Respecting The Covenant

                                                             

Psa 74:20  Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
                                                                          Psalms 74:1-23

O God, why hast Thou cast us off for ever? why doth Thine anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture?
The wail and prayer of a true patriot
I. The wail (Psa_74:1-17).
1. Some communities of men are far more favoured of Heaven than others. The Jews were (Psa_74:1-2). In this diversity of endowment—
(1) There is no just reason for complaining of God. As the Sovereign Author of all life, He has an undoubted right to determine as to whether He should give life to any or not; what kind of life it should be, and to how many; and what kind or measure of power He should give to each.
(2) There is no injury done to any. The man or community least favoured has no right to complain, for he is only responsible for what he has. Obligation is bounded by capacity.
2. The most favoured communities are not exempted from terrible calamities (Psa_74:7-9).
3. These terrible calamities are often inflicted by wicked men.
4. The wicked men who inflict these calamities are ever under the control of God.
(1) He has power to arrest them (Psa_74:10).
(2) This power He has sometimes signally displayed (Psa_74:13-14).
(3) This power is implied in the universality of His dominion.
II. The prayer (Psa_74:18-23).
1. The enemies of God are the enemies both of themselves and of their country (Psa_74:18). A bad man cannot be a good citizen, but must be more or less a curse to his country. An ungodly man can never be a true patriot.
2. The interposition of God is necessary to deliver a country from the pernicious influence of wicked men (Psa_74:22).
(1) The cause of true philanthropy is the cause of God.
(2) The cause of philanthropy is outraged on earth. Men, instead of loving each other as brethren, hate each, oppress each other, murder each other.
(3) The cause of philanthropy is dear to the heart of the good.
Hence the prayer, “Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause.” In this prayer two things are to be noted—
(i.) The anthropomorphic tendency of the soul.
(ii.) A good man’s conscious need of God.
How deeply did this godly patriot feel the necessity of God’s interposition. In the midst of his country’s distress he looked around, but there was help to be found nowhere but in heaven. (Homilist.)


Psalms 74:20

Have respect unto the covenant.
The covenant pleaded
It is the covenant of grace, not of works, that we are to plead.
I. What is meant by this plea.
1. Fulfil thy covenant: let it not be a dead letter.
2. Fulfil all its promises.
3. Let nothing hinder or turn them aside.
II. Whence this plea derives its force.
1. From the veracity of God.
2. His jealousy for His honour.
3. The venerable character of She covenant.
4. Its solemn endorsement, God’s Word.
5. Its seal—the blood of Christ.
6. Nothing in it has ever failed.
7. The testimony of God’s dying people.
III. How and when this covenant may be pleaded.
1. Under a sense of sin.
2. Labouring after holiness.
3. When under strong temptation.
4. Or in great distress.
IV. Practical inferences.
1. Have a grateful respect for the covenant to which you pray the Lord to have respect.
2. Have joy in it.
3. Be jealous for it.
4. Practically respect it. (C. H. Spurgeon.)


The Divine covenant steadfast and sure
Rutherford says that unbelief may tear the copies of the covenant of grace given us, but Christ keeps the original in heaven with Himself. Though we believe not, yet He remaineth faithful. He cannot deny Himself.
The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.
The Church’s duty to the heathen
The world wants the Gospel; the Gospel alone meets the world’s necessities.
I. The world’s need of God. “The dark places,” etc.
1. How dark a system is idolatry: see its sin, and misery, and cruelty.
II. God’s provision for the world. The covenant tells of the Gospel with all its abundant provisions. It brings light; it implants love. Christ is offered as food for the hungry, pardon for the guilty, consolation for the mourner, life for the dead.
III. How is this remedy to be applied?
1. God Himself must apply it. But—
2. We must pray for the heathen; pray in public and at home.
3. And we must send messengers to the heathen who shall tell them of Christ. (John Hambleton, M. A.)
Psalms 74:20

Have: Psa_89:28, Psa_89:34-36, Psa_89:39, Psa_105:8, Psa_106:45; Gen_17:7-8; Exo_24:6-8; Lev_26:40-45; Deu_9:27; 2Sa_23:5; Jer_33:20-26; Luk_1:72-75; Heb_8:10
the dark: Deu_12:31; Rom_1:29-31; Eph_4:17-18
habitations: Psa_5:8; Gen_49:5-7