Psalms 76

¹To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.

²In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.

Psa 76:1-12. On Neginoth--(See on Psa 4:1, title). This Psalm commemorates what the preceding anticipates: God’s deliverance of His people by a signal interposition of power against their enemies. The occasion was probably the events narrated in 2Ki 19:35; Is 37:1-28. (Compare Psa 46:1-11). 1-2. These well-known terms denote God’s people and Church and His intimate and glorious relations to them.

³There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.

3. brake ... the arrows--literally, “thunderbolts” (Psa 78:48), from their rapid flight or ignition (compare Psa 18:14; Ep 6:16). the battle--for arms (Ho 2:18).

⁴Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

4. Thou--God. mountains of prey--great victorious nations, as Assyria (Is 41:15; Eze 38:11, 12; Zec 4:7).

⁵The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

5. slept their sleep--died (Psa 13:3). none ... found ... hands--are powerless.

⁶At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

6. chariot and horse--for those fighting on them (compare Psa 68:17).

⁷Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

7. may ... sight--contend with Thee (De 9:4; Jos 7:12).

⁸Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

⁹When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

8-9. God’s judgment on the wicked is His people’s deliverance (Psa 9:12; 10:7).

¹⁰Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

10. Man’s wrath praises God by its futility before His power. restrain--or, “gird”; that is, Thyself, as with a sword, with which to destroy, or as an ornament to Thy praise.

¹¹Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

¹²He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

11-12. Invite homage to such a God (2Ch 32:23), who can stop the breath of kings and princes when He wills (Da 5:23).