Day 171 Psalm 74-76 Supplemental notes

Psalm Chapter 74
This Psalm describes one of the major devastations of Jerusalem that The Lord not only permitted, but brought about because the people had corrupted themselves. "Remember Mount Zion, where Thou hast dwelt" is a stark statement that The Lord only remains with those who remain with Him.

"A Maskil of Asaph. O God, why dost Thou cast us off for ever? Why does Thy anger smoke against the sheep of Thy pasture? Remember Thy congregation, which Thou hast gotten of old, which Thou hast redeemed to be the tribe of Thy heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where Thou hast dwelt. Direct Thy steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the Sanctuary!
Thy foes have roared in the midst of Thy holy place; they set up their own signs for signs. At the upper entrance they hacked the wooden trellis with axes. And then all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers. They set Thy sanctuary on fire; to the ground they desecrated the dwelling place of Thy Name. They said to themselves, "We will utterly subdue them"; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. We do not see our signs; there is no longer any Prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.
How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? [see They Shall Be Ashes] Is the enemy to revile Thy name for ever? Why dost Thou hold back Thy hand, why dost Thou keep Thy right hand in Thy bosom?
Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by Thy might; Thou didst break the heads of the Dragons on the waters. Thou didst crush the heads of Leviathan, Thou didst give him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. Thou didst cleave open springs and brooks; Thou didst dry up ever-flowing streams. Thine is the day, thine also the night; Thou hast established the luminaries and the sun. Thou hast fixed all the bounds of the earth; Thou hast made summer and winter.
Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and an impious people reviles Thy name. Do not deliver the soul of Thy dove [see also Do Animals Have A Soul?] to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of Thy poor for ever. Have regard for Thy covenant [see Covenant and Testament]; for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. Let not the downtrodden be put to shame; let the poor and needy praise Thy Name.
Arise, O God, plead Thy cause; remember how the impious scoff at Thee all the day! Do not forget the clamor of Thy foes, the uproar of Thy adversaries [see Adversary] which goes up continually!" (Psalm 74:1-23 RSV)

Psalm Chapter 75
The Coming World Dictator is going to be welcomed by His people because He will be perfect in all ways. No rightous person will have anything to fear.

"To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. We give thanks to Thee, O God; we give thanks; we call on Thy Name [see What Is God's Name?] and recount Thy wondrous deeds.
At the set time [see also Could Christ Return Tonight?] which I appoint I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. [Selah]
I say to the boastful, "Do not boast," and to the wicked, "Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with insolent neck." [see The Two Kinds Of Pride]
For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up; but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of The Lord there is a cup, with foaming wine, well mixed; and he will pour a draught from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs [see Grapes Of Wrath].
But I will rejoice for ever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked he will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted." (Psalm 75:1-10 RSV)

Psalm Chapter 76
The Lyre was the most popular of the "stringed instruments."

"To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. In Judah God is known, His Name is great in Israel [see The Gathering of Israel and Judah]. His abode has been established in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion. There He broke the flashing arrows, the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. [Selah]
Glorious art Thou, more majestic than the everlasting mountains. The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; they sank into sleep; all the men of war were unable to use their hands. At Thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both rider and horse [see Horses] lay stunned. But Thou, terrible art Thou! Who can stand before Thee when once Thy anger is roused? From the heavens Thou didst utter judgment; the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment to save all the oppressed of the earth. [Selah]
Surely the wrath of men shall praise Thee; the residue of wrath Thou wilt gird upon Thee. Make your vows to The Lord your God, and perform them; let all around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is terrible to the kings [see also Lamb of lambs, King of kings] of the earth." (Psalm 76:1-12 RSV)