You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up the ever-flowing rivers. You broke openThis phrase signifies a powerful act of divine intervention. The Hebrew root for "broke open" is "בָּקַע" (baqa), which conveys the idea of splitting or cleaving. This action is reminiscent of God's mighty works in the Exodus narrative, where He parted the Red Sea for the Israelites. It underscores God's sovereignty over creation and His ability to alter the natural order for the sake of His people. Historically, this reflects God's role as a deliverer, one who can break through barriers and provide a way where there seems to be none. the fountain and the flood
The "fountain" and "flood" symbolize sources of life and chaos, respectively. In the ancient Near Eastern context, water was both a life-giving resource and a potential threat due to floods. The Hebrew word for "fountain" is "מַעְיָן" (ma'yan), often associated with springs of water that sustain life. "Flood" is translated from "נָהָר" (nahar), which can refer to rivers or torrents. This duality highlights God's control over both the nurturing and destructive aspects of water, emphasizing His dominion over all creation. You dried up
This phrase illustrates God's ability to reverse natural processes. The Hebrew root "יָבֵשׁ" (yabesh) means to make dry or wither. This action is reminiscent of the drying up of the Jordan River, allowing the Israelites to cross into the Promised Land (Joshua 3:14-17). It signifies God's power to remove obstacles and fulfill His promises. In a spiritual sense, it can also represent the drying up of spiritual barrenness, bringing forth new life and hope. the ever-flowing rivers
The "ever-flowing rivers" symbolize continuous provision and the constancy of God's creation. The Hebrew term "נָהָר" (nahar) is used again here, emphasizing the perpetual nature of these waters. In biblical times, rivers were vital for agriculture, trade, and sustenance. By drying them up, God demonstrates His authority over even the most reliable and enduring elements of nature. This act serves as a reminder of His ultimate control and the transient nature of earthly resources compared to His eternal provision. Persons / Places / Events 1. God (Yahweh)The central figure in this verse, depicted as the powerful Creator and Sustainer who controls the natural world. 2. Fountain and FloodSymbolic representations of God's provision and judgment, possibly alluding to the creation and the flood accounts. 3. RiversOften seen as sources of life and sustenance, their drying up signifies God's control over life-giving resources. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over CreationRecognize that God holds ultimate authority over the natural world, and His power is evident in both creation and judgment. Trust in God's Provision and JudgmentTrust that God provides for His people and exercises righteous judgment, as seen in His control over the waters. Symbolism of Water in ScriptureUnderstand the dual symbolism of water in the Bible as both life-giving and destructive, reflecting God's multifaceted nature. God's Faithfulness in DeliveranceReflect on how God has historically delivered His people through miraculous interventions, encouraging faith in His continued faithfulness. Call to Worship and ReverenceLet the recognition of God's power over creation lead to deeper worship and reverence for Him as the Creator and Sustainer. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the imagery of God breaking open the fountain and the flood in Psalm 74:15 enhance our understanding of His power and authority? 2. In what ways does the drying up of rivers symbolize both provision and judgment in the biblical account? 3. How can the accounts of the Great Flood and the parting of the Red Sea deepen our trust in God's ability to deliver and provide for His people today? 4. What are some modern-day "rivers" in our lives that we need to trust God to control or provide? 5. How can we incorporate the understanding of God's sovereignty over creation into our daily worship and prayer life? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 7-8The account of the Great Flood, where God demonstrates His power over the waters, both in judgment and in the subsequent renewal of the earth. Exodus 14The parting of the Red Sea, where God again shows His dominion over waters, delivering His people from bondage. Isaiah 44:27A prophecy where God declares His power to dry up rivers, emphasizing His sovereignty over creation. Revelation 16:12The drying up of the Euphrates River as part of the end-times judgments, reflecting God's ultimate authority over the earth. People Asaph, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Broke, Brook, Brooks, Cleave, Cleaved, Dried, Driedst, Dry, Ever-flowing, Flood, Flowing, Flowings, Fountain, Fountains, Hast, Mighty, Open, Opened, Perennial, Rivers, Spring, Springs, Stream, Streams, Torrent, Torrents, ValleysDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 74:15 4260 rivers and streams
4819 dryness Psalm 74:1-23 6115 blame Psalm 74:10-18 8817 ridicule, objects of Psalm 74:12-17 8724 doubt, dealing with Library The Meaning
Of the Red Dragon with Seven Heads fighting with Michael about the new-born Child. The first vision of the little book, of which we treated in the eleventh chapter, ran through the whole Apocalyptical course, from the beginning to the end, and that, as we elsewhere observed, to point out its connexion with the seals and trumpets. Now to that vision the remaining prophecies of the same interval, and of the affairs of the Church are to be accommodated, in order to complete the system of the little …
Joseph Mede—A Key to the ApocalypseThe Prophet of the Highest.
