Psalm 74:16-33

¹⁶ The day is yours, the night is also yours.
You have prepared the light and the sun. ¹⁷ You have set all the boundaries of the earth.
You have made summer and winter.

¹⁸ Remember this, that the enemy has mocked you, Yahweh.
Foolish people have blasphemed your name. ¹⁹ Don’t deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts.
Don’t forget the life of your poor forever. ²⁰ Honor your covenant,
for haunts of violence fill the dark places of the earth. ²¹ Don’t let the oppressed return ashamed.
Let the poor and needy praise your name. ²² Arise, God! Plead your own cause.
Remember how the foolish man mocks you all day. ²³ Don’t forget the voice of your adversaries.
The tumult of those who rise up against you ascends continually.

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Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 74:16-33

Commentary on Psalm 74:12-17

(Read Psalm 74:12-17)

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.

Commentary on Psalm 74:18-23

(Read Psalm 74:18-23)

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.