Psalms 74:18

18 1Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and 2a foolish people reviles your name.

Psalms 74:18 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 74:18

Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord
Or "hath reproached the Lord", as the Septuagint version and others render it, and very rightly; though not so well the former part of the clause, which it renders, or rather paraphrases, thus: "remember this thy creation", or "creature"; as if it referred to what goes before, as day and night, light and sun, the borders of the earth, summer and winter; whereas it is to be connected with what follows, the reproach of the Lord by the enemy; and it is a prayer of the church, that God would remember the enemy and his reproaches, which seemed to be forgotten, and inflict deserved punishments on him, which will be done in due time, ( Revelation 16:19 ) ( Revelation 18:5 Revelation 18:6 ) , and that

the foolish people have blasphemed thy name;
the "foolish people" are not such as want common sense, or are idiots; the blasphemers of God and Christ, and the blessed Spirit, are generally the wise and prudent of this world, from whom the things of the Gospel are hidden; but wicked and profane men: scoffers at religion, and blasphemers of Christ, his truths and ordinances, are commonly such who walk after their own ungodly lusts, who, though wise to do evil, are foolish in matters of religion: perhaps the Gentiles, which know not God, are here meant, and are so called, ( Deuteronomy 32:21 ) , and it is observable, that the Papists bear the name of Gentiles in ( Revelation 11:2 Revelation 11:18 ) , and may be the foolish people here chiefly designed, who worship images of gold, silver, brass, and wood, and are notorious for their blasphemies; (See Gill on Psalms 74:10).

Psalms 74:18 In-Context

16 Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.
17 You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
18 Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name.
19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever.
20 Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver. 2, 22; Psalms 89:50; Revelation 16:19; Revelation 18:5
  • 2. Psalms 39:8; Deuteronomy 32:6
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.