Psalms 74:4

4 (73-4) And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs,

Psalms 74:4 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 74:4

Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations
Particular churches, gathered out of the world in Gospel order, and which meet together at particular times and places; in the midst of these, and against them their enemies, and who are the Lord's enemies, roar like lions, as Satan, and bloody persecutors, and particularly antichrist, whose mouth is the mouth of a lion, which is opened in blasphemy against God and his people, ( Revelation 13:2 Revelation 13:5 Revelation 13:6 ) ,

they set up their ensigns for signs;
or "signs", "signs", false ones for true ones; meaning either military signs, as the Roman eagle, set as signs and trophies of victory; or idolatrous statues and images, such an one as Antiochus brought into the temple; or false miracles and antichristian marks, in the room of true miracles, and the true mark of Christ's followers; see ( 2 Thessalonians 2:9 ) ( Revelation 13:14 Revelation 13:16 ) ( 14:1 ) . The Jewish writers generally interpret it of the divinations and superstitions rites used by the king of Babylon, when he was coming up against Jerusalem, ( Ezekiel 21:21 ) .

Psalms 74:4 In-Context

2 (73-2) Remember thy congregation, which thou hast possessed from the beginning. The sceptre of thy inheritance which thou hast redeemed: mount Sion in which thou hast dwelt.

3 (73-3) Lift up thy hands against their pride unto the end; see what things the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.

4 (73-4) And they that hate thee have made their boasts, in the midst of thy solemnity. They have set up their ensigns for signs,

5 (73-5) And they knew not both in the going out and on the highest top. As with axes in a wood of trees,

6 (73-6) They have cut down at once the gates thereof, with axe and hatchet they have brought it down.