Psalms 76:1

In Judah is God known,.... God is to be known, and is made known, by his works of creation, and by his providences, and particularly by his judgments in the whole world, even among the Gentiles; and

In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. Psalms 76:1-12.-At Zion, God's dwelling, He brake the world-power's weapons (Psalms 76:1-3); He is mightier than the mountain-like plundering

Psalms 76 Or, for Asaph. Either it was composed by the prophet Asaph; or composed by David, or some other holy prophet of God, and committed to Asaph, or to his posterity; it being usual to put the parent’ s name for his children, of which I have formerly given divers instances. The special. and immediate occasion of this Psalm was unquestionably some eminent deliverance vouchsafed by God to his people of Israel, and especially to Jerusalem, which the psalmist thought fit to celebrate; but which and when it was is both needless to inquire, and hard to determine. A declaration of God’ s majesty and gracious presence in his church, . At his rebuke the enemy spoils, and by his arm the meek are saved, . An exhortation to serve him with reverence, ,12. God’ s people do not worship an unknown God, as the Athenians did, , but one who hath made himself known, not only by his word and ordinances, but also by the glorious effects of his wisdom and power on their behalf, and against their potent and malicious enemies. Is great, i.e. famous and renowned, and greatly to be praised and admired.

Psalms 76:1 « To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph. » In Judah [is] God known: his name [is] great in Israel.A Psalm or Song of Asaph] Or, for Asaph; either made prophetically, by Asaph himself, or by some other psalmist, who committed it to Asaph’ s successors, to be played and sung. The Hebrews say it is made de bello Gogi, of the war with Gog and Magog, that is, the Eastern and Western antichrists. The Greeks say De Assyriis (περιτων Aσσυριων. In Hexaplo), of Sennacherib and his host; and surely the matter of the psalm is such as very well agreeth with that overthrow. Confer Psalms 46:1-11 Psalms 48:1-14 Ver. 1. In Judah is God known] Nobilis est, saith Tremellius; Notior est, saith another interpreter; i.e. Better known he is now than ever; not by his word only, which is preached in Judah, but by his wondrous works; this especially of destroying the Assyrians at Lachish, in the tribe of Judah. His name is great in Israel] Greater now than ever, God having made himself a glorious name, Isaiah 63:14. Egypt rang of this slaughter of the Assyrians, as Herodotus testifieth; so did all other countries doubtless.

(1) Judah . . . Israel.—A comparison with Psalms 114:1-2, leads to the conclusion that these names are introduced here in this order, simply for the rhythm. (Comp. “Salem” and “Sion” in the next verse, and notice that the four names offer an instance of introversion, the more restricted terms, Judah, Sion, occupying the first and last clauses, the more general Israel, Salem, the middle ones.)

PSALM LXXVI The true God known in Judah, Israel, Salem, and Zion, 1, 2. A description of his defeat of the enemies of his people, 3-6. How God us to be worshipped, 7-9. He should be considered as the chief Ruler: all the potentates of the earth are subject to him, 10-12. NOTES ON PSALM LXXVI The title, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, a Psalm or Song of Asaph." See the titles to Psalms 4:1; Psalms 6:1. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and others have, "A Psalm for the Assyrians;" and it is supposed to be a thanksgiving for the defeat of the Assyrians. The Syriac says it is a thanksgiving for the taking of Rabbah, belonging to the children of Ammon. It is considered by some of the best commentators to have been composed after the defeat of Sennacherib. That it was composed after the death of David, and after the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah were separated, is evident from the first verse. If Asaph was its author, it could not be the Asaph that flourished in the days of David but some other gifted and Divinely inspired man of the same name, by whom several others of the Psalms appear to have been composed during the captivity. Verse 1. In Judah is God known] The true God revealed himself to the Jews. The Israelites, after the separation of the tribes, had the same knowledge, but they greatly corrupted the Divine worship; though still God was great, even in Israel.

1–3. God has once more shewn His might in Zion by shattering the power of her assailants.

In Judah is God known - That is, he has made himself known there in a special manner; he has evinced his watchful care over the city so as to demand a proper acknowledgment; he has manifested himself

1. In Judah is God known—The glory of Israel, then and now, is the knowledge and confession of an actually present God and Saviour. His presence supposes the fulness of his works of grace.