Psalms 76:1

The Bible says in Psalms 76:1-2, “In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.[2] In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.” In the Old Testament God chose a place to manifest Himself: Jerusalem. If you wanted to know more about God and be closer to God, then you had an attachment to Jerusalem, and you probably would go to Jerusalem whenever you could. That is no longer true in the times of the New Testament. Now God’s presence is within every believer. If you want to get closer to God, then you find believers and let them teach you and learn from them. Christians need other Christians: one reason for this is because Christ is in us. That is the fellowship benefit of being a part of a local congregation. Find a good church and become part of it.

The Bible says in Psalms 76:3-7, “There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.[4] Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.[5] The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.[6] At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.[7] Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?” The Psalmist is stating that God takes care of His own. When Jerusalem was at peace, it was God who did that. When Jerusalem was a great and beautiful city, it was God who did that. When Jerusalem was victorious in its battles over the heathen, it was God who did that. The Psalmist knew what God had done, the Psalmist remembered what God had done, and the Psalmist praised God for what He had done.

God “spoiled” the “stouthearted.” Those who have stubborn hearts against God are the ones who lose because God’s judgment always comes. Of course, it comes in God’s time and in God’s way. When it says in verse five, “they have slept their sleep,” it means that they slept when they should not have. It symbolizes that they did not have the wisdom that they needed and that is why they were defeated. They were asleep at the wheel. When it says that “none of the men of might have found their hands,” it means that in the time of hand-to-hand combat, they could not get it done. They could not do what they were trained to do. That was the power of God that gave victory to one and failure to another. The Psalmist knew this. Notice also verse six: “At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.” Not only the soldiers of the wicked will be ineffective if God so chooses, but also their equipment. God decides everything. That is why it is good to “fear” God as it says in verse seven. Turn to the Lord, rely upon the Lord, and ask the Lord for help. You are on God’s good side if you are trusting in Jesus for everything. You are in danger of His anger if you are not trusting in Him.

The Bible says in Psalms 76:8-9, “Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,[9] When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.” The Psalmist said in verse eight that when God brought judgment that “the earth feared.” Sometimes it takes judgment for people to fear God. The Lord certainly knows how to put the fear of God into people. We need some of that right now in our generation. It would be wise to turn to the Lord and fear Him without judgement. Some people turn to Christ because they give serious thought to the hell that awaits them if they do not turn to Christ. But some people do not. The Lord wants to save the soul of everyone, and so the Lord will bring judgments on earth to hopefully wake people up. That will probably be one of the reasons for the Great Tribulation: with all the horrible things that will happen to the earth, perhaps some will finally accept Christ as Savior.

Psalms 76:9 tells us another reason that the Lord brings judgment: “to save all the meek of the earth.” God loves His children. Once you accept Christ, you become a child of God and you enter into a relationship with the Lord where He takes care of you with His tender-loving kindness. Why does God do what He does on the earth: one reason is to protect His children.

The Bible says in Psalms 76:10, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” The truth of this verse is possible because of the almighty power of God. God controls everything: absolutely everything. Every thought of every person’s heart, every deed done by every person whether good or bad, and every situation is arranged and controlled by God. What about the evil deeds of angry people? God controls that too. God makes everything turn out for His glory. The best example of that was the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus was killed because of the jealousy and hatred of the religious leaders, the compromise of the political leaders, the cowardice of the believers, and the fickleness of the apostles. God controlled all of that in order for Jesus to die for the sins of the world.

The Bible says in Psalms 76:11-12, “Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.[12] He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.” What is the greatest “present” that you can bring to the Lord: your heart. It is true that the ones who are least likely to turn to the Lord are the rulers of the earth along with the rich. But they are in great danger if they are not rightly related to the Lord Jesus. The Judge will judge. That is one of His jobs. He will judge the princes and the kings of the earth because He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Jesus wants to give them life. He died for them too, but it is their decision.

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