Psalms 74:18

18 Remember this -- an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy 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 Thine [is] the day, also Thine [is] the night, Thou hast prepared a light giver -- the sun.
17 Thou hast set up all the borders of earth, Summer and winter Thou hast formed them.
18 Remember this -- an enemy reproached Jehovah, And a foolish people have despised Thy name.
19 Give not up to a company, The soul of Thy turtle-dove, The company of Thy poor ones forget not for ever.
20 Look attentively to the covenant, For the dark places of earth, Have been full of habitations of violence.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.