine own cause] He sheweth that God cannot suffer his Church to be oppressed, except he lose his own right.

increaseth] Heb. ascendeth.