The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 76:1-12

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

A psalm of triumph.

This is one of several psalms supposed to have been written in celebration of the sudden overthrow of Sennacherib's army in the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, and suggests the following truths—

I. THAT THE CHURCH IS GOD'S PECULIAR ABODE, WHERE THE MOST GLORIOUS REVELATIONS OF HIS POWER AND GRACE ARE SEEN. (Psalms 76:3.) The gospel is most emphatically the "power of God unto salvation."

II. THAT GOD'S GREATEST GLORY IS NOT IN DESTROYING, BUT IN SAVING AND REDEEMING, MEN. (Psalms 76:4 6.) Here his power for destruction is celebrated; but in the New Testament his work of salvation—his power to give life, not his power to take it away.

III. GOD IS TO BE FEARED MORE FOR HIS HOLINESS AND LOVE THAN FOR HIS PHYSICAL OMNIPOTENCE. (Psalms 76:7-9.) These excite filial affectionate fear; that excites an unworthy slavish fear.

IV. GOD IS ABLE TO OVERRULE THE REBELLION OF MEN SO THAT IN THE END IT SHALL ILLUSTRATE HIS PRAISE. (Psalms 76:10.) God's love can conquer human wrath, and so make it praise him.

V. THE ONLY ACCEPTABLE GIFTS WE CAN OFFER TO GOD ARE THOSE OF REPENTANCE AND A RENEWED LIFE. (Psalms 76:11.) "A broken and a contrite spirit; "To do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God;" "Let all that are around him do homage to his majesty."—S.

Psalms 75

Psalms

Psalms 77

Psalms 76 - psalms-76 - worlddic.com

More for Psalms 76:1-12

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

Matthew Henry on Psalms 76:1-6Psalms 76:1-6 · Matthew Henry Concise CommentaryHappy people are those who have their land filled with the knowledge of God! happy persons that have their hearts filled with that knowledge! It is the glory and happiness of a people to have God among them by his ordin…

commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 76:1-6Happy people are those who have their land filled with the knowledge of God! happy persons that have their hearts filled with that knowledge! It is the glory and happiness of a people to have God among them by his ordin…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 76:6The power of the Lord's rebuke. "At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both chariot and horse are cast into a deep sleep." Byron pictures the scene with great poetical force— "And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide,…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 76:7-12God's people are the meek of the earth, the quiet in the land, that suffer wrong, but do none. The righteous God seems to keep silence long, yet, sooner or later, he will make judgment to be heard. We live in an angry,…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 76:7The Divine anger. "Who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?" God can only be apprehended through human figures with which we are familiar. So we find in the Divine revelations of Holy Scripture anthropomorph…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 76:9With God judgment is salvation. "When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth." The "meek" are those who, with Hezekiah, held fast their integrity to Jehovah, and yet seemed placed in circumstances of h…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 76:10Man's wrath bringing praise to God. The rendering of this verse is uncertain. The LXX. reads the verse, "The wrath of man shall praise thee; the remainder of wrath shall keep festival unto thee." And the idea of the ver…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 76:11Following up our vows. "Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God." Vows were formal promises or engagements made in acknowledgment of Divine mercies, or as conditions on which Divine help was sought. They are illustrated by…Joseph S. Exell and contributors