Psalms 75 and 76.
In the 75th psalm we have the Messiah speaking, except in the first verse where the voice of believing Israel is heard giving thanks for the blessing they are assured is near. When the Messiah shall receive the assembly (or, when He shall reach the set time, —the exact reading is not clear) He will judge with equity. When everything on earth is broken up, He will be found to have established that which will abide. He will rule, as is said of Him in Isaiah 11.
If He shall reign in righteousness, the wicked shall not be passed by; the cup of the fury of God will be drunk by the nations (see Jeremiah 25).
Singing psalms to the God of Jacob (verse 9) brings in the thought of His faithfulness, for Jacob’s self-seeking course brought him much sorrow but he was a worshiper when nature’s energy was weakened (Hebrews 11:2121By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. (Hebrews 11:21)). The horn (verse 10) is a figure of power.
Psalm 76 continues the theme of the 75th, but it is not now the Messiah speaking; but the godly of Israel, rather.
“In Judah is God known; His name is great in Israel,” seems to show as Psalm 80 and others, that the remnant of Israel, of the lost ten tribes are looked at as united with the remnant of the Jews, the two tribes of Judah, in this Third Book of the Psalms.
“Salem”, verse 2, is Jerusalem, and Hebrews 7:22To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Hebrews 7:2) tells us that “King of Salem” is “King of Peace”. It is nevertheless there that the Lord as Israel’s Messiah will break the power of the confederate kings, who will come up against the city, not knowing that He is there (See Micah 4:11-13,11Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion. 12But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor. 13Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. (Micah 4:11‑13) and Zechariah 12:2-5; 14:32Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. 3And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. 4In that day, saith the Lord, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. 5And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in the Lord of hosts their God. (Zechariah 12:2‑5)
3Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. (Zechariah 14:3)). Verses 1-3 present the result of what is set forth in verses 4-12.
The intervention of God in behalf of Jerusalem in king Hezekiah’s day, told of in 2 Kings 19:35,35And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (2 Kings 19:35) and Isaiah 37:3636Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. (Isaiah 37:36) is a picture, doubtless, of what will occur at the time for which Psalm 76 was written, when the Beast and the False Prophet shall have been destroyed (Revelation 19: 19, 20).
Who the enemies are that come against Jerusalem after that event is shown in Psalm 83, and what they will do there is said in Psalm 79; it is apparent that these enemies will come twice; the first time they will take half the city, but on their return they are surprised to find the Lord is there, and they are destroyed. Who can stand against Him? He will make their fury to praise Him.
Very instructive are these Psalms, pointing as they do to a time of trouble without parallel in the history of the world (Matthew 24:2121For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (Matthew 24:21)), and telling of the salvation to be brought to the godly in that day.
The Christian, having a heavenly hope, will not pass through the described tribulation. Revelation 3:1010Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. (Revelation 3:10) speaks for him its encouraging word, and in the last chapter of that little-read book (verse 20) is a promise which must now be very close to fulfillment. All here below is, to the watchful child of God, evidently drawing near to a solemn judgment; the apostacy is at hand. Christian, are you ready for the coming of the Lord?
ML 03/01/1931