Bible Commentary

Psalms 74:12-17

Matthew Henry on Psalms 74:12-17

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

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.

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commentaryThe 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 74:12-17Comfort springs from the thought of God's previous deliverances of his people, and of his other great mercies. The deliverance from Egypt has the foremost place (Psalms 74:13,Psalms 74:14), as the most striking. Then th…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:12For God is my King of old (comp. Psalms 44:4). As "King," he has power to perform all that he wills, to set up and to cast down, to give into the enemy's hand and to deliver. Working salvation in the midst of the earth.…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:13Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength. A clear reference to Exodus 14:21 (comp. Psalms 77:16; Psalms 78:13; Psalms 106:9). Thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. The dragon (tannim) is frequently used…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:14Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces. Here the metaphor is only slightly varied, leviathan, "the crocodile," being substituted for tannim, "the dragon," or "sea monster," as the representative of the might of E…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:15Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood; rather, and the torrent (comp. Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:11). Thou driedst up mighty rivers; i.e. the Jordan (Joshua 3:13, et seqq.).Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:16The day is thine, the night also is thine; thou hast prepared the light and the sun (see Genesis 1:5, Genesis 1:15, Genesis 1:16); rather, thou hast prepared him light and sun. "Luminary" ( מָאוֹר) is probably a class n…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 74:17Winter. Winter: what has that to say to us of God and of his ways?—Winter, with its cold, chilling breath, compelling even the strong to wrap themselves round with all manner of protection, and making all who can, shelt…Joseph S. Exell and contributors