Psalm 76

[Al Moak]

Psalm 76

This is a song of triumphal victory.  And because victories should always be credited to the God Who made them possible, this is therefore a song of praise to God.  In fact, in the very first verse God is said to have a Name – a reputation - in all Israel for being glorious.  In verse three He is credited with taking this land of Zion historically by overcoming the peoples who previously held it - He "broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and sword of battle."  God gets credit.  That's praise.

In verse 4, though the psalmist says there's something even better than winning victories.  He says that just knowing the Lord and having Him as his personal God is better than the plunder that might be won in battle, even though that plunder might be very great!  Not only is He the God of wondrous works, but He's simply a wondrous God!

But, going back to the wonderful victories, in verse 5, God is credited with overcoming strong enemies and completely overpowering mighty warriors in battle.  The result is that, in verse 6, the enemy, with their chariots and horses, might as well have been in a deep sleep.  In verse 7 God's awesome nature is praised, and in verses 8 and 9 His justice is praised as causing fear in all the earth. In verse10, we're told that even man's wrath will be tamed and will end up resulting in praise for the Almighty.

Finally, in the last two verses of the psalm, in view of the glorious nature of such a triumphant God, His people are advised to pay their vows to the Lord and to bring presents to the awesome Lord Who overcomes all the kings of the earth.

I believe there are at least two things we can learn from this psalm.  First, I believe we can learn how God should be praised.  After all, He's the One Who enables us to overcome the hard things in our lives.  Secondly, I believe this psalm looks forward to the victory our Lord Jesus Christ has won in His death and triumphant resurrection.  While the psalm praises God for His Old-Testament victories and for our present victories, it also praises God for His Son's everlasting victories.

Looking at the psalm, then, as a great example of praise, there is one conclusion that we must not miss, and that is that praise is just crediting God verbally for what He is and what He does.  Christians of our day have a strong tendency to say, "Praise the Lord!"  But then they don't actually do it!  To say "praise the Lord" is good advice, but it's not praising Him.  To actually praise Him we need to tell ourselves and others what He is and what He has done in our lives, moment by moment, both great things and small.  We need to actually talk about how awesome He has been and how He's helped us overcome problems in specific daily activities.

And we also need - often - to say, feelingly, "O Lord, how AWESOME is Your love, Your mercy, Your goodness, and Your power!" We need to remember that the sun shines daily only at His command, and refreshing water evaporates, forms clouds, and distils into rain because of His care for the earth (and for ourselves).  So let's not just say "Praise the Lord," but let's tell Him, tell ourselves, and tell others about the specific things He does.

Secondly, who can ever adequately describe the greatness of our Savior's victory over sin on the Cross?  It's His final, gloriously triumphant defeat of Satan the archenemy!  It's the victory that's praised by all the angelic hosts! (See the fourth chapter of Revelation)  Because of it He will triumphantly conduct all His redeemed into everlasting glory!  Surely His saints ought to continually credit Him for that!  Surely we ought to PRAISE HIM!