Psalm 74:16-33

¹⁶ Thine 'is' the day, also Thine 'is' the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver—the sun. ¹⁷ Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.

¹⁸ Remember this—an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name. ¹⁹ Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever. ²⁰ Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence. ²¹ Let not the oppressed turn back ashamed, Let the poor and needy praise Thy name, ²² Arise, O God, plead Thy plea, Remember Thy reproach from a fool all the day. ²³ Forget not the voice of Thine adversaries, The noise of Thy withstanders is going up 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.