Psalms 76 - Introduction

A.M. 2989. B.C. 1015.

This Psalm seems to have been composed upon occasion of some great victory obtained by the church over some threatening enemy or other, and designed to grace the triumph. The LXX. call it ωδη προς τον Ασσυριον , “A song upon the Assyrian;” from whence many good interpreters conjecture that it was written when Sennacherib's army, then besieging Jerusalem, was cut off by a destroying angel, in Hezekiah's time; and several passages in this Psalm are very applicable to that work of wonder. But there was a religious triumph, upon occasion of another victory in Jehoshaphat's time, which might as well be the subject of this Psalm, 2 Chronicles 20:28. And it might be called A song of Asaph, because always sung by the sons of Asaph. Or it might be composed by the Asaph who lived in David's time, upon occasion of some of the triumphs with which God was pleased to honour that reign. The psalmist congratulates the church in having God so nigh, Psalms 76:1. He celebrates the power of God, shown in some late victory over their enemies, Psalms 76:4. He shows that all ought to fear him on that account, Psalms 76:7. And that his people ought to trust in him, and pay their vows, Psalms 76:10.