The author of Psalm 76 was Asaph. Remember we have discussed him before, he was a leader of one of the temple choirs. He shares with us a call for God to punish evildoers. Even man's angry revolt will be used by God to bring glory to himself.
Psalm 76:1 - "In Judah God is known; his name is great is Israel"
Verse 1 of this psalm praises God for his awesome power. It was most likely written to celebrate a defeat after invading a specific area of Judah.
Psalm 76:10 - "Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained"
How can wrath bring praise to God? Hostility to God and his people gives God the opportunity to do great deeds. For example, the Pharaoh of Egypt refused to free the Hebrew slaves (Exodus 5:1,2) and therefore allowed God to work mighty miracles for his people. (Exodus 11:9) God turns the tables on evildoers an brings glory to himself from the foolishness of those who deny him or revolt against him. God's wrath expressed in judgment brings praise from those who have been delivered.
Exodus 5:1,2 - Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert' " Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD and I will not let Israel go"
Exodus 11:9 - The LORD said to Moses, "Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you - so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt"
Psalm 76 / New International Version
ReplyDelete1 In Judah God is known;
his name is great in Israel.
2 His tent is in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
3 There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.
4 You are resplendent with light,
more majestic than mountains rich with game.
5 Valiant men lie plundered,
they sleep their last sleep;
not one of the warriors
can lift his hands.
6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both horse and chariot lie still.
7 You alone are to be feared.
Who can stand before you when you are angry?
8 From heaven you pronounced judgment,
and the land feared and was quiet—
9 when you, O God, rose up to judge,
to save all the afflicted of the land.
10 Surely your wrath against men brings you praise,
and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;
let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared.
12 He breaks the spirit of rulers;
he is feared by the kings of the earth.