(LUKE I.) "Ye hermits blest, ye holy maids, The nearest heaven on earth, Who talk with God in shadowy glades, Free from rude care and mirth; To whom some viewless Teacher brings The secret love of rural things, The moral of each fleeting cloud and gale, The whispers from above, that haunt the twilight vale." KEBLE. Formative Influences--A Historical Parallel--The Burning of the Vanities--"Sent from God" "Thou, child, shalt be called the Prophet of the Most High"--thus Zacharias addressed his infant …
F. B. Meyer—John the Baptist How those are to be Admonished who Abstain not from the Sins which they Bewail, and those Who, Abstaining from Them, Bewail them Not.
(Admonition 31.) Differently to be admonished are those who lament their transgressions, and yet forsake them not, and those who forsake them, and yet lament them not. For those who lament their transgressions and yet forsake them not are to be admonished to learn to consider anxiously that they cleanse themselves in vain by their weeping, if they wickedly defile themselves in their living, seeing that the end for which they wash themselves in tears is that, when clean, they may return to filth. …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Balaam's Prophecy. (Numb. xxiv. 17-19. )
Carried by the Spirit into the far distant future, Balaam sees here how a star goeth out of Jacob and a sceptre riseth out of Israel, and how this sceptre smiteth Moab, by whose enmity the Seer had been brought from a distant region for the destruction of Israel. And not Moab only shall be smitten, but its southern neighbour, Edom, too shall be subdued, whose hatred against Israel had already been prefigured in its ancestor, and had now begun to display Itself; and In general, all the enemies of …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
It was a beautiful saying of Rabbi Jochanan (Jer. Ber. v. 1), that he who prays in his house surrounds and fortifies it, so to speak, with a wall of iron. Nevertheless, it seems immediately contradicted by what follows. For it is explained that this only holds good where a man is alone, but that where there is a community prayer should be offered in the synagogue. We can readily understand how, after the destruction of the Temple, and the cessation of its symbolical worship, the excessive value attached …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Jesus Makes a Preaching Tour through Galilee.
^A Matt. IV. 23-25; ^B Mark I. 35-39; ^C Luke IV. 42-44. ^b 35 And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up went out [i. e., from the house of Simon Peter], and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. [Though Palestine was densely populated, its people were all gathered into towns, so that it was usually easy to find solitude outside the city limits. A ravine near Capernaum, called the Vale of Doves, would afford such solitude. Jesus taught (Matt. vi. 6) and practiced solitary …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon then hath the light shined. C ontrasts are suited to illustrate and strengthen the impression of each other. The happiness of those, who by faith in MESSIAH, are brought into a state of peace, liberty, and comfort, is greatly enhanced and heightened by the consideration of that previous state of misery in which they once lived, and of the greater misery to which they were justly exposed. …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1 The Justice of God
The next attribute is God's justice. All God's attributes are identical, and are the same with his essence. Though he has several attributes whereby he is made known to us, yet he has but one essence. A cedar tree may have several branches, yet it is but one cedar. So there are several attributes of God whereby we conceive of him, but only one entire essence. Well, then, concerning God's justice. Deut 32:4. Just and right is he.' Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 74:15 NIVPsalm 74:15 NLTPsalm 74:15 ESVPsalm 74:15 NASBPsalm 74:15 KJV
Psalm 74:15 Commentaries
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