Reflections on Psalms 76

 Psalms 76(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A song and a psalm for the music leader. Use stringed instruments.) You, our God, are famous in Judah and honored in Israel.sermons
   
2. Your home is on Mount Zion in the city of peace.sermons
   
3. There you destroyed fiery arrows, shields, swords, and all the other weapons.sermons
   
4. You are more glorious than the eternal mountains.sermons
   
5. Brave warriors were robbed of what they had taken, and now they lie dead, unable to lift an arm.sermons
   
6. God of Jacob, when you roar, enemy chariots and horses drop dead in their tracks.sermons
   
7. Our God, you are fearsome, and no one can oppose you when you are angry.sermons
   
8. From heaven you announced your decisions as judge! And all who live on this earth were terrified and silentsermons
   
9. when you took over as judge, ready to rescue everyone in need.sermons
   
10. Even the most angry people will praise you when you are furious.sermons
    
11. Everyone, make your promises to the LORD your God and do what you promise. The LORD is fearsome, and all of his servants should bring him gifts.sermons
    
12. God destroys the courage of rulers and kings and makes cowards of them.sermons

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Here is another psalm from Asaph praising God for destroying Judah's enemy without Judah lifting a finger to defend herself. The occasion for this psalm is commonly thought to be when God destroyed 185,000 of Sennacherib's Assyrian army while in their camp and before attacking Judah. Isaiah 37:33 gives this account: "'Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow there or come before it with a shield or build up an assault ramp against it." Everyone awoke that day and the 185,000 soldiers lay dead. Sennacherib packed up and went home.

Asaph's response was to proclaim that God was known in Judah, and there, also, in Zion was His dwelling place. There was no question but that God had intervened. No doubt some looked for other explanations because that is what we are so inclined to do - find any explanation other than God. But Asaph led the people in crediting God with the destruction of their enemy. "He shatters the bow's flaming arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war," Asaph said. "The brave-hearted have been plundered; they have slipped into their final sleep. None of the warriors was able to lift a hand." (76:3, 5)

Therefore, the Lord is "to be feared. When You are angry, who can stand before You?" (76:7) When God has so obviously intervened, "The earth feared and grew quiet when God rose up to judge and to save all the lowly of the earth." (76:8-9)

In response to God's might acts, we should "Make and keep your vows to the LORD your God; let all who are around Him bring tribute to the awe-inspiring One." (76:11)