Psalms 76:12

Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. -God's people should pay their vows to Him; the surrounding pagan should bring their gifts to Him who is so terrible to the rebellious. Verse 11. VOW, AND PAY UNTO THE LORD YOUR GOD - i:e., pay that which ye have vowed (). The expression, "your God," shows that this is addressed to the people of God. LET ALL THAT BE ROUND ABOUT HIM BRING PRESENTS UNTO HIM THAT OUGHT TO BE FEARED - the Gentile nations dwelling round about Israel (Kimchi). The Hebrew accent forbids our joining, as Hengstenberg does, "all that be round about" to "vow." So ; , express...

12._He will cut off _(285) _the spirit of princes. _As the Hebrew word בצר, _batsar, _occasionally signifies _to strengthen, _some think it should be so translated in this passage. But as in the two clauses of the verse the same sentiment is repeated, I have no doubt that by the first clause is meant that understanding and wisdom are taken away from princes; and that by the second, God is represented in general as terrible to them, because he will cast them down headlong from their loftiness. As the first thing necessary to conduct an enterprise to a prosperous issue is to possess sound foresight, in which the people of God are often deficient from the great perplexity in which they are involved in the midst of their distresses, while, on the other hand, the ungodly are too sharp-sighted in their crafty schemes; it is here declared that it is in the power of G

7-12 God's people are the meek of the earth, the quiet in the land, that suffer wrong, but do none. The righteous God seems to keep silence long, yet, sooner or later, he will make judgment to be heard. We live in an angry, provoking world; we often feel much, and are apt to fear more, from the wrath of man. What will not turn to his praise, shall not be suffered to break out. He can set bounds to the wrath of man, as he does to the raging sea; hitherto it shall come, and no further. Let all submit to God. Our prayers and praises, and especially our hearts, are the presents we should bring to the Lord. His name is glorious, and he is the proper object of our fear. He shall cut off the spirit of princes; he shall slip it off easily, as we slip off a flower from the stalk, or a bunch of grapes from the vine; so the word signifies. He can dispirit the most daring: since there is no contend...

Verse Psalms 76:12. _HE SHALL CUT OFF THE SPIRIT OF PRINCES_] Even in the midst of their conquests, he can fill them with terror and dismay, or cut them off in their career of victory. He is _TERRIBLE TO THE KINGS OF THE EARTH._] "He is the only Ruler of princes;" to him they must account. And a terrible account most of them will have to give to the great God; especially those who, instigated by the desire of dominion, have, in the lust of conquest which it generates, laid countries waste by fire and sword, making widows and orphans without number, and extending the empire of desolation and death. Thus _all_ are under his dominion, and are accountable to him. Even those whom _man_ cannot bring to justice, God will; and to judge _them_ is one grand use of a _final judgment day_. ANALYSIS

HE SHALL CUT OFF THE SPIRIT OF PRINCES - That is, He will cut down their pride; he will break them down. Luther renders it, “He shall take away the wrath of princes.” The allusion is to what he had done as celebrated in this psalm. He had shown that he could rebuke the pride and self-confidence of kings, and could bring them low at his feet. HE IS TERRIBLE TO THE KINGS OF THE EARTH - When they are arrayed against him. (1) they are wholly under his control. (2) he can defeat their plans. (3) he can check them when he pleases. (4) he can, and will, make their plans - even their wrath - the means of promoting or carrying out his own purposes. (5) he will allow them to proceed no further in their plans of evil than he can mak

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

HE SHALL CUT OFF THE SPIRIT OF PRINCES,.... The pride of their spirits, as the Targum, humble their proud spirits, and bring them down; or dispirit them, take away their courage from them, upon which they flee apace to rocks and mountains to cover them; or confound them, blast their schemes, and carry their counsel headlong, and even take away their breath, or life; which he can as easily do as a man can cut off a bunch of grapes from the vine, as the word g here used signifies; the destruction of the wicked is expressed by cutting down the vine of the earth, and casting it into the winepress of God's wrath, Revelation 14:17, HE IS TERRIBLE TO THE KINGS OF THE EARTH; as he was to the king of Assyria, when he sent his angel, and destroyed his army; and as he has been to others in all ages; so he will be to the kings of the earth that have committed fornication with

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

SPIRIT. Hebrew. _ruach_. App-9....