Psalm 76– To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. 1 In Judah God is known; His name is great in Israel. 2 In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion. 3 There He broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and sword of battle. Selah
“‘In Judah’:..where the central Sanctuary of Jehovah had been established, ‘is God known,’ having revealed Himself to His people.” (Kretzmann's Popular Commentary) But Judah also came to represent the remnant of Israel.
“He hath made himself known, not only by His Word and ordinances, but also by the glorious effects of His wisdom and power on their behalf, and against their potent and malicious enemies.” (Matthew Poole) “God is knowable, and our knowledge of God is not only subjective. We do not worship an unknown god as the ancient Athenians did (Acts 17:23)... In Judah [possibly the remnant] God is known. The nations had their ideas of deity, but the true revelation of God came through the Jewish people – the covenant descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ‘In those days, if you wanted to know who God was and what he was like, you had to turn to the Jews and their Bible.’ (Boice)” (David Guzik) Power has been transferred to the church.
“‘His name is great in [spiritual] Israel,’ having been magnified by the proclamation of His servants throughout the nation.” (Kretzmann’s Popular Commentary), even the world. The name of Jesus, “is great, first, by its efficacy: for it signifies Savior. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. Secondly, it is great in dignity: for it is the name that is above every name... Thirdly, it is great in the breadth if its range...” (Thomas Le Blanc)
“Happy people are those who have their land filled with the knowledge of God! happy persons that have their hearts filled with that knowledge!” (Matthew Henry) “‘In Salem,’ which later was called Jerusalem, ‘also is His tabernacle.’” (Geneva Study Bible) It means peace and Jesus is the prince thereof. —“‘And His dwelling-place in Zion’ — which “included Moriah, an adjoining hill, or another part of the same hill.” (Joseph Benson)— “There,”— at Calvary, “for that was last in mention, and with the greatest emphasis.” (Thomas Goodwin) —“as the Prince of Peace” (Gaebelein)— “‘He broke the arrows of the bow,’ literally, the lightnings of the bow, the weapons with which the enemies intended to attack the Church, ‘the shield and the sword and the battle,’ war being used for the weapons of war.‘“ (Kretzmann's Popular Commentary) “The best comment on this verse is the apostle's general observation, If God be for us, who can be against us? Jesus is both a Sun and a Shield; and no weapon formed against his people can prosper. Romans 8:31.” (Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary) Selah
We use spiritual warfare only — “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.’” (John 18:36) “Reader, since Israel revolted, and the gospel is given to us poor Gentiles, think what distinguishing mercies we have been favored with? Oh! for grace to see, and for hearts to acknowledge the vast privileges.” (Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary)
4 You are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 5 The stouthearted were plundered; they have sunk into their sleep; and none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands. 6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep. 7 You, Yourself, are to be feared; and who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry? 8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared and was still, 9 When God arose to judgment, to deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
“You”— O God, “‘are more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey’ — Than the greatest kings and empires of the earth, which in the prophetical writings are often compared to mountains. And they are called mountains ‘of prey,’ because then they were generally established by tyranny, and maintained by preying on their own subjects, or other inferior kingdoms: or, which amounts to the same thing, than the most powerful enemies of thy people, upon whom they used, and now expected, to prey.“ (Joseph Benson )
“’The stouthearted were plundered; they have sunk into their sleep;’ etc. “…the angel of the pestilence has dried up their life blood, their very heart is taken from them. They have slept their sleep… —the sleep of [the first] death [appointed to man]. ‘And none of the men of might have found their hands.’— Their arms are palsied, they cannot lift a finger, for the rigour of death has stiffened them.” (C. H. Spurgeon) They will sleep until the thousand year millennial reign of Jesus is finished. Then they will be resurrected and judged, according to their works.
“At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse (all means of physical warfare) were cast into a dead sleep.’ A word accomplished all, there was no need of a single blow... Both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. They will neither neigh nor rattle again; still are the trampings of the horses and the crash of the cars; the calvary no more creates its din. The Israelites always had a special fear of horses and scythed chariots; and, therefore, the sudden stillness of the entire force of the enemy in this department is made the theme of special rejoicing. The horses were stretched on the ground, and the chariots stood still, as if the whole camp had fallen asleep. Thus can the Lord send a judicial sleep over the enemies of the church, a premonition of the second death, and this he can do when they are in the zenith of power; and, as they imagine, in the very act of blotting out the remembrance of his people. The world's Rabshakahs can write terrible letters, but the Lord answers not with pen and ink, but with rebukes, which bear death in every syllable.” (C. H. Spurgeon)
“The stout-hearted, yesterday blaspheming the God of Hezekiah [even of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob], are fallen asleep; their hands are benumbed, the horses are like their riders, the princely chariots are put aside in repose. Thou alone, oh God, art to be feared: we fear our enemies no more. Thou hast heard prayer in Salem, thy habitation.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)
10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; with the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself. 11 Make vows to Yahweh your God, and pay them; let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared. 12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes; He is awesome to the kings of the earth.
The wrath of God- the remainder- is the second death. It consists of the post-ressurection, judicial destruction of every wicked person. “‘Surely the wrath of man shall praise You, etc. ’ For the end will show that the enemy was able to bring nothing to pass: also you will bridle their rage that they will not accomplish their purpose.” (Geneva Study Bible) “Thou wilt gird thyself with majesty and strength, and meet the lurking remains of wrath in every future foe… ‘Make vows to Yahweh your God, and pay them’ etc. Let the christian church be encouraged [to obedience].—The Messiah of the Hebrews is thy Redeemer in the time of trouble. He is with you always to the end of the world. He is the God, known in Judah, and great in Israel.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)