Psalms 76

Psalms 76:1-10

This psalm appears to have been penned on some signal victory obtained over the enemies of God’s people, and may be considered as prophecies of the Redeemer’s triumphs over the antichristian powers who perpetuate his church. 1. The plaintiff congratulates the happiness of the church in having God so high, vers. 1, 2. 2. He celebrates the glory of God’s power, which this was an illogical influence of, vers. 3—6. 3. He infers from hence what reason all have to fear him, vers. 7—9. And, his people to trust and pay their vows to him, vers. 10—12.

PS. ix, xii. Or, for.

PS. xii. 1. ‘N Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. 2. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling-place in Zion. 3. ‘There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. 4. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 5. ‘The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. 6. ‘At thy re-brake, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

¶ To the chief musician on ‘Neginoth, A psalm or song of Asaph.

1. ‘N Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. 2. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling-place in Zion. 3. ‘There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. 4. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 5. ‘The stout-hearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. 6. ‘At thy re-brake, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

The church of God is often made to sing her triumphant songs, even here below.

1. God is here represented as eminently appearing for her. In Judah is God known; there he had made the most glorious revelation of himself, and of his will: his name is great in Israel, exalted and praised by his people, and magnified in the mountain he wrought on their behalf. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling-place in Zion; favoured with his immediate patience, visible in the Shecinah of glory. And this may refer to the insinuation of the Son of God, made known in Judah - Vos. I.

by the preaching of the Baptist, as Israel’s exalted Saviour, who pitched his tabernacle among men, appeared in the flesh at Jerusalem, and in his church, the spiritual Zion, continues to take up his abode.

2. A glorious victory is obtained, whether by David, a Sam. xii, 26—31; or by Jehoshaphat, a Chron. xx, 1—29; or by Hezekiah, a Kings, xix, 35, or by the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom emphatically it may be applied, over the powers of sin, Satan, death, and hell. The enemies are represented as stout-hearted, as men of might, as completely armed, v. 3. But there is no contending against God; the arrows are broken, the shield, the sword, and the battle: unable to defend themselves, the mighty are fallen with their chorion and hoffes, they keep the sleep of death, and the weak take the spoil, v. 5. Thus hath our Redeemer spoiled principalities and powers; and following him, the weakest believer feces the prey, and triumphs over vanquelling foes; for all the enemies of Christ’s church and people, however many or mighty, shall be rooted out at the left.

3. The rebule is ascribed to God alone, his is the work, to him must be the praise. Not by our might or power, but at thy rebules, O God, they are cast down. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey; symmetrical kings, and all the perfecting powers, are nothing in the hands of his own. 4. The highest they are exalted, the more will he be glorified in their abatement, for every mountain shall be brought low. Note, In all the dangers to which God’s people are exposed, they must look to the glorious power of God, engaged for them, and not be afraid.

4. Thou, even thou art to be feared, and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? 8. ‘Thou doest cause judgment to be heard from heaven: the earth feared and was still, 9. When God arose as judgment to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. 10. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shall thou refrain. 11. Now, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring prelates unto him that ought to be feared. 12. ‘He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

Among the feverest conflicts the believer endures, are those inward distresses and dejections with which his spirit is sometimes afflicted; but let him not think some strange thing is happened unto him, here is a holy man of God in his State; nor let him despair of comfort and relief, when it stands here on record, I cried, and he gave ear to me. We have here.

1. The psalmist’s fervent and incesitant prayers in the day of his trouble. I cried with my voice, carried and aloud; I fought the Lord with eager importunity; my fore ran in the night, his heart bled with anguish; or, my hand was stretched out in the night in prayer to God, and crept out. Note, (1.) God’s people must expect to see many a day of trouble from temptation, corruption, affliction, and dejection. (2.) In our distress we are especially called upon to fit to the complications of our God, and pour out our complaints to him. (3.) If we would speak, we must be both importunate and unsecured in our application.

2. His anguish was bitter, and he could find no immediate relief. My soul refused to be comforted; could lay hold on none of the promises; yea, when suggested to him, he thrust them from him as if they belonged not to him. I remembered God, and instead of finding relief from thence, I was troubled; his inexorable justice, and terrible majesty, fathered on his mind, and took him in deeper dejection. I complained of my sin and sufferings, and my spirit was overwhelmed, as if the one were too great to be forgiven, and the other too heavy to be born. Thou holdest mine eyes waking; no balmy sleep brought for a time a trace of refuge to his afflicted spirit: I am so troubled I cannot speak; his distress so unutterable, and his soul so dejected. Note, (1.) Under deep temptation we are apt to feed our own sorrows, and reject the constations God’s word suggests to us. (2.) If we cannot speak but in groans, that is a language which God can understand, and will answer.

