Psalms 76:1

In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. Psalms 76:1.-At Zion, God's dwelling, He brake the world-power's weapons (Psalms 76:1); He is mightier than the mountain-like plundering nations, because He has cast the stout-hearted into a dead sleep, and stilled the earth; His anger therefore is most to be feared: man's anger He constrains to praise Him (Psalms 76:4); Yahweh's people ought therefore to pay their vow to Him, and the surrounding pagan to bring presents (Psalms 76:11). See introduction to Psalms 75:1, written before Senn...

1._God is known in Judah. _In the outset, we are taught that it was not by human means that the enemies of Israel were compelled to retire without accomplishing any thing, but by the ever-to-be-remembered aid of Jehovah. Whence came _that knowledge of God and the greatness of his name _which are spoken of, but because He stretched forth his hand in an extraordinary manner, to make it openly manifest that both the chosen people and the city were under his defense and protection? It is therefore asserted, that the glory of God was conspicuously displayed when the enemies of Israel were discomfited by such a miraculous interposition....

1-6 Happy people are those who have their land filled with the knowledge of God! happy persons that have their hearts filled with that knowledge! It is the glory and happiness of a people to have God among them by his ordinances. Wherein the enemies of the church deal proudly, it will appear that God is above them. See the power of God's rebukes. With pleasure may Christians apply this to the advantages bestowed by the Redeemer....

PSALM LXXVI _The true God known in Judah, Israel, Salem, and Zion_, 1, 2. _A description of his defeat of the enemies of his people_, 3-6. _How God us to be worshipped_, 7-9. _He should be considered as the chief Ruler: all the potentates_ _of the earth are subject to him_, 10-12. NOTES ON PSALM LXXVI The _title_, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm or Song of Asaph." See the titles to Psalms 4:1; Psalms 6:1. The _Vulgate, Septuagint_, and others

IN JUDAH IS GOD KNOWN - That is, he has made himself known there in a special manner; he has evinced his watchful care over the city so as to demand a proper acknowledgment; he has manifested himself there as he has not elsewhere. It is true that God is known, or makes himself known everywhere; but it is also true that he does this in some places, and at some times, in a more marked and striking manner than he does in other places and at other times. The most clear and impressive displays of his character are among his own people - in the church. “His name is great in Israel.” Among the people of Israel; or, among his own people. The meaning here is, that, by some act referred to in the psalm, he had so displayed his power and his mercy in favor of that people, as to make it proper that his name should be exalted or praised....

EXPOSITION THE present psalm consists of three stanzas—the first of three verses, terminated by the pause mark, "Selah;" the second of six verses, ended similarly, and the third (like the first) of three verses. It is a psalm of thanksgiving for some great and signal mercy, which has delivered Jerusalem, and at the same time benefited "all the afflicted of the earth" (Psalms 76:9). All the earth is therefore called upon to join with Israel in praising God, and making him an offering (Psalms 76:10). Critics of all schools (Hengstenberg, Canon Cook, Professor Alexander, Dr. Kay, Four Friends, etc.) agree in regarding the deliverance as that from Sennacherib. We must, therefore, understand the "Asaph" of the title as designating, not the individual, but the division of the Levi

IN JUDAH IS GOD KNOWN,.... God is to be known, and is made known, by his works of creation, and by his providences, and particularly by his judgments in the whole world, even among the Gentiles; and he was made known by his word and ordinances, his statutes and his judgments, among the Jews, to whom these were specially given; and he is made known by his Spirit, and in his Son in a spiritual and saving manner to such who are Jews inwardly, or the true circumcision: moreover this may be understood of Christ, God manifest in the flesh, and regard his appearance in human nature in the land of Judea; he was, according to prophecy, of the tribe of Judah as man, and was born in Bethlehem, a city in that tribe, where David was, and of the family of David, that formerly lived there: and he was made known by John the Baptist, who came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and by his being baptize...

NEGINOTH Neginoth, stringed instruments....

Psalms 76 Divine Government Established and Maintained _ 1. The Prince of Peace reigns (Psalms 76:1)_ 2. The day of wrath and what it brought (Psalms 76:7) We behold the Lord now in Judah, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, His Name great in Israel! In Salem He has His tabernacle and in Zion His dwelling place. There, as the Prince of Peace, He broke the arrows, the shield, and sword and battle. The stouthearted were spoiled. Judgments were heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, then the meek of the earth were saved. The Lord is terrible to the kings of the earth, the final confederacy of nations. How wonderful the order of these Psalms!...

LXXVI. THE MAJESTY OF GOD IN ZION: HOMAGE OF THE NATIONS. Psalms 76:2. Salem: a poetical name for Jerusalem (Genesis 14:18 *). Psalms 76:3. lightnings of the bow (_mg.), i.e._ arrows. Psalms 76:4. Read, from the eternal mountains (LXX) or rather mountain, _i.e._ Zion. Psalms 76:7. Read, because of the strength of thine anger. Psalms 76:9. The Divine sentence is given from heaven: the earth trembles and is still, per