Celebrate Messiah's Victory!

Introduction:

Psalm 76:1–12 KJV 1900

In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, And his dwelling place in Zion. There brake he the arrows of the bow, The shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: And none of the men of might have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. Thou, even thou, art to be feared: And who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared, and was still, When God arose to judgment, To save all the meek of the earth. Selah. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: The remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain. Vow, and pay unto the Lord your God: Let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

Compare to , - [EBC, Old]

Compare to & 48 [EBC, Old]

This is a “song” (šîr) and “psalm” (mizmôr).39 It is to be performed upon “Neginoth” (negînôt, see 4, intro.), unknown stringed instruments. The psalm is for use by the “chief musician” (menaṣṣeaḥ, see 4, intro.) with the temple worship. The background to the psalm is the defeat of Assyria, 2 Kings 19:35.40 Since this took place more than two centuries after Asaph, the author is a descendant of Asaph.41 The psalmist recognizes God’s power in delivering His people.

As with many of the psalms, the pattern established here still applies. God watches over those who enjoy a right relationship with Him, vv. 1–3. He will deliver them from their enemies, vv. 4–9. All should submit themselves to God, vv. 10–11, knowing that He will judge those who oppose Him, v. 12.

[39 For the words “psalm” (mizmôr) and “song” (šîr), see the introduction to .

40 The LXX supports this by adding the phrase πρὸς τὸν Ἀσσύριον, “concerning the Assyrian.” The Vulgate is similar, ad Assyrios. Murphy, p. 408, has the psalm describe David’s victory in taking Jerusalem from the Jebusites. This, however, was a victory achieved by stealth, not direct military action as v. 3 seems to indicate.

41 Information about Asaph may be found in the introduction to Ps. 50. The inscription here uses the family name to identify the author. Although Asaph himself did not write the psalm, it is justly related to him because of the part taken by one of his descendants. [ Peter A. Steveson, Psalms (Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 2007), 293.]]

I. Messiah's Reign Over Zion ()

God's Judgment Is Known (76:1-3) - BKC

Relationship to God 1-3 - Steveson

God Wants Us to Know Him - Wiersbe

[A.] Christ will be known in Judah (76:1; Isaiah 54:13; Jeremiah 31:34; )

[B.] Christ will be great in Israel (76:1)

His name will be great in all of united and restored Israel.

[C.] Christ will dwell in “Salem” (“Zion”) (76:2)

(“Salem” and “Zion” have reference to Jerusalem.)

Christ will dwell in the city of peace (“Salem” means peace), in the midst of a nation at peace, Zechariah 9:10, and in the midst of a world at peace, Psalm 46:9: Isaiah 2:4. He will come to this earth as “King of Righteousness” and as “King of Peace,” .

Jerusalem will be an appropriate dwelling place for Christ, for it will be at Jerusalem that He will destroy the wicked armies of the earth, 76:3; Joel, chapter 3; Zechariah, chapters 12 and 14. [Roy E. Gingrich, The Book of Psalms (Book Three) (Memphis, TN: Riverside Printing, 1995), 9–10.]

The psalmist wastes no time in singing praise to God. In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. Though ignored by the world, God is intimately known to His people. Whether it was Israel of the Old Testament or the church of the New, God is great amongst His people. [David H. Sorenson, Understanding the Bible, An Independent Baptist Commentary - Job through Psalms, vol. 4, Understanding the Bible, An Independent Baptist Commentary (Northstar Ministry, 2007), 505–506.]

II. Messiah's Victory Over His Enemies ()

God's Judgment Is Just (76:4-10) - BKC

Deliverance By God 4-9 - Steveson

God Wants Us to Trust Him - Wiersbe

[A.] He will be more glorious and excellent than “the mountains of prey” (76:4)

“The mountains of prey” have reference to the mountains around Jerusalem where the Lord will devour His enemies as prey. He will exalt Himself over these “mountains of prey.”

[B.] He will spoil “the stouthearted” (76:5)

Unable to help themselves, the mighty soldiers of the enemy armies gathered around Jerusalem will be put to sleep (put to death), leaving huge stores of spoils behind them, .

[C.] He will cast the chariots and the horses of the enemy into a deep sleep (76:6)

Of course, this means that the riders of the chariots and the horses of the enemy will be slain. [Gingrich, 10.]

III. Messiah's Judgment Unto Salvation ()

God Wants Us to Fear Him - Wiersbe

At His Second Advent, Christ is coming to judge the wicked and to save the meek. He, in wrath, will thunder from heaven with the following results: (1) The wicked armies of the pagan nations will be destroyed; (2) the Jewish remnant in Jerusalem will be delivered; and (3) the remnant of the earth’s peoples will fear the Lord and stand still before Him. [Gingrich, 10.]

God is to be feared by not only His own people, but by the world at large. God's people have come to learn the fear of the Lord. The world will learn it the hard way. And so the psalmist pondered, who can stand once He is angry? The answer is apparent. None! When God pours out His wrath upon this earth, none will stand against Him. Moreover, when they appear before the Great White Throne judgment, the wicked will cower before Him. [Sorenson, 507.]

IV. Messiah's Ultimate Sovereignty ()

God's Judgment Is Fearful (72:11-12) - BKC

Submission to God 10-12 - Steveson

God Wants Us to Obey Him - Wiersbe

[A.] Christ will restrain the wrath of the residue of the peoples of the earth (76–10)

At His coming; Christ will destroy the assembled armies of the earth, Zechariah, chapters 12 and 14, and so will make man’s wrath to praise Him, . Then during His Millennial reign, He will restrain any wrath arising among the earth’s rulers, , and among the earth’s peoples, .

[B.] Christ will receive praise from all the peoples of the earth (76:11a)

The “vow” spoken of here has reference to a vow to praise God, 50:14; 61:8.

[C.] Christ will receive presents from all the peoples of the nations (76:11b)

These gifts will be tokens of their submission to Christ, Isaiah 60:11, .

[D.] Christ will destroy the wicked princes of the earth (76:12)

He will destroy all rebellious princes, Psalm 2:10–12, and He will be feared by all of the remaining kings of the earth. [Gingrich, 10.]

Conclusion:

THE LESSONS TAUGHT BY THIS PSALM

1. Christ is someday coming to destroy the wicked and to deliver the righteous.

2. Christ is someday coming to rule this world with a rod of iron. [Gingrich, 10.]