Book of Psalms Chapter 76
Praise God for His Greatness
This Psalm was written by Asaph who was the head musician of the choir established by King David.
We know that God has a unique relationship with Israel.
God also has a unique relationship with the Church but not with any other nation than Israel.
No other nation has a relationship as Israel does with God.
This is important to know if we want to study the Bible properly.
God's name is great in Israel because He has proved Himself to be great, the Great One.
So, it is important to know just how powerful is our God.
There is no limit to God’s power!
We can accept the Word of God as the truth when it describes the power of God, but we must know God is far more powerful than these pages show.
The only thing that limits the power of God is His love for humanity, but God also cannot be unrighteous
It is because of His righteousness that He must destroy sin.
*****Psa 76:1 To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.
We may not know what historical event this Psalm refers to, but it will apply to any nation or group that tries to eliminate God's people.
God is great in Israel and showed Himself great by breaking the power of Assyria and many other nations.
Isa 37:36 Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
You see God had made a promise to Israel.
2Ki 19:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
2Ki 19:33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
2Ki 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
2Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
God had made a promise to Israel and God does not break His promises.
God made a promise to the Church, the Body of Christ and He will honor that promise as well.
It is just after this that Israel gave God a new name:
That name is Yahweh Shammah which means "The Lord is There".
God did this to show us all that God will rescue His people in the future from hostile nations who circle Israel which may be happening today.
Israel has to defend itself from terrorists daily.
I can just imagine what America would do if a bordering nation began to take daily potshots into our country.
God will break the power of any nation whose intent is to destroy Israel because "Shammah" is still with Israel.
God is known in Judah!
*****Psa 76:2 In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.
The word "Salem" means "unharmed" or "at peace" and we are to pray for the peace of Jerusalem because Salem is another name for Jerusalem, the City of Peace.
It should also remind us of our Savior who is the King of Peace and we know He will one day soon sit as King of Israel and in fact King of this entire world.
God had told Moses to build a Tabernacle and God made Himself known when the Tabernacle was first completed.
There was no Tabernacle in Jerusalem until King David had retrieved the Ark of the Covenant.
2Sa_6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.
The true meaning of the word tabernacle is "a house or a dwelling place".
Job 5:24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
We just assume that when we see the word tabernacle it is talking about the Tabernacle of the Congregation, but it can mean other things sometimes.
The word tabernacle can also mean our human body.
2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Co 5:4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
And God gave us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee of His truth.
2Co 5:5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
The word Zion can mean some other things but in truth it means the city of Jerusalem.
It can also mean the City of David.
Psa 87:5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.
The truth of Jerusalem still lies in the future when the Lord Jesus Christ will sit as King in Jerusalem.
The Church is looking forward to the Heavenly Jerusalem!
Heb_12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
The war called Armageddon will be settled in Jerusalem.
*****Psa 76:3 There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.
The Lord Jesus will put an end to war when He sits on the throne of David.
The war of Armageddon will not be won due to skillful militaries it will be won due to the actions of God.
God will deprive the enemies of Israel of the effectiveness of all their mighty weapons.
The Lord will render those weapons useless against God's people!
As an example, the great Assyrian army lay in siege of Jerusalem and God sent one angel to end that siege.
With one pass over those one hundred and eighty-five thousand soldiers, they never woke from their sleep and not one arrow was fired into Jerusalem.
Nothing that army had that day could defend them from that one angel.
It will be the same in the War called Armageddon.
Isa_54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
The Lord is perfect in His Holiness.
The Lord is also perfect in His power!
*****Psa 76:4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.
The powerful armies of Assyria had burned and pillaged many nations until they felt that no nation could stand against them. They had gotten rich off of the things they had plundered from other nations but at Jerusalem, God said no more.
The glory of the Lord is brighter than our sun!
2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
No matter how powerful the militaries of this world get, they are no match for the glory of God!
The mountains of Jerusalem are where God's presence dwells among His people Israel.
Those who dare to invade His territory in hopes of preying on God's people will quickly become God's prey and He will destroy them.
The Lord despises such nations that brag of their power such as North Korea, Iran, and some others, who have such little power that the Lord can just display His glory, and they will not exist.
In the Lord excellence and power become perfection.
*****Psa 76:5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.
Psa 76:6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
This verse describes what happened to the Assyrian army that had sieged Jerusalem.
2Ki 19:35 And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
One hundred eighty-five thousand soldiers went to sleep that terrible night and one hundred and eighty five thousand soldiers woke up in Hell, a place they did not believe in.
Even Sennacherib the commander of this army died at the hands of his own two sons.
This happened on the day after Isaiah told King Hezekiah that Israel would be delivered from this mighty army.
My Father when He is angry does not fool around.
This was the power of one angel. God has an innumerable number of angels but even they cannot match the power God has Himself.
Psa_147:15 He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
God's rebuke can destroy any political power.
God's rebuke can destroy any military power.
God's rebuke can destroy any power that goes against God's people, and He has already said that day was coming.
