I. PASSIONATE PRAYER (1-3). "Remember." r. Cry of Perplexity (1). "Why?" 2. Claim for Protection (2-3). "Remember Thy Assembly." II. POWERFUL PLEA (4--9). Work of the Adversaries. Present Profanation of God's Name. Desecration of His Meeting-place. ill. PASSIONATE PRAYER (ro-rr). "How long? ... Why?" IV. POWERFUL PLEA (r2-r7). Work of the Almighty. Past Manifestation of God's Power. Display of His Might. r. Intervention in History (12-15). 2. Influence in Creation (16-17). V. PASSIONATE PRAYER {18-23). "Remember." r. Request-Positive (18). "Remember the Reproach." Supplication. 2. Request-Negative (19). "Forget not the Afflicted." (Preserve them.) Deprecation. 3. Request-Positive (20). "Remember the Covenant." Supplication. 4. Request-Negative (21). "Forget not the Afflicted." (Answer them.) Deprecation. 5. Request-Positive (22). "Remember the Reproach." Supplication. 6. Request-Negative (23 ). "Forget not the Adversaries." (Requite them.) Deprecation. SUPERSCRIPT.-Maschil of ( or for ) Asaph. SUBSCRIPT.-For the Chief Musician, Al-tashheth ( = Destroy not.) PRIMARY AssocIATION.-Writer uncertain (see notes to lxxiii.). The psalm is closely connected with lxx:xix. and seems to belong to the same occasion, namely the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, 2 Kings xxv. 9; Ps. lxxiv. emphasises the Destruction of
I90 the Sanctuary; borne., the Destruction of the Saints. "Al-tashheth '' = destroy not. This is a cry in a crisis; see Pss. lvi.-lviii. and cf. Exod. xxxii. rr-14 with Deut. ix. 25, also the spirit of David's words, 2 Sam. xxiv. 16-17. Moses-and David both act upon the injunction ofDeut. iv. 30-31. These "Destroy not" psalms in application may well be used in times of national troubles. PROPHETIC .ANTICIPATION.-As a "Maschil" (ninth in the series of thirteen) this psalm. contains special instruction for Israel in the last days when the city (Jerusale1n) is ravaged and the pre-millennial ·Temple desolated, Matt. xxiv. 15; c£ Joel ii. I-II; Dan. xi. 40-41. Incidentally we notice that the second psalm in each of the Books of the Psalter has. to do with "the enemy." PERSONAL APPIJCATION.-Sometimes a little more passion in our prayers would not be out of place! God is asked to "remember" several things-find them. Sheep may claim the Shepherd's care (r). In our prayers relationship and redemption form a double plea (1-2). Enemies of God seek to destroy both God's "temple" (1 Cor. iii. 16-17) and God's people (3-7). Infidelity (in the form of destructive criticism) and worldliness have dared to lift hatchet and hammer in the very sanctuary of God and have succeeded in working terrible havoc in the congregation of God's professed people (3-7). He is a 'Yise teacher who knows the signs of the times (9). God's seeming inactivity must.not.be interpreted as indifference or impotence; it is in the interests of His immutable purpose and of His people (10-11). God must and will vindicate His name in due time (10). The people of God should remember that the dishonour done to God's name is of greater consequence than their own distress. In the wilderness man's extremity was God's opportunity (14). God can make our very foes furnish us with "food" (14). God has ordained luminaries for the darkest night (16). Winter is just as essential for the pro duction of crops as summer, so is it in the realm of the spirit. God controls the bleakness of winter as well as the beauty of summer, the hour of pain as well as t!ie time of pleasure (17). Foolish are the people that scorn God's name (r8). VERSE NOTES "fc all £L k "cf ... 8 r. or ever = perpetu y; so rn; c. am. v. 20; ill. 31; smo e, . XVlll. " h " £ lxxix J E k _, P s eep, c. . 13; c. 3; er. XXlll. l; ze . XXXlV. 31; a.uiO s. XCV. 7. · "And" 2. ormt
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