Bible Commentaries
Psalms 76

Verses 1-12

Psalms 76

The Terrible One To Be Praised

This Psalm of Asaph describes how God has overthrown the mighty armies of the heathen of the earth that have arrayed themselves against Him and His people. It sets forth how God will eventually subdue all the wicked men and governments of the earth, under the feet of His royal, redemptive Son, Christ Jesus, Acts 3:20-23; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Revelation 19:11-16.

Scripture v. 1-12:

Verses 1-3 relate that God is known or recognized by His mighty deeds of power in the past, by both the people of Judah and Israel. His tabernacle, (sanctuary) of worship and praise, and His dwelling (residing) place, were in Zion, the city and mountain of God, Psalms 48:1. See also Psalms 46:4; Psalms 87:3. For there in that city, it is declared, "he broke the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle." Selah, meaning meditate on, digest find spiritual nourishment in this. God broke the world-power’s weapons that were gathered against Salem or Jerusalem, the place of safety and peace. Genesis 14:18; There Melchizedek once resided as King and Priest of the most High God, before the Law. Wherever the Almighty dwells, there may be found peace and safety, Psalms 46:4-5. God fought for Israel in her battles, preserved His people through all their chastening experiences at the hands of the Assyrians, Babylonians, and other armed powers, and brought them back to Jerusalem, the city of peace, where they shall yet be gathered again, Luke 21:24. See also accounts of these struggles, and victories, 2 Chronicles 14:12-13; 2 Chronicles 20:22-25; 2 Chronicles 32:21, as further described in the fall of Sennacherib’s mighty army, 2 Kings 19:35-36; Psalms 46:9; Psalms 37:35-36; Ezekiel 39:9.

Verse 4 declares that He is "more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey," heaps of booty captured in battle against the enemy armies God overthrew against Judah and Israel, so many times as they righteously obeyed and walked before Him, Jeremiah 4:7; Ezekiel 38:12; Daniel 7:4; Daniel 7:8; Daniel 7:17. See also Psalms 46:2-3; Nahum 2:11; Nahum 3:1.

Verse 5 adds "the stout-hearted are spoiled," they who dared to assault Jerusalem, Isaiah 46:12-13. "They have slept (fallen to sleep) their sleep," of death, Job 12:17; Job 12:19; Ezekiel 38:12-13; Ezekiel 39:4. Their death-sleep is described Psalms 13:3; Jeremiah 51:39; Jeremiah 51:57; Nahum 3:18; 2 Kings 19:35. It is added that, "none of the men of might have found their hands," to destroy the city of God, for death had paralyzed them.

Verse 6 explains one or more such attempted encounters, and the final by Sennacherib’s army before Jerusalem at the east," at thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep," a sleep of death, as the Red Sea with Pharaoh and his army, but more specifically at this time when 185,000 Assyrians of Sennacherib’s army were stricken to death, out side Jerusalem, on one fateful night of God’s judgment, 2 Chronicles 32:21; 2 Kings 19:35-36; Exodus 15:1; Exodus 15:21; Nahum 2:13; Zechariah 12:4. The next morning:

"There lay the rider, distorted and pale,

With the dew on his brow, and the rust on his mail."

See also Ezekiel 39:20-24. Nations that heard of it were in awe:

"Like the leaves of the forest when summer is green

That host with their banner at evening was seen;

Like the leaves of the forest, when autumn has fled,

That host in the morning, lay scattered and dead."

Verse 7 asserts in rhetoric form that no one is able to stand in judgment, before the rebuke of this mighty, terrible, living God, at His anger, can he? The necessary inference is "no." He is therefore a God to be feared with reverence or respect, Nahum 1:6.

Verse 8 declares "Thou didst cause judgment to be heard (Divine judgment) from heaven," by the angel that smote the 185,000 men of the Assyrian army that had besieged Jerusalem, the city of God, 2 Chronicles 32:21; 2 Kings 19:35-36; Isaiah 37:33-37; Zechariah 14:3. The result was that "the earth feared and was still," brought to stunned stillness or silence; Invasions against Jerusalem ceased, as a result of this mighty act of Divine intervention, Psalms 46:6; Psalms 46:9-10; Isaiah 14:7.

Verse 9 concludes "when God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth," the above description is what happened, "Selah." Digest the meaning of it. He arose not only to save Judah and Jerusalem but also those oppressed Gentile nations from fear of being looted by the mighty armies of the wicked. So shall it be when the Lord returns to the earth to bring final triumph and rewards to all the righteous, with special covenant honors for Israel, and His church, which He called from and sent among the Gentiles, to bear His name till He comes again, Matthew 5:5; Psalms 22:26; Revelation 14:4-5. For He shall come "to be glorified In the saints, (His church, Revelation 19:7-9) and admired In all them that believe," who are not of either Israel or His church, 2Th1:10; Revelation 5:8-10.

Verse 10 certifies that even the wrath of man shall be turned to praise God, in the hour of judgment, and remaining, lingering wrath he shall restrain, Exodus 9:16; Exodus 18:11; Psalms 75:8; Psalms 68:30. See too Genesis 37:18-19; Genesis 50:20; Daniel 3:19; Acts 4:26; Acts 4:28; Revelation 11:18.

Verse 11 commands "vow, and pay unto the Lord your God," as you have vowed or pledged to do; keep your vows, Ecclesiastes 5:4; Deuteronomy 23:21-22. "Let all ... about him bring presents (free will gifts) unto him who ought to be feared," Psalms 68:29; Psalms 89; For the redeemed shall one day gather "round about" Him, the Lamb, Revelation 4:4; Revelation 7:17.

Verse 12 concludes in His final terrible judgment He shall "cut off the spirit of the princes (Heb yibetzor), cut off like a vine dresser that which encumbers, Revelation 14:18-19, cut off their breath, their lives, Psalms 104:29. ft is added "He is terrible (in judgment) to the kings of the earth, Psalms 68:35.