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1 Maschil of Asaph. O God, why hast thou cast vs off for euer? why doeth thine anger smoke against the sheepe of thy pasture?
2 Remember thy Congregation which thou hast purchased of olde: the rod of thine inheritance which thou hast redeemed, this mount Sion, wherein thou hast dwelt.
3 Lift vp thy feete vnto the perpetuall desolations: euen all that the enemie hath done wickedly in the Sanctuarie.
4 Thine enemies roare in the midst of thy congregations: they set vp their ensignes for signes.
5 A man was famous according as he had lifted vp axes vpon the thicke trees.
6 But now they breake downe the carued worke thereof at once, with axes and hammers.
7 They haue cast fire into thy Sanctuary, they haue defiled by casting downe, the dwelling place of thy Nawe to the ground.
8 They said in their hearts, Let vs destroy them together: they haue burnt vp all the Synagogues of God in the land.
9 We see not our signes, there is no more any prophet, neither is there among vs any that knoweth howe long.
10 O God, how long shall the aduersarie reproach? shall the enemie blaspheme thy Name for euer?
11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, euen thy right hand? plucke it out of thy bosome.
12 For God is my King of old working saluation in the midst of the earth.
13 Thou didst diuide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.
14 Thou brakest the heads of Leuiathan in pieces, and gauest him to bee meat to the people inhabiting the wildernesse.
15 Thou didst cleaue the fountaine and the flood: thou driedst vp mightie riuers.
16 The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sunne.
17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: Thou hast made Summer and Winter.
18 Remember this, that the enemie hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people haue blasphemed thy Name.
19 O deliuer not the soule of thy turtle doue vnto the multitude of the wicked forget not the Congregation of thy poore for euer.
20 Haue respect vnto the couenant: for the darke places of the earth are full of the habitations of crueltie.
21 O let not the oppressed returne ashamed: let the poore and needie praise thy name.
22 Arise, O God, plead thine owne cause: remember how the foolish man reprocheth thee daily.
23 Forget not the voyce of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise vp against thee, increaseth continually.
The desolations of the sanctuary. (1-11) Pleas for encouraging faith. (12-17) Petitions for deliverances. (18-23)
1-11 This psalm appears to describe the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple by the Chaldeans. The deplorable case of the people of God, at the time, is spread before the Lord, and left with him. They plead the great things God had done for them. If the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt was encouragement to hope that he would not cast them off, much more reason have we to believe, that God will not cast off any whom Christ has redeemed with his own blood. Infidels and persecutors may silence faithful ministers, and shut up places of worship, and say they will destroy the people of God and their religion together. For a long time they may prosper in these attempts, and God's oppressed servants may see no prospect of deliverance; but there is a remnant of believers, the seed of a future harvest, and the despised church has survived those who once triumphed over her. When the power of enemies is most threatening, it is comfortable to flee to the power of God by earnest prayer.
12-17 The church silences her own complaints. What God had done for his people, as their King of old, encouraged them to depend on him. It was the Lord's doing, none besides could do it. This providence was food to faith and hope, to support and encourage in difficulties. The God of Israel is the God of nature. He that is faithful to his covenant about the day and the night, will never cast off those whom he has chosen. We have as much reason to expect affliction, as to expect night and winter. But we have no more reason to despair of the return of comfort, than to despair of day and summer. And in the world above we shall have no more changes.
18-23 The psalmist begs that God would appear for the church against their enemies. The folly of such as revile his gospel and his servants will be plain to all. Let us call upon our God to enlighten the dark nations of the earth; and to rescue his people, that the poor and needy may praise his name. Blessed Saviour, thou art the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. Make thy people more than conquerors. Be thou, Lord, all in all to them in every situation and circumstances; for then thy poor and needy people will praise thy name.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.