3. His reflections on past experience rather aggravated than alleviated his sorrows. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times; what goodwill God had thrown to his faithful, and what himself had experienced, which made the present sad revered the more afflicting. I call to remembrance my long in the night, which in his happier days he sung with delight; but now unstrung, and out of tune, he cannot strike one cheerful note.

4. His melancholy fears occasioned great searchings of heart. I remember with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search into the cause of my distress, and where it would end; and between hope and fear reason with myself, Will the Lord call off for ever? as he seems vow to have forsaken me; and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy, so often thrown to me, than gave for ever? Is there no more mercy, not a deep yes in store

for me? doth his promise fail for evermore? that the word of comfort shall again entails my spirit. Hath God forgotten to be gracious? is it possible? hath he in anger shut up his tender merces? so mused, so reasoned his dejected heart; and it speaks the strength of his temptation, that could call him to question truths so evident; and of his uphelist, that could suggest suppositions so dishonourable to God; or by these questions he fought to strengthen his faith directly tried, by suggesting the unpossibility of his being utterly abandoned, when all God’s promises and pretensions, his truth, mercy, and faithfulness, were engaged never to defort him. Note, (1.) They who are God’s dearest children, sometimes distress themselves with the most melancholy apprehensions of being forsaken by him, and left to eternal predation. (2.) This is of all troubles the most grievous. (3.) Is it an unimpeachable mercy the two is groundless; for he hath said, I will never leave nor forsake thee.

5. One beam of hope at last frightens up the prospect: he had gone far in his fears, much farther than he had any real cause for; now he stops short, and chides his unbelieving heart. I said, This is an infirmity, my lot of affliction, under which I ought not to complain, or rather my weakness and sin ever to entertain a doubt of the love and compassion, the faithfulness and truth of God and his promises: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High, that he is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever; able to live to the uttermost, and therefore ever to be remembr’d and trusted. Some render the words, the changes of the right hand of the most High, intimating, that notwithstanding what he at present felt, he hoped to fix a blessed alteration, and that God would change his dispensations towards him, and give him the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Note, (1.) We have already put, in a measure, out of our troubles when we begin to condemning our unbelief, and to cast our care upon God. (2.) No sin more believing, since more to be lamented, than this dishonourable distrust of God’s faithfulness and love. (3.) If we have the right hand of the most High to hold us fast, who can ever pluck us thence?

6. I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember ’ thy wonders of old. 12. ’ I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. 13. ’ Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: ’ who is so great a God as our God? 14. Thou art the God that doth wonders; thou hast declared thy strength among the people. 15. ’ Thou hast with these arm redeemed thy people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph, Selah. 16. ’ The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee: they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. 17. The clouds poured out waters, the skies sent out a round; thine arrows also went abroad. 18. The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: ’ the lightnings lightened the world, the earth trembled and frock. 19. ’ Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and ’ thy foot-steps are not known. 20. ’ Thou led-dest thy people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalms 76:7-12

The effects of this glorious victory are designed. 1. To strike terror into their enemies. Thou, even thou art to be feared, so able to destroy to the uttermost, and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? when his wrath, like a confarming fire, devours round about him. Thou doest cause judgment to be heard from heaven; decided the cause in favour of his people, by a miraculous interposition; the wrath feared and was still, as trembled and was quiet; some suppose it refers to an earthquake, or a clip of thunder, when the destroying angel descended from heaven against the Adlystans; or it describes the silent awe with which the whole earth will be struck, in that great day when the Judge of all shall be revealed from heaven; when God arose as judgment, and to save all the meek upon earth; this being the distinguishing character of that people whom the Saviour will deliver from all their enemies. Note, [1] They who expect God to appear in their behalf, must be that, as the meek of the earth, they patiently wait for his salvation. [2] Though patient sufferers in silence refrain their complaints, God sees, and will avenge them speedily.

2. To engage the dependence of his people in times of greatest danger. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee; ultimately, whatever the faints of the most high suffer under oppression, it shall serve to brighten their graces, and redound to his glory, who in the fire prelates them, and the more it rages, the more will he be exalted in quenching the flames: the remainder of wrath shall thou refrain; no farther can it go than his permission. Thus all the rage and malice of the enemies of Jesus most effectually, in the issue, tended to God’s glory, and his people’s salvation; and when he had permitted them to bring his dead body to the grave, he checked their fury, and by his glorious reformation accomplished that redemption they meant to defeat. What comfort and confidence thou should this minister to us under our severest trials?

