Psalms 76

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.

Little need be said of the subject and occasion of this psalm, which answer to those of Psalms 75:0 as face answers to face in a glass. The chief mark of distinction is, that this psalm treats, with freshness of delineation, the physical circumstances of the overthrow of Sennacherib’s army, while Psalms 75:0, looking from the moral standpoint, contemplates the folly and daring blasphemy of the Assyrian monarch, the supremacy of an avenging Providence, and the responsibilities of the throne in the re-establishment of order and government over a wasted and distracted people. Some intimations of Psalms 75:0 would seem to place that composition prior to the catastrophe, but its general tone of reflective piety, coupled with the ever-present care for restoration and righteous government, better befit the meditations of the pious king after the event. See introduction to Psalms 75, 48 for Scripture reference to the historical occasion. Artistically, our psalm bears the stamp of finish. Delitzsch calls it “a model of symmetrical strophe-structure.” It falls into four strophes of six lines each, ending with Psalms 76:4; Psalms 76:7; Psalms 76:10; Psalms 76:12, respectively. As to its argument, or subject matter, Psalms 76:1-2, are an expression of God’s presence and greatness in his Church; Psalms 76:3-10 detail the physical circumstances and awful majesty of the judgment; Psalms 76:11-12 are an exhortation to renewed fidelity to him.

TITLE:

On Neginoth For the accompaniment of stringed instruments; the Septuagint adds, “ A song for, or in respect to, the Assyrian.