“A THANKSGIVING OF PRAISE FOR A VICTORY WROUGHT” PSALM 76:1-12

Psalm 76 is a psalm written by a descendant of Asaph, the musician of David’s choir (I Chronicles 15:17). The superscription of this psalm reads: “To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.” The term “neginoth” means a stringed instrument; so, this psalm can be played on a stringed instrument. Psalm 76 is a thanksgiving psalm that celebrates God’s victory for Judah against the fierce Assyrian army of Sennacherib in 701 B.C. This psalm teaches that God has complete control, and when the time comes, He will ultimately execute justice. Prophetically, this psalm looks forward to the future when Christ will come in His glory to judge mankind (Revelation 19:11-16).

In verses 1-3, the psalmist announced that God made Himself known by the devastating way He destroyed Israel’s enemies as the psalmist states, “In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel” (v. 1). God’s great judgment on the nations of the past served to authenticate that He will destroy those nations who are against Him in the future. When Christ comes back during His Second Coming to the earth to set up His Millennium Reign, that period will be marked by peace, for Isaiah 2:4 states: “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

Because of the Lord’s victory over Israel’s enemies, Asaph praises God transcendent glory (vv. 4-6). In verse 4 he proclaims, “Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.” Certainly, the Lord’s power to destroy His enemies achieved His purpose; thus, God’s wrath displayed against His enemies resulted in believers praising Him (vv. 7-10). He will be feared as verse 7 acknowledges, “Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?” And He will be praised, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain” (v. 10).

As a result of God’s awesome judgment on His enemies that resulted in Israel’s deliverance, Asaph instructs leaders in verses 11-12 to pledge their allegiance to God to avert His judgment against them: “Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared” (v. 11).

May God Bless!