3. To quicken them to the more diligent discharge of their duty, constrained by such manifestations of the Divine grace on their behalf. Feas, and pay unto the Lord your God, the bounden tribute of thankfulness, and that not only with their lips, but in their lives devoted to his service; let all that are round about him, the congregation of his faints, bring prelates unto him, even that most acceptable prelates of themselves, their bodies, souls, and spirits, offered up at his foothold, the sacrifices due to him, that ought to be feared, with mnemonial and shall bear by his children, and who is the terror of his enemies. He shall cut off the spirit of princes, dispute the most daring, and destroy the most formidable: he is terrible to the kings of the earth, who in the day of final judgment will call to the mountains to cover them, and the rocks to fall on them and hide them from his intolerable wrath, Rev. xi. 16.

¶ C PSALM

The complaints of this psalm are by some applied to the Jesus in Babylon, and by others to their present deplorable State; but they may be considered as expressions of the psalmist’s griefs, and in him of every believer. 1. He complains of the deep imperishments which his troubles made upon his spirits, and the temptation he was in to despair of relief, ver. 1—10. 2. He encouraged himself to help that it would be well at last, by the remembrance of God’s former appearances for the help of his people, ver. 11—20. In finding this psalm we must take frame to ourselves for our sinful disgrunt of God, his providence and promise, and give to him the glory of his power and goodwill by a thankful commemoration of what he has done for us formerly, and a cheerful dependence on him for the future.

¶ To the chief musician, ’ to Jeduthun, A psalm of Asaph. 1 PC. xxii. 6. lat. iii. 7. Os. for. 1 PC. I. 15. 2 Heb. My Lord was directed out. 4 Luke xviii. 5. 6 Jer. xxii. 15. 7 Deut. xxix. 9. PC. xxiii. 5. He. 11. 6. 7 PC. ix. 4. 8 Ibid. xxii. 9. 5 Heb. To geocution and prosection. 6 Ibid. xliii. 15.

1. I Cried unto God with my voice: even unto God with my voice, and he gave ear unto me. 2. ’ In the day of my trouble I fought the Lord: ’ my fore ran in the night, ’ and troiled out: ’ my soul ’ retitled to be comforted. 3. I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. 4. Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5. ’ I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6. I call to remembrance my long in the night: I ’ comorate with mine own heart, and my spirit made diligent search. 7. ’ Will the Lord call off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 8. Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail § for evermore? 9. Hath God ’ forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender merces? Selah. 10. And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.

Psalms 76:11-20

Though we find not the immediate effect of the means of grace, we must not grow weary in using them, when we are found in God’s way, we shall certainly succeed at last.

1. He continues to meditate on God’s works and ways for the comfort of his soul. I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old, the great things he had done for his people of old, and the carers of what he will do for them for ever. I will meditate also of all thy ways, of providence, redemption, and grace, for his own strength and consolation, and tell of all thy doings, for others support and edification. Note, (1.) It becomes an often to remember the wonders of God’s dispensations of providence and grace towards us, to awaken our greater thankfulness and gratitude. (2.) What he hath done for our souls should be spoken of to his glory, and for the encouragement of others who may be in the like distress.

2. He acknowledges God’s way to be holy. Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary, or in hallway; all his dispensations altogether righteous, and they who wait upon him in his sanctuary will see the realms of them opened and made known to them. Note, Though we may not always solve particular difficulties in God’s dealings with men, yet this principle we must hold fast, that God is holy in all his ways, and just in all his works.

3. He magnifies God’s power and grace, so eminently displayed in behalf of his people: Thus art the God that doth wonders; then half declared thy strength among the people, in those flupenduous miracles wrought for their redemption out of Egypt, v. 15. Afraid and troubled at the prelence of God, the depths of the red sea were discovered, and its waters stood up as congealed into a well of stone, v. 16. the towering skies poured down torrents on the Egyptians, the thunders roared, the

a perpetual reproach. 67. Moreover, he refused the tabernacle of Joseph: and chose not the tribe of Ephraim. 68. But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 69. And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. 70. He chose David also his servant, and took him from the forepholds: 71. From following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. 72. So he fled them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.

Psalms 76:40-72

The subject, as before, is here continued, of God’s mercies, and their provocations.

1. By a series of rebellion they marked their abode in the wilderness, and grieved his holy Spirit, v. 40. Repeatedly they tempted God, and turned back from their professions of repentance; and sometimes talked of returning to Egypt. They limited the holy One of Israel, as if unable to supply their wants, or daring to prescribe to him the time and manner of doing it, v. 41. forgetful of all the works of power he had shown in their deliverance from the Egyptian bondage. Note, (1.) God is grieved to be the perveteries of his children, and feels for them when they provoke him to take up the courage. (2.) When we are poor pensioners on mercy, unworthy the least regard, it will become a good to prescribe how God shall order the dispositions of his providence or grace towards us.

