Psalm 76
Title: Chief Musician – head of the singers' guild in the temple.
stringed instruments – refers to the musical instrument to be used or to the mode of song
Asaph – The chief Levite musician under King David. "Psalms of Asaph" later came to refer to the type of song.
a song – written for a choir
v. 1 in Judah is God known – Genuine, intimate, personal knowledge of God is possible only when and where He makes Himself known.
His name is great in Israel – The name of God is the expression of His character and power. His revelation of Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to the Jewish people, is the foundation of faith in Jesus.
v. 2 in Salem – This is a play on words in Hebrew. Salem means "peace" but it also makes up part of the name Jeru-salem.
tabernacle – a "covered dwelling;" like a tent or lean-to
dwelling place – habitation; where one lives
Zion – a poetic name for Jerusalem
v. 3 He broke the arrows…shield and sword of battle – God's presence brought peace (see v. 2) by His actively defeating the enemies of His people.
v. 4 glorious – "shining like the sun"
excellent – "majestic"
mountains of prey – probably the huge pile of shining gold and silver spoils that was taken from the enemy
v. 5 stouthearted – mighty warriors
sleep – the "sleep" of death
none…have found the use of their hands – In English, we would say that the attackers could not "lift a finger" against God's people.
v. 6 at Your rebuke – God's judgment was decisive, not the measures taken by the defenders of the city.
chariot – Teams in chariots or war-wagons were usually made up of three or more soldiers: the driver, the archer or swordsman, and the shield-holder.
horse – in the ancient Near East, chariots were usually pulled by one horse, occasionally two. The cavalry was made up of archers on horseback.
v. 7 You are to be feared – The appropriate response in the presence of God's majesty is reverence and awe.
in Your presence – before your face (Heb.)
angry – God's anger is directed at that which destroys His beloved creation.
v. 8 heard from heaven – may refer to the sound of thunder when God intervened in the battle
v. 9 when God arose to judgment – An awesome image: God stands up from His throne to deliver His people and execute judgment on evil.
the oppressed of the earth – those who are being unjustly humiliated
v. 10 wrath of man – In spite of everything, human anger and rebellion will ultimately result in praise for God's justice and righteousness.
v. 11 vows – Offerings and peace offerings were brought to the temple to express thankfulness to God and respect for Him.
v. 12 princes – the military commanders
awesome – When God "stands up" in judgment, He is terrifying to any powers that oppose Him.
Psalm 77
Jeduthun – The Levite who was the ancestral head of one of the three temple choirs. One of the choirs was later named after him. He is cited in the title of Psalm 39, 62, and 77, either as the composer or, more likely, his name referred to the choir that was to sing them.
Psalm – or melody
Asaph – the chief Levite musician under King David. "Psalms of Asaph" later came to refer to the type of song.
v. 1 I cried out to God…I cried…– This phrase expresses the amazement of the psalmist that God would listen to HIM! Literally translated, "My voice – to God – I cry for help! My voice – to God! And He gave ear – TO ME!"
He gave ear – The Jewish writers of Scripture delighted in using vivid concrete expressions of how God is the living God, who is really there for His creation and His people.
v. 2 the day of my trouble – The poet is not complaining about life in general; he is burdened very personally. "My" individual and very personal distress, affliction, or adversity is what I need to take before God.
I sought the Lord – The fitting response to trouble in our lives is to go to God for counsel and help before we seek other aid.
my hand was stretched out – to ask God for help and aid
my soul refused to be comforted – The poet was unwilling to accept any secondary comfort; only God could satisfy his heart.
v. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled – The psalmist recalls the past brightness of life with God and was disturbed by the contrast to his own present situation and the condition of his people.
troubled – groaned
I complained – mused and pondered (Heb.)
my spirit was overwhelmed – The "spirit" in this case refers to the decision-center or core of our mind and life; his depression was so deep for the poet that he could not make decisions or act to help himself.
v. 4 you hold my eyelids open – even sleep was not possible
I cannot speak – It was hard to even carry on normal conversations.
v. 5 I have considered the days of old… – images rose up of former times
v. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night – Things used to be different; when the night was not a time for sorrow, but for songs and gladness.
v. 7 Will the Lord cast off forever? – God's people were under His judgment and asked: Will we, His people, be "nauseating" to Him forever?
be favorable – to take pleasure in someone or something.
v. 8 mercy – chesed (Heb.) God's steadfast kindness and covenant love
Has His promise failed – The promises God had spoken to Israel no longer seemed to be in effect.
forever – to generation and generation (Heb.). This was not a short-term setback; the nation was flat on its back.
v. 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? – God seemed to pay no attention to what He had promised to do for Israel.
shut up – Has God in anger closed or choked off the tender feelings He previously had toward His people?
v. 10 This is my anguish – This is the heart of the psalmist's problem.
the years of the right hand of the Most High – The singer looks back at the time when God protected and blessed His people.
v. 11 I will remember – The prophets often warned Israel not to forget what God did for Israel but to remember His acts of mercy. This is the turning point in the psalm, when the poet began to consciously remember what God had done.
the works of the Lord – The psalmist focused on the specific deeds God has done for His people.
Your wonders of old – God's extraordinary acts in history
v. 12 I will meditate – Meditation for Israel was not a non-rational emptying of the mind, but concrete, clear focus on God, who He is, and what He has done.
talk – True biblical meditation does not end in self-isolation but leads ultimately to other people and shared witness of who God is and His worthiness.
v. 13 Your way, O God – "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Is. 55:8-90.
is in the sanctuary – God's ways and thoughts are holy. They are not corrupted by self-interest and polluted by injustice and unrighteousness. He always acts consistently with His character of love, mercy and holiness.
who is so great as…God? – No so-called "god" or created thing is like the Living God.
v. 14 You are the God who does wonders – God is identified by the wonderful things He does for His people. At the beginning of the Ten Commandments, for instance, He declares: "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." (Ex. 20:2)
among the peoples – God's works are not "private" affairs
v. 19 Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters – The singer ties the psalm together here: God's ways are holy (v. 13) and He shows this through His "way" of saving His people through the sea.
Your footsteps were not known – Even though Israel could not see God's "footprints," it is clear that He was with them all along.
v. 20 You led Your people like a flock – After meditating on God's faithfulness and His historical acts in saving His people, the poet realizes that the huge contradictions and problems he sees do not cancel out the fact that God still preserves and guides him and all Israel like a shepherd takes care of the flock.
1 Chronicles 11:7-8
74:1 
A Contemplation of Asaph.
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