Read Psalm 76 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions are marked within the structure:
Introduction) Psa 76:1-2, In Judah God is known + His dwelling place is in Zion;
1a) Psa 76:3, There He broke the fiery shafts of the bow; shield + sword + battle;
1b) Psa 76:4, Glorious are You, and excellent, coming down from the mountains of prey;
1c) Psa 76:5a, The stouthearted were plundered; They have sunk into their sleep; {n}
central axis) Psa 76:5b, And none of the mighty men have found the use of their hands;
2c) Psa 76:6, At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, Both the chariot and horse were cast into a dead sleep;
2b) Psa 76:7-11, The awesome presence of God descending to judge the earth:
1a) Psa 76:7a, You, Yourself, are to be feared;
1b) Psa 76:7b, And who may stand in Your presence When once You are angry?
1c) Psa 76:8a, You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
central axis) Psa 76:8b, The earth feared and was still;
2c) Psa 76:9, When God arose to judgment, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth;
2b) Psa 76:10, Surely the wrath of man shall praise You; With the remainder of wrath You shall gird Yourself;
2a) Psa 76:11, Make vows to the Lord + pay them/ Bring presents to Him who ought to be feared;
2a) Psa 76:12, He shall diminish the spirit of princes + awesome to the kings of the earth. {p}
Now look at the comparison of Psa 75 and 76:
Psa 75:
1) Psa 75:1, We give thanks to You O God, for Your wondrous works declare Your name is near;
2) Psa 75:2-3, I will judge uprightly at the proper time;
3) Psa 75:4-5, I said to the wicked, Do not lift up your horn on high;
4) Psa 75:6-7, God is the Judge who puts down one and exalts another;
5) Psa 75:8, For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, all the wicked shall drain and drink it down;
6) Psa 75:9, I will declare forever, and sing praises to the God of Jacob;
7) Psa 75:10, All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Psa 76:
1) Psa 76:1-2, In Judah God is known, His name is great in Israel;
2) Psa 76:3-4, He broke the arrows of the bow, the shield and sword of battle;
3) Psa 76:5-6, The stouthearted and mighty are plundered at Your rebuke, O God of Jacob;
4) Psa 76:7-9, You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
5) Psa 76:10, The wrath of man shall praise You, with the remainder of wrath You shall gird yourself;
6) Psa 76:11, Make vows to the LORD and pay them, bring presents to Him who ought to be feared;
7) Psa 76:12, He shall cut off the spirit of princes, He is awesome to the kings of the earth.
Seven is the number of completion, prophesying “It is finished.” Repetition is a teaching tool of Scripture, so that we do not miss the point being made. In this climate of uncertainty and oppression, take heart! Your mighty rock and firm foundation is the LORD, who will shake, but who will not be shaken, and will bring an end to wickedness, haughtiness, and oppression. ♥
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