Psalm 76

A psalm of Asaph

This is the fifth of twelve Psalms bear the name of Asaph

1 In 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. Selah.

4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.

5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

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

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

11 Vow and pay unto the Lord your God: let all that be round about him bring presents 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. (KJV)

It is important when studying the Psalms to understand their historical background. As I study this psalm today, I do not only reflect upon the life span of Asaph but carried it out to my life span as well. During Asaph’s life span he probably witness the reign of the first three Kings of Israel. If he lived eighty years then he could have witness twenty years under Saul, forty years under David and twenty years under Solomon. As I reflect upon my seventy years on this earth, I look back at the leaders of the USA during my lifetime.

Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953-1961

John F. Kennedy 1961-1963

Lyndon B. Johnson 1963-1969

Richard Nixon 1969-1974

Gerald Ford 1974-1977

Jimmy Carter 1977-1981

Ronald Reagan 1981-1989

George Bush 1989-1993

Bill Clinton 1993-2001

George W. Bush 2001-2009

Barak Obama 2009-2017

Donald Trump 2017-2021

Joe Biden   2021-present

As I reflect on verse one of this psalm in relationship to Asaph life to the history of Israel, I realized that God was known in Israel and that his name was great. This has been the same with the USA in my lifetime. However, as I look back upon the list of the presidents above, I wonder how many of them truly knew God was really in control? So, as you read this psalm look at the role that God plays on this earth:

He broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords and

the weapons of war.

You are resplendent with light.

You alone are to be feared.

Who can stand before you when you are angry.
From heaven you pronounced judgment.

God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land.

Your wrath against men brings you praise.

The survivors of your wrath are restrained.
He breaks the spirit of rulers.

He is feared by the kings of the earth.

As I study the psalms it forces me to evaluate the issues of life on an eternal time frame not a daily time frame. As I examine the activities of the human race and the goals that people place on the daily activities to reach these goals, I notice how the time frame centers around today or tomorrow. When studying the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount we find these words in Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. The phase each day has enough trouble of its own.” gives us a guideline on addressing how we need to approach the daily issues of life.  However, the main event I am looking for is the coming of my Lord.  His promise return is something that should be the desire of all Christians.  Be wise and keep extra oil for your lamp.  Be ready for his return.