Victorious Judgment Is Accomplished

Ps. 76

Jay Horsley

The previous psalm (Ps. 75) extolled the judgment of God on the enemies of His people. But it was a prayerful celebration of the power of God in hope because the victory had not yet come. This psalm is the perfect companion to the last one because it celebrates the same thing, but from the perspective of the victorious saint. Both psalms present the saints of God living by faith in God, but in different stages of existence. All wish celebrate with the victorious, (Ps. 76) but the faithful have the same spirit of trust even before God accomplishes the victory. (Ps. 75). It is sad, yet inevitable, that to celebrate like in Ps. 76 we must endure like in Ps. 75. But that is why we can always have hope.

Let us consider then the song of the saints who endured until the victory was given.

God Is Among Us

1 God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.

2 His tabernacle is in Salem; is dwelling place also is in Zion.

3 There He broke the flaming arrows, The shield and the sword and the weapons of war. Selah.

What a blessing for Judah and Israel -- they knew God. At this time, the Gentiles were “aliens...strangers to the covenant, without hope and without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:12)

Not only was God known to them, His presence was with them. God had chosen from all the cities of the world to place His temple among them. As Solomon said speaking for God at the temple dedication, “I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there.” (2 Chron. 6:6) Later Solomon explained part of the significance of God's presence at His temple, “have regard to the prayer of Thy servant and to his supplication, O LORD my God, to listen to the cry and to the prayer which Thy servant prays before Thee; that Thine eyes may be open toward this house day and night, toward the place of which Thou hast said that Thou wouldst put Thy name there, to listen to the prayer which Thy servant shall pray toward this place. And listen to the supplications of Thy servant and of Thy people Israel, when they pray toward this place; hear Thou from Thy dwelling place, from heaven; hear Thou and forgive.” (2 Chron. 6:18-21)

Again, compare this to the Gentiles' state of not even knowing God, “although He is not far from each of us.” (Acts 17:25) Because God was near ultimate victory was assured. No weapon, offensive or defensive, can stand against him.

“Selah” or pause. Take the time to consider these marvelous things before moving on.

Meek Victorious In God

4 You are resplendent, More majestic than the mountains of prey.

5 The stouthearted were plundered, They sank into sleep; And none of the warriors could use his hands.

6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.

7 You, even You, are to be feared; And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry?

8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; The earth feared and was still

9 When God arose to judgment, To save all the humble of the earth. Selah.

God is far more powerful than the enemies that opposed His people. These unnamed enemies of God had heaped up mountains of spoils that they had taken from others. But God made them plunder for another. God just spoke the word and they were incapacitated. This reminds us of Sennacherib's invasion of Israel when the angel of the Lord slew 185,000 (2 Kings 19:35) or when the armies of Ben-hadad, king of the Aramians, fled in the night in terror. (2 Kings 7:7)

These strong ones were made spoil of, but the humble, or meek, were saved even as the strong feared. God was directly acting to save the weak from the strong. Just as Jesus stated in the beatitudes, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5)

So What Sort Of People Ought We To Be?

10 For the wrath of man shall praise You; With a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself.

11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; Let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.

12 He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.

All power of man is worthless and vain compared to God. Even the most violent evildoer will one day praise God. As Paul said about Jesus, “Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to be...all things under his feet” (Eph. 2:21,22)

One day all will be compelled to acknowledge His power. Asaph says that we should recognize that now and live right. Since we know the power of God, how He helps the weak, and His opposition to the proud, what kind of person ought we to be? The faithful person is one who pays his vows to God and who worships Him with gifts and sacrifices. This reminds of us Peter exhortation, also based on the knowledge of the judgment, “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11)

Ps. 75 looked in faith to God setting things right when judgment came. Now Ps. 76 speaks to those who have seen judgment come. They can rejoice and be glad in such a day, but must remember to be faithful to Him who gives the victory until the victory comes and remain faithful in the peaceful times that follow.