Psalms 74:16

The day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

The day {H3117} is thine, the night {H3915} also is thine: thou hast prepared {H3559}{H8689)} the light {H3974} and the sun {H8121}.

The day is yours, and the night is yours; it was you who established light and sun.

The day is Yours, and also the night; You established the moon and the sun.

The day is thine, the night also is thine: Thou hast prepared the light and the sun.

Commentary

Psalm 74:16 declares God's absolute sovereignty and control over the natural world, serving as a powerful affirmation of His creative power and unchanging nature. The psalmist proclaims, "The day [is] thine, the night also [is] thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun," attributing the very fabric of time and the most fundamental elements of creation—light and celestial bodies—directly to God's divine hand.

Context

Psalm 74 is a communal lament, a heartfelt cry to God from the community during a time of national catastrophe, likely the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem. The psalmist, Asaph, describes the devastation and asks why God has seemingly abandoned His people and allowed His sanctuary to be desecrated. In the midst of this deep distress, verses 12-17 pivot to a declaration of God's mighty acts of creation and salvation in the past. This section serves as an appeal to God's character and power, reminding Him of His covenant and His established dominion over the cosmos. By recalling God's eternal control over day and night, light and sun, the psalmist builds a case for God's ability and responsibility to intervene in their desperate situation.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty: The verse powerfully asserts God's ultimate ownership and control over all aspects of existence. "The day is thine, the night also is thine" signifies that not only physical creation but also time itself is under His dominion.
  • God as Creator: It highlights God's role as the sole Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The preparation of "the light and the sun" points directly to His intentional and orderly act of bringing the cosmos into being, a foundational truth echoed in Genesis 1:1.
  • Order and Design in Creation: The mention of day, night, light, and sun emphasizes the structured and purposeful design of the natural world, all orchestrated by God. This order stands in stark contrast to the chaos and destruction the psalmist is lamenting.
  • Foundation for Appeal: For the psalmist, God's undeniable power over creation becomes the basis for an urgent plea for deliverance from their enemies. If God controls the heavens, surely He can control the affairs of men and nations.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew words for "day" (yom), "night" (laylah), "light" ('or), and "sun" (shemesh) are common and straightforward. The power of the verse lies not in complex linguistic nuances but in the direct and emphatic declaration of divine possession ("thine") and action ("thou hast prepared"). The phrase "thou hast prepared" (כּוֹנַנְתָּ, kônantā) conveys a sense of establishing, ordaining, or setting in place with purpose and permanence.

Practical Application

For believers today, Psalm 74:16 offers profound comfort and a powerful reminder in times of personal or global distress. When circumstances feel chaotic or overwhelming, this verse anchors us in the truth that God remains on His throne, sovereign over all. The same God who meticulously created and sustains the cycle of day and night, and who established the sun and light, is actively involved in His creation and the lives of His people. This truth encourages us to trust in His unchanging character and His ultimate control, even when we cannot see the way forward. Just as Christ holds all things together by His power, so too does God order the events of our lives and the world, giving us hope for His intervention and restoration.

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Cross-References

  • Psalms 136:7

    To him that made great lights: for his mercy [endureth] for ever:

  • Psalms 136:9

    The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.

  • Matthew 5:45

    That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

  • Psalms 104:19

    ¶ He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.

  • Genesis 1:14

    ¶ And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

  • Genesis 1:18

    And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that [it was] good.

  • Psalms 19:1

    ¶ To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.