Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 76

1 IN Judah is God known , his name is great in Israel.

God's People do not worship an unknown God, as the Athenians did, Act. 17. 23. but one who hath made himself known, not onely 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.

(i. e.) Famous and Renowned, and greatly to be praised and admired.

Marginal references: Psal. 48. 1. [illegible: 1 word]

2 In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion .

In Ierusalem, which was antiently called Salem, Gen. 14. 18. Heb. 7. 1.

Largely so called, as it includes Moriah an adjoyning Hill, or another Branch of the same Hill.

3 There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword , and the battel , Selah.

(i. e.) In Iudah; Or at, or near Ierusalem▪

Heb. the Sparks, the sparkling Arrows, bright and shining, swist and piercing, like sparks of Fire.

Both offensive and defensive Weapons, so as they could neither hurt God's People, nor save themselves from Ruin.

The force and fury of the Battle, and all the Power of the Army, which was put in Battel-Array.

4 Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey .

O God: To whom he directeth his Speech here, as also v. 6, 7, 8.

Either, 1. Than the greatest Kings and Empires of the Earth, which in Prophetical Writings are oft Compared to Mountains, as Psal. 46. 2, 3. Isa. 41. 15. Ier. 51. 25. Hab. 3. 6. And they are called Mountains of prey; because then they generally were Established by Tyranny, and maintained by preying upon their own Subjects, or other inferior Kingdoms. Or▪ 2. (Which amounts to the same thing) than the most powerful Enemies of thy People, upon whom they used, and now desired and expected to prey: Such Persons being oft expressed by the name of Mountains, as Psal. 144. 5. [illegible: 1+ letters]eth. 4. 7. &c.

5 The stout hearted are spoiled , they have slept their sleep : and none of the men of might have found their hands .

Of all that Glory and Advantage, which they either had already gotten, or further expected from the Success of their present expedition which they promised to themselves. They became a prey to those upon whom they hoped to prey.

Even a perpetual sleep, as Ier. 51. 39. 57. or the [illegible: 1 word] of Death, Psal. 13. 3. called their sleep Emphatically, as being pecul[illegible: 1+ letters]ar to them, and such like Men, and not that sleep which is common to the good and bad. Their Death he seems to call [illegible: 1 word] Because they were slain in the Night, when they had Composed themselves to rest and sleep, and so passed insensibly from one sleep to another. For it is thought by many, that this Psalm was Composed upon the occasion of that prodigious slaughter of the Assyrians in Iudah, 2 Kings 19. 35.

They had no more strength in, or use of their hands, against the destroying Angel, than they who have no hands.

6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

The men who Rode upon, and [illegible: 1+ letters]ought from Chariots and Horses, who fight with most Advantage, and usually have most Courage; and much more unable were their Footmen, to resist or avoid the stroke.

7 Thou, even thou art to be feared, and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

To wit, to Contend with thee. Standing, is here opposed to flight or falling before the Enemy. See I[illegible: 1+ letters]sh. 7. 12. Dan. 8. 4.

8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven ; the earth feared, and was still .

Thou didst execute Judgment upon thine Enemies, by an Angel sent from Heaven, which is said to be heard: Either, because that was accompanied with terrible Thunders and Earthquakes, which was not unusual in the descent of an Angel, as Mat. 28. 2. and elsewhere: Or, because the same of it was quickly spread abroad in the Land, and in the World.

The effect of this Terrible Judgement, was that the rest of the World were afraid to invade or disturb the Land and People of Israel, and chose rather to sit still in their own Territories.

Marginal references: Psal. 46. 6▪

9 When God arose to judgment to save all the meek of the earth , Selah.

When God, who for a season had sat still, began to bestir and shew himself against his Enemies. Or, After God had risen, &c. Or, Because God did arise▪ &c.

To save all the godly Persons (who are oft called Meek ones, as hath been noted again and again) in Israel, for whose sakes God wrought this great Deliverance, which reached to all the People of the Land.

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee , the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain .

The blasphemous Speeches, and furious Attempts of thine Enemies, shall serve thy Glory, and cause thy People and others, to Praise and magnifie thee, for that admirable Wisdom and Power, and Faithfulness, and Goodness, which thou shalt discover upon that occasion.

Thou shalt prevent and disappoint the succeeding malicious Designs of thine Enemies, who will meditate Revenge for those shameful and Terrible overthrows. Or, the r[illegible: 1+ letters]der of wrath, thou shalt gird thy self with, (i. e.) Put it on as an Ornament, which the Girdle was; thou shalt adorn▪ thy self with it, as a Conqueror doth with the spoils of his Enemies.

11 Vow , and pay unto the LORD your God; let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared .

Vow a Sacrifice of Thanksgiving; Either, at this time, for this wonderful Deliverance: Or, hereafter in all your Future straits and Troubles, let this Experience encourage you to make such Vows to God, with Confidence of Success.

But when God hath accepted your Vows, and given you the desired Deliverance, forget not to pay your Vows.

Either, 1. All the Tribes of Israel, who have the Benefit of this Mercy. Or rather, 2. All the neighbouring Nations on every side, to whom the same of this mighty work of God shall come, I advise them for the Future, if they love themselves, to cease from all Hostilities against God, or his People, and to submit themselves to the God of Israel.

Whom though they do not love, yet they see and feel, that they have great reason to Fear and to seek his Favour.

Marginal references: Heb. to the fear. Gen. 31. 42. 53▪

12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes, he is terrible to the Kings of the earth.

As men do their Grapes in time of Vintage, as the Hebrew Verb implies, to wit, suddenly, violently and irresistibly. This is all which they shall get by opposing him; and therefore it is their Wisdom to bring Presents to him.

Either, 1. Their Courage. Or rather, 2. Their Breath and Life, as he did in the Assyrian Army.