Chariots and horses are examples of the vehicles used by powerful militaries.
Any time we win a victory over an enemy, we need to recognize God as the source of that victory and offer Him praise!
Who are our enemies? The world, our flesh, and the devil are all our known enemies, and we can include all the things associated with those things.
Satan and his forces are far more powerful than we are, but they are no match for God!
What do we need? The Whole Armor of God
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.
We cannot even overcome our flesh without the help of God!
Our sinful nature will overwhelm us without the Holy Spirit abiding within us!
Gal 5:16 This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
If we walk in the Spirit, we can be conquerors.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We have no reason to be afraid of what this world can do to us.
*****Psa 76:7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
The Israelites witnessed the greatness of God more than any other people. Those alive would have a fear of God, but the next generation would move away from the truth of God.
God alone should indeed be feared!
God is the only one who can settle wars with His tongue.
God just speaks and things take place as He speaks.
God stands ready to destroy all who dare to revolt against Him!
God stands ready to destroy all those who revolt against His purpose!
God stands ready to destroy all who revolt against His people.
No one can overcome the power of God!
God is to be feared but God is also to be loved!
The truth: Only perfect love can cast away fear!
If you genuinely love the Lord God, then you need have a reverent fear of God, but you need only to know the power of God for He will never use that power to destroy you or against you.
It is those who hate God who God will destroy!
God's "judgment" is absolute!
*****Psa 76:8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,
Psa 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.
The great Prophet Isaiah had told King Hezekiah that God would show His power:
2Ki 19:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
2Ki 19:33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
2Ki 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.
God was not about to allow the enemies of Israel to destroy them because God had already promised the Messiah to come by way of David's royal descendants.
God still speaks through His prophets, or today we would say His preachers.
In the coming "judgment" upon this world God will speak with His voice.
That voice is called the sword of His mouth.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
We had better know that from His throne in Heaven God governs this universe.
One day soon every mouth of all those who remain after the Rapture of the Church will be closed.
Rom 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: "that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God".
There are those today who say that a true God would not kill people or allow them to be killed.
God says: (my words) "all you need do is to repent and acknowledge the truth of God", so they that perish have the opportunity to live forever", but they had defied God and the penalty for defying God, is death.
God will arise in "judgment" to save the meek and the oppressed on this earth. Those would be all those who claim the Lord is their Savior and the world oppresses them.
God will arise in "judgement" to stir those people up to praise Him.
*****Psa 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.
We should understand that "all" actions and feelings of humanity are under God's control.
It is soon coming a day that even those who hate God will praise Him!
God will make sure that all those who oppose Him know exactly what is going to happen to them, if they continue down that road of sin that they travel on.
Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
All those who seek a new path to Heaven need to realize there is no new path to Heaven.
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
God has shown Himself to be the Victor over wickedness and evilness!
God does not do evil, but God will utilize those who do, to further His plans for this world.
Some proof to this can be seen with a certain Pharaoh:
Exo 9:15 For now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence; and thou shalt be cut off from the earth.
Exo 9:16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
What does God say to all those who oppose Him?
Isa 33:11 Ye shall conceive chaff, ye shall bring forth stubble: your breath, as fire, shall devour you.
In the end, Israel has been delivered from all those who have threatened them over and over again, yet the world continues to hate Israel and continue to assist the terrorists that are no more than thieves and robbers.
We may live in a world where there is no fear of God, but it does not mean that the Word of God is not true, and it does not mean that Jehovah God has gotten old and weak.
Mat 10:26 Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
Mat 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
We need to vow our allegiance to the Lord!
*****Psa 76:11 Vow and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
Psa 76:12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.
There will be some alive after God's "judgment" during the Tribulation period and before the Lord Jesus restores this earth for one thousand years and what did they see?
Zep 3:6 I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
Until Satan is locked up in Hell for good, he will have allies in this world.
As Christians, we will have to contend against this world and the Devil, but we are never alone and we will come out as victors.
We have seen enough answers to prayers to know some of the power of God and we know He is far more powerful than Satan that nasty serpent.
Every victory we have after our salvation came by the Lord.
At times, some of us need to rededicate ourselves to the Lord.
We must not only praise the Lord with our lips we must also praise Him with our service to Him.
We are not to neglect to always do good out of grateful hearts.
We must be grateful for God saving our souls from a Devil's Hell, and we can best show that gratefulness buys keeping any vows we have made and praising His Holy Name.
The greatest victory we can celebrate is the Lord Jesus's victory on that terrible cross because this is our victory also.
As Jesus sacrifice of "mercy" deserves the greatest sacrifice we can offer, which is the sacrifice of our own lives to Him!
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
It is only then that God will reveal His complete message to us.
The sweetest words God ever said was "I forgive"! He did not have to!
There is no greater gift we can give to the Lord, but ourselves!
God will be terrible to the kings and princes of this earth, and they know it is coming, and they have only one chance to avoid it, but they reject it believing that Satan is their savior.
Such foolish men and women!
Amen