2. By a series of miracles and favours, God marked his peculiar regard towards them, which rendered their ingratiable more aggravated. With a high hand he brought them from their house of bondage, having, by the most heavy and repeated plagors, compelled their oppressors to let them go. All the creatures appear armed in their quarrel; and the men, when he employs them, can be made severe executioners of his vengeance. Flies, lice, frogs, locusts, catopillars, devour, torments, destroy their enemies. Their waters are turned into blood, their cattle slain with thunderbolts, and every tree broken with the battering hail. Yes, heaven, as well as earth, appears against them, to execute the foregoing of God’s wrath and indignation. The holy angels draw the favor of judgment, and bring the threatened evil upon this devoted people. Death marks their way; in every house of Egypt the first-born expires. Eager now to hasten their departure, as obstinate before to return them, the Egyptians urge them to go; and, like a flock under the divine guidance, Israel departs, delivered from all their fears, conducted through the sea, and beholding their enemies seek like stones in these mighty waters, v. 52, 53. Brought at last to the promised land by the power of God, even to the mountain where God’s sanctuary should be built; their enemies, though so mighty, dispossessed and destroyed; and they made to inherit their cities, and divide their spoils, v. 54, 55. Such miracles of mercy God had shewn them, that deferred to be kept in everlasting remembrance. Note, (1.) Where God hath been liberal in his gifts, he may well of such expect more abundant returns of thankfulness, love, and service. (2.) The creatures, if armed with God’s wrath, can quickly cover his enemies with desolation. (3.) The fame blessed spirits that minister to the heirs of salvation, are the executioners of wrath upon the ungodly. (4.) The greatest of our mercies is not so much the possessing the good land, as being brought to the sanctuary, and having a place among the living members of Christ’s church.

3. Their ingratiable and rebellious in Canaan continued as before: they exactly followed their fathers had examples; neglected God’s commands; apostatized from his worship; unfaithful to their engagements, as a deceitful bow that dislops in the arches, either breaks in his hand, or carries not the arrow to the mark. By their idolatrics and spiritual adultery they provoked God’s jealousy, and kindled the wrath of the most High against them, v. 50—58. Note, (1.) The evil example of parents is dreadfully influential. (2.) The unfaithfulness of those who profess to serve God, is more criminal than the wickedness of such as live in open rebellion against him.

4. God’s wrath broke forth upon them. He marked their haterests, especially their idolatry, and with abhorrence regarded this apostate people, v. 59. As a token of his displeasure, he foresaw the tabernacle of Shiloh, where he had been pleased to fix his abode, and manifest his glory, v. 60. No longer under his protection, their enemies prevailed against them. He delivered his strength and glory, the ark in which they truthed, and where God’s glory rested, into the hands of the Philsitines; whilst the sword devoured them, and their inheritance was plundered, because he was wrath, v. 61, 62. Their young men were confessed in the prime of life; their maidens left unmarried, or, were not praised; no bridal songs and solemnities were heard, v. 63. Even their priests fell with their sacred charge, whose wickedness, notwithstanding their character, justly exposed them to the divine wrath; and their widows made no lamentation: either their ill conduct made them disregarded, or they were swallowed up in deeper grief on the loss of the ark, and the

impending calamities, as appeared in the wife of Phinehas, who instantly fell in labour, and died, 1 Sam. iv. 19—22. Note, (1.) If God’s people forsake him, justly may they expect to be forsaken by him. (2.) It is a foolish dependence to trust on the tabernacle and the formalities of religion, when the spirit of it is lost, and God is departed.

5. Though they had so shamefully departed from God, he had not utterly cast them off, but returned in mercy to them. As one awaked from sleep, and refreshed with wine, the Lord arose in pity to their care, and with power stretched forth his arm. His enemies felt the dreadful blow, fortress with haemorrhoids, or the piles, and confounded: their Dragon falls, and their trespass-offering free with the returning ark, perpetuates their reproach, 1 Sam. vi. 5. Once more he pitched his tent among them; and, though he refused Shiloh and the tribe of Ephraim for his abode, v. 67. he chose the tribe of Judah, and in the beloved Zion chose his habitation. There he built his sanctuary: the work was Solomon’s; the piles, the power, and ability, were from God. There was no need for the power, and the people were from God. There was no need for the power, and the people were from God. There was no need for the power, and the people were from God. There was no need for the power, and the people were from God. There was no need for the power, and the people were from God. There was no need for the power, and the people were from God. There was no need for the power, and the people were from God.