You set all the boundaries of the earth; You made the summer and winter. You set all the boundaries of the earthThis phrase emphasizes God's sovereign authority and creative power. The Hebrew word for "set" is "שׂוּם" (sum), which conveys the act of establishing or appointing. This suggests intentionality and purpose in God's creation. The "boundaries of the earth" can be understood both literally and metaphorically. Literally, it refers to the physical limits of the land and sea, as seen in Genesis 1:9-10, where God gathers the waters to reveal dry land. Metaphorically, it speaks to the order and structure God has imposed on creation, ensuring stability and balance. Historically, ancient cultures often viewed their gods as responsible for the natural order, but this verse distinctly attributes such power solely to the God of Israel, reinforcing His supremacy over all creation. You made the summer and winter
The creation of "summer and winter" highlights God's control over time and seasons. The Hebrew words for "summer" (קַיִץ, qayits) and "winter" (חֹרֶף, choreph) denote not just the seasons but also the agricultural cycles crucial for survival in ancient agrarian societies. This reflects God's provision and care for His creation, ensuring that the earth yields its produce in due season. The cyclical nature of seasons is a testament to God's faithfulness and reliability, as seen in Genesis 8:22, where God promises that "seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." This assurance would have been particularly comforting to the Israelites, who depended on these cycles for their livelihood. Theologically, this verse underscores the idea that God is not a distant creator but one who remains actively involved in sustaining the world He made. Persons / Places / Events 1. God (Yahweh)- The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who establishes the boundaries of the earth and the seasons. 2. Earth- The physical world created by God, with its boundaries and natural order. 3. Summer and Winter- Representations of the seasons, indicating God's control over time and nature. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty Over CreationRecognize that God has established the physical and temporal boundaries of the world, affirming His ultimate authority and control. Order and Purpose in CreationUnderstand that the seasons and natural order reflect God's intentional design, providing for the needs of His creation. Trust in God's ProvisionTrust that just as God has set the seasons, He will provide for our needs in every season of life. Reflection of God's FaithfulnessThe regularity of the seasons is a reminder of God's faithfulness and reliability, encouraging us to rely on Him in times of change. Stewardship of CreationAs God has set boundaries and seasons, we are called to be good stewards of the earth, respecting the natural order He has established. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding God's sovereignty over the seasons impact your view of His control in your personal life? 2. In what ways can the regularity of the seasons serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness in your daily walk? 3. How can you apply the concept of stewardship in your life, knowing that God has set boundaries for the earth? 4. What other areas of your life can you entrust to God, knowing He has control over time and nature? 5. How can the understanding of God's intentional design in creation influence your worship and gratitude towards Him? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 1:14-18This passage describes God's creation of the celestial bodies to mark seasons, days, and years, highlighting His sovereignty over time and nature. Job 38:8-11God questions Job about the boundaries of the sea, emphasizing His authority over creation. Acts 17:26Paul speaks of God determining the times and boundaries of nations, reflecting His control over human history and geography. People Asaph, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Borders, Boundaries, Bounds, Established, Fixed, Form, Formed, Hast, Limits, Summer, WinterDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 74:17 4006 creation, origin
4203 earth, the Psalm 74:1-23 6115 blame Psalm 74:10-18 8817 ridicule, objects of Psalm 74:12-17 8724 doubt, dealing with Psalm 74:16-17 1347 covenant, with Noah
4970 seasons, of year 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 74:17 NIVPsalm 74:17 NLTPsalm 74:17 ESVPsalm 74:17 NASBPsalm 74:17 KJV
Psalm 74:17 Commentaries
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