Psa 74:18 | MHM | STEP | Earnest Supplications; Pleading with God. This section is a passionate prayer from the psalmist, speaking for the whole community. He asks God to act on their behalf against their enemies and to put an end to their suffering. The psalmist reminds himself and others that the cause of God's people is really God's own cause. He encourages faith by trusting that God will defend his honor and his people, even if he seems silent for a while. The psalmist uses different arguments to show why God should act, focusing on how the enemies have insulted God and how God's people are suffering. v. 18 : The enemies have not just hurt the people, but have also insulted God directly. The psalmist says, “Remember how the foolish people have blasphemed your name” . Their actions in the sanctuary were loud, as if they had defeated the God of Israel. The psalmist is hurt by these insults and asks God to answer them himself, because it is God’s name that is being attacked. He points out that fools, who do not respect God, are the source of these insults. Just like “the fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’” (Psalm 14:1 ), those who mock and blaspheme are truly foolish. They are bold and do not hide their insults, but shout them out, acting as if there is no consequence. Their noise rises up to heaven and calls for God’s attention, just as the outcry of Sodom did (Genesis 18:21). The psalmist asks God not to forget this and to remember the constant insults his enemies make.

‏ Psalms 74:18

Earnest Supplications; Pleading with God.

This section is a passionate prayer from the psalmist, speaking for the whole community. He asks God to act on their behalf against their enemies and to put an end to their suffering. The psalmist reminds himself and others that the cause of God's people is really God's own cause. He encourages faith by trusting that God will defend his honor and his people, even if he seems silent for a while. The psalmist uses different arguments to show why God should act, focusing on how the enemies have insulted God and how God's people are suffering.

v. 18: The enemies have not just hurt the people, but have also insulted God directly. The psalmist says, “Remember how the foolish people have blasphemed your name”. Their actions in the sanctuary were loud, as if they had defeated the God of Israel. The psalmist is hurt by these insults and asks God to answer them himself, because it is God’s name that is being attacked. He points out that fools, who do not respect God, are the source of these insults. Just like “the fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God’”(Psalm 14:1 ^a), those who mock and blaspheme are truly foolish. They are bold and do not hide their insults, but shout them out, acting as if there is no consequence. Their noise rises up to heaven and calls for God’s attention, just as the outcry of Sodom did (Genesis 18:21). The psalmist asks God not to forget this and to remember the constant insults his enemies make.