Psalms On Saturday ~ Psalm 76

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Fearing the Lord is the major theme of Psalm 76:

But you, you are to be feared! (v. 7, ESV)

 The earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment (vv. 8b-9a). 

Let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared (v. 11).

Who is to be feared by the kings of the earth (v. 12).

A.W. Tozer writes, “No one can know the true grace of God who has not first known the fear of God.” And Proverbs 9:10 teaches that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”  

HHHHMMMHHM. . . fear enables an understanding of grace and brings wisdom; we must understand and live in the fear of God!

The context of Psalm 76 has the Assyrian army surrounding Jerusalem and then mocking the Living God. Hezekiah, king of the Jews, prayed to God, 

Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib [Assyrian King], which he has sent to mock the living God” (2 Kings 19:16).

The result of the Assyrians mocking God?

That night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies (2 Kings 19:35).

It’s not wise to challenge the living God. We may think we can rebel against God, decry His righteousness, and challenge the authority of His word, and for a while, those who do not fear God might get away with it.

But Psalm 76 warns: 

Human defiance only enhances your glory, for you use it as a weapon (v. 10, NLT).

How do we know if we are fearing or mocking God with our motives and actions? 

Two ways:

1. Instead of resisting God, we should be grateful to Him for His salvation.

When God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth (v. 9, ESV).

2. We should obey what God says.

Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them; let all around him bring gifts to him who is to be feared (v. 11).

When we fear God, we love Him. Without fearing His judgment toward ungodliness, we live unrestrained, without boundaries, and we founder in the mire of our unwise decisions.

Fearing God brings freedom, helps us learn to love, and then we know grace.

Amen. Peace out!