In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
This psalm, attributed to Asaph, likely refers to the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:35-36). While the most well-known Asaph lived during David's time (1 Chronicles 6:39), the psalm’s themes suggest either a later Asaph or a writer in his tradition penned these words. Like Psalms 4, 55, and 67, Psalm 76 was probably intended to be accompanied by stringed instruments. It celebrates God's awesome power to defend His people and calls for reverence and faithfulness in response. This chapter reveals how God makes Himself known by defeating those who wage war against His people.
God's Presence and Power (Psalms 76:1-3)
The psalm opens by declaring God's renown and dwelling place. God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel (Psalms 76:1). Mount Zion, originally a Jebusite fortress captured by David (2 Samuel 5:7) and also referred to as Salem (Genesis 14:18), became Jerusalem, David's capital (1 Kings 8:1). This city, with the temple at its heart (1 Kings 6:1), was seen as the symbolic home of God on earth (Psalms 76:1-2). Right there, in Jerusalem, He broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war (Psalms 76:3). God is credited with entirely defeating the enemy's fighting ability. The fact that these weapons are "broken" emphasizes their ineffectiveness.
The Defeat of the Mighty (Psalms 76:4-6)
The psalmist extols the resplendent and majestic God who falls on his enemies, no matter how brave-hearted and powerful they are (Psalms 76:4-5). You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalms 76:4). God sends them to their final sleep (Psalms 76:5). This, of course, takes little effort on God’s part: a mere rebuke and he defeats them (Psalms 76:6). During the attempted Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, God sent an angel to kill thousands upon thousands of invading soldiers overnight. In the morning, the shattered army retreated (2 Kings 19:35-36). In a single action, God undid all the supposed power of these men of war. Without Israel sending a single soldier into combat (1 Kings 19:32-34), an enemy which seemed invincible was turned back.
God's Sovereignty and Our Response (Psalms 76:7-10)
God’s wrath against the wicked demonstrates his sovereignty. When he displays his anger, no one can stand before [him] (Psalms 76:7). As a result, his people praise him and are moved to fear him (Psalms 76:7-8), which serves as a deterrent against further evil. The psalmist then turns to praise the absolute power of the Lord God. As the Creator (Genesis 1:1), nothing in the universe can withstand God. His judgment terrifies the entire world into silence. Here, the "wrath of man" refers to the rage and anguish of those who suffer the Lord's judgment on sin. All the defiance and rage of those judged by God will only serve to prove His glory (Psalms 2:1). When human effort is exhausted, He has power to spare. In fact, the Lord will symbolically "wear" the shattered remnants of human defiance like a trophy (Psalms 76:7-10).
Reverence and Commitment (Psalms 76:11-12)
Because of this, God is to be honored. Believers are exhorted to fear the awe-inspiring God—that is, to take him seriously—by keeping their vows and maintaining their commitment to him (Psalms 76:11). He humbles proud leaders so that they might fear him, as well (Psalms 76:12). The concept of "fear" here certainly includes a sense of danger: God is unstoppable and all-powerful. Yet proper "fear" of God is not abject panic or terror (Proverbs 1:7). It means reverence and submissive respect. Living out that attitude includes fulfilling any vows made to God, rather than breaking them. It also means sacrifices of thanks. God's power and authority prune away the arrogance of any dynasty which thinks it can oppose him (Isaiah 18:5; 25:5). Even the greatest of human rulers ought to reverently "fear" the Lord (Psalms 76:11-12).
All people will submit to the Lord one day, whether in joy or by coercion (Philippians 2:10-11). He invites us to fear and enjoy him now so that we may experience his blessings. Those who do not will experience his judgment. Let us, therefore, cultivate a heart of reverence and faithfulness, trusting in His power and submitting to His will.
In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
This psalm, attributed to Asaph, likely refers to the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian army during the reign of Hezekiah (2 Kings 19:35-36). While the most well-known Asaph lived during David's time (1 Chronicles 6:39), the psalm’s themes suggest either a later Asaph or a writer in his tradition penned these words. Like Psalms 4, 55, and 67, Psalm 76 was probably intended to be accompanied by stringed instruments. It celebrates God's awesome power to defend His people and calls for reverence and faithfulness in response. This chapter reveals how God makes Himself known by defeating those who wage war against His people.
God's Presence and Power (Psalms 76:1-3)
The psalm opens by declaring God's renown and dwelling place. God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel (Psalms 76:1). Mount Zion, originally a Jebusite fortress captured by David (2 Samuel 5:7) and also referred to as Salem (Genesis 14:18), became Jerusalem, David's capital (1 Kings 8:1). This city, with the temple at its heart (1 Kings 6:1), was seen as the symbolic home of God on earth (Psalms 76:1-2). Right there, in Jerusalem, He broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war (Psalms 76:3). God is credited with entirely defeating the enemy's fighting ability. The fact that these weapons are "broken" emphasizes their ineffectiveness.
The Defeat of the Mighty (Psalms 76:4-6)
The psalmist extols the resplendent and majestic God who falls on his enemies, no matter how brave-hearted and powerful they are (Psalms 76:4-5). You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game (Psalms 76:4). God sends them to their final sleep (Psalms 76:5). This, of course, takes little effort on God’s part: a mere rebuke and he defeats them (Psalms 76:6). During the attempted Assyrian siege of Jerusalem, God sent an angel to kill thousands upon thousands of invading soldiers overnight. In the morning, the shattered army retreated (2 Kings 19:35-36). In a single action, God undid all the supposed power of these men of war. Without Israel sending a single soldier into combat (1 Kings 19:32-34), an enemy which seemed invincible was turned back.
God's Sovereignty and Our Response (Psalms 76:7-10)
God’s wrath against the wicked demonstrates his sovereignty. When he displays his anger, no one can stand before [him] (Psalms 76:7). As a result, his people praise him and are moved to fear him (Psalms 76:7-8), which serves as a deterrent against further evil. The psalmist then turns to praise the absolute power of the Lord God. As the Creator (Genesis 1:1), nothing in the universe can withstand God. His judgment terrifies the entire world into silence. Here, the "wrath of man" refers to the rage and anguish of those who suffer the Lord's judgment on sin. All the defiance and rage of those judged by God will only serve to prove His glory (Psalms 2:1). When human effort is exhausted, He has power to spare. In fact, the Lord will symbolically "wear" the shattered remnants of human defiance like a trophy (Psalms 76:7-10).
Reverence and Commitment (Psalms 76:11-12)
Because of this, God is to be honored. Believers are exhorted to fear the awe-inspiring God—that is, to take him seriously—by keeping their vows and maintaining their commitment to him (Psalms 76:11). He humbles proud leaders so that they might fear him, as well (Psalms 76:12). The concept of "fear" here certainly includes a sense of danger: God is unstoppable and all-powerful. Yet proper "fear" of God is not abject panic or terror (Proverbs 1:7). It means reverence and submissive respect. Living out that attitude includes fulfilling any vows made to God, rather than breaking them. It also means sacrifices of thanks. God's power and authority prune away the arrogance of any dynasty which thinks it can oppose him (Isaiah 18:5; 25:5). Even the greatest of human rulers ought to reverently "fear" the Lord (Psalms 76:11-12).
All people will submit to the Lord one day, whether in joy or by coercion (Philippians 2:10-11). He invites us to fear and enjoy him now so that we may experience his blessings. Those who do not will experience his judgment. Let us, therefore, cultivate a heart of reverence and faithfulness, trusting in His power and submitting to His will.