CONTENTS
There is somewhat of history in this Psalm, as referring to the
desolations of the church; probably concerning the devastation made by
the Chaldean. The Sacred Writer laments the sad event, and commits the
cause unto the Lord.
Maschil of Asaph.
Psalms 74:1
This Psalm hath a mark put upon... [ Continue Reading ]
It is blessed under afflictions to be enabled to remind God of his
covenant love and engagements. Pleading with God on this ground is
blessed pleading. Reader! can you explain that paradox; the humblest
believer is the boldest pleader. Yes! for he that hath seen most of
Christ, and his covenant bloo... [ Continue Reading ]
The pleading soul here takes up many strong and unanswerable arguments
to plead with God. He first sets out with reminding Jehovah, that the
anger God hath manifested is against his people. Now, saith the
prophet, should God's anger continue forever against his own redeemed?
Whom should a father reg... [ Continue Reading ]
The Holy Ghost evidently intended by these sweet and precious verses,
to teach the church, in all ages, how to adopt such arguments, in all
our dealings with God, when under trial. The best thing I can say to
my God in Christ, is, what my God hath first said to me. In past
experience, the truest and... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is a beautiful acknowledgment of God, in his works of nature and
providence, who had before been adored in his works of grace: and
perhaps in allusion to the Lord's appearing for his people in times of
danger, when in the wars of Joshua and in that of Deborah and Barak,
the Lord arrested the co... [ Continue Reading ]
The prophet, here appealing for the church's safety, makes use of an
additional argument, namely, God's own honour and glory. For who is
blasphemed, but the Lord? Whose name is abused, but the Lord's?
Reader, do not fail to remark the strength of this plea. Moses and
Joshua both had recourse to this... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is the great charter of a poor sinner's plea. It is as if the
soul said, Look, O Lord, unto Jesus! Behold, O God, our shield! See
the Lamb in the midst of the throne! Oh! blessed argument! God himself
manifesting grace to the soul, in putting a plea into a poor sinner's
heart, of God's own prov... [ Continue Reading ]
God had said, For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the
needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord; Psalms 12:5. Well then, saith
the church, in answer to this promise, Let not the oppressed return
ashamed; let the poor and needy praise thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
The prayer closeth with a repetition of the two very powerful
arguments; God's own cause, and the malice of the enemies. As if the
church should say, It matters not what becomes of us; but, Lord, thine
own glory is concerned in our salvation: arise then, O Lord our God,
and, for thine own cause bles... [ Continue Reading ]
REFLECTIONS
READER, behold in this Psalm, the best and strongest arguments for the
church to plead in sad times, namely, God's great name, and the
security of his own honour in the salvation by Jesus. Let the enemies
of the church seem to triumph as they may, with a high hand; and
though they but t... [ Continue Reading ]