Psalms 76-78

Psalm 76 (Psalm of Asaph)
Israel's God--Judge of All the Earth

• 1-3 God is known in Judah and Israel, because there he has displayed his power.
• 4-6 God, you are more majestic than the mountains; the armies have been powerless against you.
• 7-9 You are an awesome God. Once your anger is aroused, no one can stand against you.
• 10 "Human wrath serves only to praise you."
• 11-12 To the people: Make vows to the LORD your God and bring him gifts, whom the princes and kings of the earth fear.

Psalm 77 (of Asaph)

• 1-3 I cry to God, day and night. When I think of God, I moan, and my spirit faints.
• 4-10 I am so troubled I cannot speak, when I remember how it used to be, and wonder if God will ever be gracious again, or in his anger has he shut up his compassion?
• 11-15 I will remember your wondrous works, O God, how you redeemed your people with your strong arm.
• 16-20 The waters were afraid of you, God. With thunder and lightning you made your way through the sea; with unseen footprints you led your people by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Psalm 78 (A Maskil of Asaph)

• 1-4 Listen, Israel, and I will tell you our history, so that future generations will know the glorious deeds of the LORD.
• 5-8 God established a decree for our ancestors for us to tell our children, so they will not be like their ancestors, a stubborn and rebellious generation.
• 9-16 They refused to keep God's law, forgetting how he parted the sea and led them through the wilderness, giving them water from a rock.
• 17-20 They sinned against him, doubting his ability to provide them with food.
• 21-31 Even though their lack of trust angered the LORD, he still gave them manna and birds to eat. But before they were satisfied, he killed the strongest of them.
• 32-37 They still sinned, and he killed them, and then they repented and sought God, remembering he was their rock, and flattered him with their mouths, though their hearts were not steadfast.
• 38-41 Being compassionate, he forgave them, restraining his anger, remembering they were but flesh. Yet they tested him again and again in the wilderness.
• 42-51 They forgot about his power, displayed in Egypt in the form of the plagues.
• 52-55 They forgot how like sheep he led his people out of Egypt and brought them safely to his mountain, driving out nations before them.
• 56-64 Still they tested the Most High God, faithless like their ancestors, worshiping idols until at last he utterly rejected them, giving his people to the sword.
• 65-72 He rejected Israel, but chose Judah, building his sanctuary there, choosing David to be the shepherd of his people, guiding them with a skillful hand.