Westminster Annotations, Psalms · Psalm 74 – Psalm 77
PSAL. LXXIIII.
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.
Vers. 1. 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.
V. 2. the rod of thine inheritance] Which inheritance, thou hast measured out for thy self, as with a line or rod.
rod] Or, tribe.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 7. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary] Heb. they have sent thy sanctuary into the fire. 2 King. 25. 9.
V. 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.
V. 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, Ezek. 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.
V. 12. in the midst of the earth] Meaning, in the sight of all the world.
V. 13. Thou didst divide the sea] Exod. 14. 21.
divide] Heb. break.
of the dragons] The captains of Pharaohs army, Exod. 15. 4.
dragons] Or, whales, as psal. 44. 19.
V. 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, Ezek. 38. 20. Psal. 79. 2. So ants and conies are called people, Prov. 30. 25, 26.
V. 15. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood] Exod. 17. 5. Num. 20. 11.
thou driedst up the mightie rivers] Josh. 3. 13.
mightie rivers] Heb. rivers of strength.
V. 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.
V. 17. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth] By dividing sea and land. Acts 17. 26.
thou hast made summer and winter] Gen. 8. 22.
made] Heb. made them.
V. 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.
V. 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.
V. 21. O let not the oppressed return ashamed] Deny not their suit, lest they be ashamed; but deliver them, that they may praise thee.
V. 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.
PSAL. LXXV.
Title. Altaschith] Or, Destroy not. See notes on the title of psal. 57.
a psalm or song] See notes on the title of psal. 30.
of Asaph] Or, for Asaph: for it seemeth that David made it. Verse 3.
Vers. 1. THy wendrows works declare] Gods great works, for his, shews that he is neer to them.
V. 2. When I shall receive] Or, when I shall take a set time.
the congregation] The whole kingdom of Israel; for it seems then he had Judah onelyonly subject unto him. Or, when I shall have conquered Jerusalem, the place appointed for publike meetings.
I will judge uprightly] Heb. uprightnesses: that is, most uprightly.
V. 3. The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved] The land is divided into factions; but I will heal them by just government.
earth] Or, land.
V. 4. Lift not up the horn] Zech. 1. 21. Against me, whom God hath appointed to rule over you.
V. 5. speak not with a stiff neck] Submit your necks to the yoke of my government.
V. 6. For promotion cometh neither from the east] For God hath set up me for king, and will destroy them that oppose my kingdom.
nor from the south] Either the north parts were unknown then, or else it must be translated, from the wildernesse, and so contain north and south; for there was a wildernesse on both sides of Canaan.
south] Heb. desert.
V. 7. God is the Judge] Psal. 50. 6.
he putteth down one, and setteth up another] 1 Sam. 2. 7. Psal. 113. 7.
V. 8. there is a cup] God measures out afflictions for wicked, psal. 11. 6.
mixture] Or, liquor to drink.
V. 10. All the horns of the wicked also will I eut off] I will in my reign pull down bad men, and set up good.
cut off] Jer. 48. 25.
PSAL. LXXVI.
Title. Neginoth] See the notes on the title of psal. 4.
A psalm or song] See the notes on the title of psalm 30.
of Asaph] Or, for Asaph.
Vers. 1. IN Judah is God known] By his word, and by the destruction of their adversaries.
V. 2. In Salem also is his tabernacle] Which afterward was called Jerusalem.
V. 4. then the mountains of prey] Kingdoms full of extortion and rapine, compared to mountains full of ravening beasts; or to mountains where robbers use to shelter themselves, and lie in wait for prey, Amos 4. 1.
V. 5. have found their hands] God hath taken their spirit and strength from them, as though their hands were cut off.
V. 7. who may stand in thy sight] God, with a look, is able to destroy all the power and activity of the enemies, were they never so many or mighty.
V. 8. from heaven] Thou hast delivered us by thy power, manifested as from heaven, psal. 57. 3.
V. 9. to judgement] To revenge the wrongs done to thy Church, and to deliver it.
V. 10. Surely the wrath of man of man shall praise thee] Give the occasion to overcome them, that thy Church may praise thee.
the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain] Thou wilt suffer them to do no more in their fury, then may turn to thy glory.
restrain] Heb. gird: That is, keep it within compasse, as with a girdle.
V. 11. Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God] Psalm 56. 6. Eccles. 5. 6, 7.
let all that be round about him bring presents] To wit, the Levites, that dwell about the tabernacle: or, the people among whom God doth dwell.
unto] Heb. to fear.
V. 12. He shall cut off the spirit of princes] As men gather grapes, so shall he easily and suddenly take away their lives, and disappoint their enterprises. The metaphor sheweth, That the destruction of the mightiest, with God, is but as the nipping of a bunch of grapes with men.
PSAL. LXXVII.
Title. to Jeduthun] Psal. 39. tit.
of Asaph] Or, for Asaph.
Vers. 1. I Cried unto God with my voice] The prophet teacheth us by his example to flee unto God for help in our necessities.
V. 2. my sore] Heb. my hand.
my sore ran in the night] My hand was stretched out in prayer; or, bedewed with my tears.
ran] Or, was stretched out.
refused to be comforted] Jere. 31. 15.
V. 3. and was troubled] Good men sometimes after prayer are troubled more then before, yet must they hold on praying.
V. 4. Thou holdest mine eyes waking] God laid so many forrows on him, that he could not sleep.
I am so troubled that I cannot speak] As one that is astonied with some sore blow received.
V. 5. I have considered the dayes of old] Psal. 143. 5.
V. 6. my song in the night] Of thanksgiving, which I was accustomed to sing in my prosperity.
I commune with mine own heart] Psal. 4. 4.
my spirit made diligent search] For the causes of this great change, and the means to recover my former happy estate.
V. 7. Will the Lord cast off for ever?] Psal. 13. 1.
V. 8. for evermore] Heb. to generation and generation.
V. 10. I said, This is my infirmitie] Psal. 31. 22. and 116. 11.
V. 11. I will remember thy wonders of old] Psal. 44. 1.
V. 13. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary] Thy manner of proceeding is to be learned in thy word, which is taught in the sanctuary, Psal. 73. 17.
V. 14. among the people] From whom, through whom, and to whom thou didst bring thy people.
V. 15. thine arm redeemed thy people] Exod. 6. 6.
V. 16. The waters saw thee, O God] When God brought his people thorow the red sea, the waters fled away like a man frighted, Psal. 114. 3, 5.
V. 17. The clouds poured out water] Heb. The clouds were poured forth with water. It rained, thundred, and lightned, when God delivered his people, Exod. 14. 24. Psal. 68. 7, 8, 9. 1 Cor. 10. 1, 2.
thine arrows also went abroad] Psal. 68. 33.
V. 18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven] Psal. 18. 13, 14.
V. 19. thy path in the great waters] That is, in deep waters.
thy foot-steps are not known] For when thou hadst brought over thy people, the water returned to her course: and the enemies that thought to have followed them, could not passe thorow, Exod. 14. 28, 29. Hence it appears that this parting of the sea, was not from any naturall cause, or accident, but wrought by God of purpose, that his people might passe thorow the sea.
V. 20. Thou leddest thy people like a flock] Exod. 14. 19. Psal. 78. 52.