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 11:21). 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 7:2 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, and Zechariah 12:2-5; 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, and 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 24:21), 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 3:10 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