Psalms 76:1-12

In Judah is God known: His name is great in Israel.

Glorious aspects of the Divine character

I. As the glorious resident in the midst of His people (Psalms 76:1). God is everywhere; but is in an especial sense present with holy souls. They are represented as His “temple,” which implies--

1. Special connection with Him.

2. Special consecration to Him.

3. Special manifestation of Him.

II. As the triumphant conqueror of his enemies. He does His work--

1. Thoroughly (Psalms 76:3).

2. Easily (Psalms 76:6). His word is the fire that will burn up corruption, the hammer that will break the rocky heart, the sword that will slay moral evil.

3. Judicially (Psalms 76:8). God is infinitely just in crushing all evil. Satan is a usurper, and all his hosts are rebels. As a just God, He will put all-enemies under His feel. In a moral sense, God is a “God of battles.” He is eternally warring against wrong.

III. As the absolute master of malign passions (Psalms 76:10).

1. He subordinates human wrath. As the mariner makes the gale his servant to bear his vessel to the port, so God makes the malign passions of men and devils to bear on His great purposes to their complete fulfilment.

2. He restrains it. He allows the wrath of His creatures to go no further than He chooses. As He has set a boundary to the ocean, He has also to the human passions. “So far shalt thou go, and no further.”

IV. As the supreme object of human worship (Psalms 76:11). This implies two things.

1. Devout resolutions. “Vow and pay unto the Lord your God.” In this clause we have the fundamental God, and do right, and we shall get on as much as He thinks good for us. (A. K. H. Boyd, D. D.)