Psalm 76

 (1) Overview

(NET) Psalm 76. The psalmist depicts God as a mighty warrior who destroys Israel’s enemies.

(Kel Ps) Because God is known in Jerusalem by his exacting justice on the wicked, and because this God of light destroys the wicked and delivers the righteous, the psalmist exhorts the leaders to affirm their allegiance to the God of Jacob.

(2) Structure

(EBC) 

          A.      God’s Relationship With His People (vv. 1–3)
            B.      The Divine Warrior (vv. 4–7a)
            B′.      The Divine Judge (vv. 7b–9)
          A′.      The Relationship of the Nations With God (vv. 10–12)

(3) Difficult part 

    76:10 Certainly your angry judgment upon men will bring you praise;
    you reveal your anger in full measure.
    76:11 Make vows to the LORD your God and repay them!
    Let all those who surround him bring tribute to the awesome one!
    76:12 He humbles princes;
    the kings of the earth regard him as awesome.

A. What does angry judgment have to do with praise v.10?

 (NET) God’s angry judgment against men brings him praise because it reveals his power and majesty (see vv. 1–4).

B. Why did the content change to the topic of vow and tribute v.11? 

(EBC) In view of the dreaded judgment of the Sovereign over all, all people must respond wisely. The covenant people must be careful in paying their vows to the Lord.

(Kel Ps) to pay the vow made to the LORD. In the psalms this idea usually includes giving praise to God, that is, acknowledging that he is the savior from destruction. Such public acknowledgments were to be accompanied by sacrifices brought to God (see Ps. 66:13–15). And so the second command specifies to bring gifts....But the expression could also be taken to mean nations or tribes all around Israel

C. Who are the princes and kings in v.12?

(Kel Ps)... if these kings [those who bring tribute to God] were wise, they would submit to the authority of the LORD, for if they oppose it, they face certain and sudden doom.

Reflection: 

1. God's anger is not without reason. He was angry because of the oppressed v.9. We dont have slaves anymore today, but do we have more or less people who are being oppressed? Are those oppressing them doing so justly or not?

2. The wise did not need to personally go through the judgment, but observed what God has done and learned how to avoid that. They gave praise to God and accompanied that with gifts. Are we the wise ones? Have we ever learned?  How do we know that we will not be facing God soon? 

Audrey