Psa 74:19 | KingComments | STEP | After the confession in the previous verses of the certainty that God reigns, the remnant continues to pray to God again ( ). They cry out to God to remember that the enemy has “reviled” the LORD. God will not let this go unpunished. His Name has been blasphemed by “a foolish people”, that is, the nations ( ). The nations are foolish because they have no regard for God at all ( ). The remnant, with this call, is showing that ultimately it is not about them, but about the LORD. LORD is His covenant name. The call to God to remember this testifies to their relationship with Him. God wants His own to call upon Him with reference to Who He is and what He has promised (cf. ; ). The remnant sees the nations as wild beasts, as wolves in the midst of whom they are like sheep ( ). In the face of these tearing animals, they speak to the LORD of themselves as “Your turtledove” (cf. ). The turtledove is a fragile and faithful bird. The remnant is aware of its vulnerability. A turtledove has no natural weapons as a defense against predators. The remnant is also aware of their faithfulness to God and knows that He sees them as a defenseless and faithful dove ( ). Therefore, they ask Him not to forget them “forever” after all. After all, they are “Your afflicted”. They are in miserable circumstances because they are His property. In their circumstances they feel forgotten by Him ( ). First the psalmist thought of the power of God as Creator and also of His love and care as Redeemer. Then he thought of the honor of the Name of God. The Name of God was dishonored by the enemy, while the remnant is but weak. Therefore, the psalmist now appeals to the covenant ( ) and asks God to arise and take action ( ). The remnant reminds God through the psalmist of “the covenant” ( ). Let Him behold it and act accordingly. When He beholds His covenant and then looks at “the dark places of the land”, He must see how much it contrasts with the light of His covenant. For “He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him” ( ). In that all-discovering light, surely He sees that those dark places ”are full of the habitations of violence” against Him and His own. The God-fearing further ask God not to let “the oppressed” return ashamed ( ). That is what happens when God sends the one who prays back home without paying attention. On the contrary, let God hear “the afflicted and needy” and deliver them from their enemies. The result will be that they will praise His Name. The remnant cries out to God to arise and plead – not their cause, but – His own cause ( ). When God arises, the enemies must flee. That clears the way for God’s people to inherit the blessing. The cause concerns the defamation that fools inflict on God “all day long”, which is the period when the Assyrians, the king of the North, enter the land and rage against people and buildings with unprecedented violence. The psalm does not end with praise, because the tribulation is not yet over ( ). God has not yet accomplished His purpose with His people. The God-fearing person calls upon God once again not to “forget the voice of Your adversaries” (cf. ). Surely He has not forgotten the uproar of those who rise against Him, has He? After all, it “ascends continually”.

‏ Psalms 74:19

O God, Plead Your Own Cause

After the confession in the previous verses of the certainty that God reigns, the remnant continues to pray to God again (Psa 74:18). They cry out to God to remember that the enemy has “reviled” the LORD. God will not let this go unpunished. His Name has been blasphemed by “a foolish people”, that is, the nations (Deu 32:21). The nations are foolish because they have no regard for God at all (Psa 14:1 ; Psa 53:1).

The remnant, with this call, is showing that ultimately it is not about them, but about the LORD. LORD is His covenant name. The call to God to remember this testifies to their relationship with Him. God wants His own to call upon Him with reference to Who He is and what He has promised (cf. Isa 62:6-7; Eze 36:37).

The remnant sees the nations as wild beasts, as wolves in the midst of whom they are like sheep (Psa 74:19). In the face of these tearing animals, they speak to the LORD of themselves as “Your turtledove” (cf. Psa 68:13). The turtledove is a fragile and faithful bird. The remnant is aware of its vulnerability. A turtledove has no natural weapons as a defense against predators. The remnant is also aware of their faithfulness to God and knows that He sees them as a defenseless and faithful dove (Song 2:14). Therefore, they ask Him not to forget them “forever” after all. After all, they are “Your afflicted”. They are in miserable circumstances because they are His property. In their circumstances they feel forgotten by Him (Isa 49:14).

First the psalmist thought of the power of God as Creator and also of His love and care as Redeemer. Then he thought of the honor of the Name of God. The Name of God was dishonored by the enemy, while the remnant is but weak. Therefore, the psalmist now appeals to the covenant (Psa 74:20) and asks God to arise and take action (Psa 74:22).

The remnant reminds God through the psalmist of “the covenant” (Psa 74:20). Let Him behold it and act accordingly. When He beholds His covenant and then looks at “the dark places of the land”, He must see how much it contrasts with the light of His covenant. For “He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him” (Dan 2:22b). In that all-discovering light, surely He sees that those dark places ”are full of the habitations of violence” against Him and His own.

The God-fearing further ask God not to let “the oppressed” return ashamed (Psa 74:21). That is what happens when God sends the one who prays back home without paying attention. On the contrary, let God hear “the afflicted and needy” and deliver them from their enemies. The result will be that they will praise His Name.

The remnant cries out to God to arise and plead – not their cause, but – His own cause (Psa 74:22). When God arises, the enemies must flee. That clears the way for God’s people to inherit the blessing. The cause concerns the defamation that fools inflict on God “all day long”, which is the period when the Assyrians, the king of the North, enter the land and rage against people and buildings with unprecedented violence.

The psalm does not end with praise, because the tribulation is not yet over (Psa 74:23). God has not yet accomplished His purpose with His people. The God-fearing person calls upon God once again not to “forget the voice of Your adversaries” (cf. Psa 74:19). Surely He has not forgotten the uproar of those who rise against Him, has He? After all, it “ascends continually”.