This is an exposition of Psalm 76:1-12. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 9, 2011.
Intro:
It has been a source of strength and encouragement for believers through the ages. In times of tremendous hardship its words have served to inspire and fortify beleaguered hearts. The embattle Huguenots sang it as they marched into battle against their oppressors. The English Covenanters sang it at Drumclog in 1679 when they defeated the government troops. It was sung as a thanksgiving hymn in 1588 marking the defeat of the Spanish Armada. The Pilgrims loved this psalm and sang it often as they carved a home out of the wilderness of Massachusetts. This “fighting psalm” of Israel has faithfully served the church through the ages and can be of great encouragement to you in times of peril. Our text this evening is the 76th Palm.
Text: Psalm 76:1-12
Life is often overwhelming.
We sometime say, “The Lord is not going to give me more than I can handle.”
There is a sense in which that is true – but you must remember – everything is more than you can handle!
Because God is gracious He allows us to be overwhelmed that it might drive us to His loving arms. What kind of God would allow you to live under the delusion that you can handle things? No, our God shows us our weakness so that in our weakness we can be made strong.
The life of peace and security is not the life that knows God is there for those things I can’t handle. Peace and security is found in understanding our complete dependence upon Him. Do you know when fear entered the world? In Genesis 3 when Adam rebelled against God. When Adam said, “I don’t need God to tell me right from wrong/good from evil – I’ll decide for myself.” He moved from total dependence to independence and it “scared the stuffing out of him!”
Adam said, “We heard you and we hid ourselves for we were naked and afraid.”
To acknowledge your dependence upon God is the first step toward resting in the security of His presence and power. That is the message of this psalm.
This is a psalm of Asaph.
We do not know the specific context – it is not given to us in the title.
It is obviously in celebration of a great victory won by the hand of God.
There is a connection between psalms 74, 75 and 76.
Psalm 74 sees violence and injustice and cries out for God to do something.
Psalm 75 God says at the appointed time he will respond.
Psalm 76 rejoices in God’s miraculous intervention.
James Boice suggests the passage fits with the invasion of Sennacherib – 2 Kings 18-19.
Note 76:5-6 and 2 Kings 19:35-36.
Regardless of the context the message for us is clear:
Thesis: In times of great distress and struggle the righteous find peace in God’s strong presence.
We find a powerful description of God in this psalm.
It is not just God’s presence but His presence in power and glory.
I know that God cannot be present in any other way – God is God – but I think it is important to use the terms of his strength and might. Our comfort and encouragement is in a God who is big enough and powerful enough to handle whatever threatens us. Over and over again in the psalms and elsewhere we read of “God’s right hand,” “God’s mighty arm” etc.
This hymn is divided into three stanzas marked off by the instruction selah meaning, “Stop and meditate on that a minute.” Give some serious thought to what that implies.
Let’s reflect on these three great truths this evening.
- The righteous rest in their knowledge of God. (76:1-3)
- The righteous glory in God’s intervention on their behalf and stand in awe of His justice. (76:4-10)
- The righteous respond to God’s working with acts of worship and service. (76:11-12)