My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.
This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.
I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.
Psalm 76:7 But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
Psalm 76:8 From the heavens you uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still,
Psalm 76:9 when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah
Jerusalem was a den for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. As the Assyrian commander taunted the king, and threatened the City of the Lord’s people, we saw Asaph describing the city as a den for the Lord, not unlike a den for a lion, ready to pounce on a hapless victim. I think the picture Asaph paints in the passages before is awesome, showing a personal link with the Lord of creation.
But Asaph goes from what might appear to be a tribal, local deity protecting a city state to the truth of who this Lion is that has roared.
Asaph no longer is describing a God that is relegated to a small city, a local protector of a geographical region or a God who is concerned with a tribal power structure. No – not at all, for these verses speak of our God uttering judgement from the heavens, and the result was that the earth feared and stood still.
He clarifies one additional point. He isn’t there to protect the proud and arrogant. Those who by their religion feel they have a right to this protection, that they have all the right rules and practices, and because of this will be protected. No – Asaph clears that up for us also. The Lord is the One who will save all the humble of the earth. That is His goal. Now if some in a city are protected though they be proud, that may be considered collateral “blessing”, but make no mistake about the goal of the Lord.
Psalm 76:9 when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah
One more point at the danger of overelaboration – Note that it is the humble of the earth, not simply those who claim a physical lineage with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His goal is not territorial, but global.
My friend, as Asaph opened our passage this morning, consider who you fear.
Psalm 76:7 But you, you are to be feared! Who can stand before you when once your anger is roused?
Asaph makes it clear that the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the heavenly God who is on the throne and is the One to be feared. If you have angered Him, (and which of us have not!) run – do not walk – to the only refuge available. The very same Lion of the Tribe of Judah has shed His own blood to provide those who hate Him with a salvation none could have imagined.
He wants to save the humble. Will you humble yourself, bend the knee to Him, confess your sin, both your acts of sin and your nature of rebellion, and turn to the Living God who walked out of a tomb?
Will you?
Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.
Considering the Bible 