Psalms 76:1

Psalms 76:1 says,To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. This is identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel.  Asaph says that God is known in Judah and His name is great in Israel.  Those were the people known as God's people, and today the people of the church are known as God's people and His name should be great among us.  Verse two adds, In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.  God's tabernacle and dwelling place were seen as being in Judah and Israel.  We know that God is not limited to any specific country or place though, but He lives in the hearts of His people wherever they are.  Verse three continues, There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.  Asaph then speaks of a great victory that God had given His people in battle, and God has already won the victory for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse four states, Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey.  Asaph proclaimed God's superiority over the mountains of prey, those that saw themselves as all powerful and did not mind preying on those who were weaker.  Many people today see themselves as all powerful and prey on those who are physically or even financially weaker.  Verse five adds, The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.  Asaph said these people had faith in their strength and ability to defeat an opponent.  There are nations today that believe their military might gives them the ability to defeat anyone, and many not only don't worship God or even deny His existence or worship some other God.  Verse six continues, At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.  Asaph said that God was more powerful than these enemies though, and He still is today.  There is nothing that we as followers of Christ need to fear today.  Verse seven says, Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?  Asaph said God was to be feared when He stood against those who would destroy His people, and asked who could stand against His anger.  There never has been nor ever will be anyone or any group of people who can stand against God.   Verse eight adds, Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,  Asaph says that God's judgment came from heaven and the earth heard and was still.  When God speaks in judgment, as He one day will, all the earth will listen, even if too many people refuse to do so beforehand.  Verse nine continues, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.  Asaph said that when God rose in judgment that He would save all the meek of the earth, those who humbly submitted to God's will instead of proudly declaring their own might.  Verse ten states, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.  God does restrain the wrath of evil in the world, even when it seems like evil is winning.  Through faith in Jesus Christ, we as followers of Christ will always be victorious from the perspective of our everlasting life with God.  Verse eleven adds, Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.  Just as the people then were called on to worship and praise God, so must we today as Christians.  We are to give all that we are or have to God.   Verse twelve concludes, He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.  God was, is and always will be more powerful than anyone or any group of people.  We can rest easy in God's victory over evil in the world, no matter what happens in our life. 

Psalms 75:1

Psalms 75:1 says,To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.  This is stated to be another psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.  Matthew Henry says this probably applied to David, and was written by Asaph from as speech of David.  As followers of Christ, this should be our promise as well.  We should give thanks to God because of Who He is, and not because of what He can do for us.  Verse two adds, When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.  When the one the psalmist was writing about came to power, he promised to judge uprightly.  When people come into power today, especially Christians, we need to judge uprightly, or under the leadership of God.  Verse three continues, The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.  He also promised to restore the government to a righteous state.  Again, if we are in positions of leadership today, no matter what had been the standard before, we must work to restore righteousness to our place of leadership.  Verse four states, I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:  The psalmist warned the foolish, those who did not believe in or follow God to not deal foolishly with others and for the wicked to not to attempt to exert their power.  We need to be speaking out against those who do not follow God's laws today and attempt to exert their influence on others.  Verse five adds, Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.  This is a continuation of the warning to those who act foolishly or in wickedness.  We should also warn people of the danger of doing so today, even if they are stiff necked, or stubborn in their refusal to follow God's laws.  Verse six declares, For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.  Verse seven adds, But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.  The psalmist said that true power does not come from anywhere in the earth, but from God Himself.  Though someone may be placed in power by the people that they govern, true leadership comes only from those who put their faith in God.  Verse eight states, For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.  The psalmist then compares God's leadership to a cup of good wine versus a cup of dregs. Matthew Henry says this could point to the cup of Christ.  Either we choose to drink or it, or we drink from the dregs of wickedness.  Verse nine says, But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.  The psalmist said that he would declare the goodness of God forever and sing His praises.  So must we as followers of Christ.  Verse ten adds, All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.  The psalmist said that God would cut off the horns of the wicked, or remove their power, but He would exalt the righteous.  If not before, this will happen when Jesus Christ returns in judgment. 

Psalms 74:12

Psalms 74:12 says, For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.  God is indeed the King of old, Who has brought salvation to the midst of the earth, and there is no other God or way to salvation.  Verse thirteen adds, Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters.  Matthew Henry says this refers to God defeating the pharaoh and the Egyptians.  Verse fourteen continues, Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.  The dragons represented the Egyptians and the leviathan the pharaoh, and God had shown His total power over them in the past.  God was and is still the all powerful God, Who has defeated our enemies in the past and will do so in the present and future.  Verse fifteen states, Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers.  Asaph said that God was in control of all His creation, able to cause the waters to flow or to dry up the rivers.  Though God does not cause all natural disasters, He has the power to.  Sin is the ultimate cause of the problems in the world, because when God created it, before men and women sinned, He pronounced it good.  Verse sixteen adds, The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun.  Asaph continues to praise God as the Creator of the universe, and so should we today as followers of Christ.  Verse seventeen continues, Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.  As Asaph praises God, he says God set the borders, or size, of the earth and made the seasons.  Some people worship the seasons and the stars and moon today and refuse to acknowledge the Creator of the seasons, stars and moon.  As Christians, we cannot believe that anything other than God Himself is in control, today or anytime in the future.  Verse eighteen declares, Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.  Throughout history and until Chist returns, foolish people have and will deny the power of God, and attempt to reproach Him and those who put their faith in Him.  Verse nineteen adds, O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor forever.  Asaph asked God to not allow His people to be defeated forever into the hands of the wicked.  If may seem that the evil are winning in the world today, but God has already secured the victory for those who put their faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse twenty says, Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.  Asaph asked God to have respect for His covenant, and He always has and always will.  We are the ones who break our covenant with God, if it is broken.  Verse twenty-one adds, O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name.  If we are oppressed today as Christians, it is not God Who causes us to be ashamed of our faith, but it is us if we are.  Even if we are poor and oppressed, we must continue to live by faith and praise God.  Verse twenty two  continues, Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily.  Asaph asked God to remember His own cause and how foolish people forgot Him everyday.  We do not have to ask God to remember His cause as Christians, even if foolish people continue to forget Him everyday.  God's existence and power are not determined by whether people believe in Him or not.  Verse twenty-three concludes, Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.  God knows the voice of His enemies, and will always be the One Who will one day judge them.  We as followers of Christ must simply remain faithful to Him, no matter how sinful the world may become.

Psalms 74:1

Psalms 74:1 says, Maschil of Asaph. This is another psalm identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?  The people of Israel were once again being defeated, and Asaph asked God why He had abandoned them.  Matthew Henry says the events described align wit Nebuchadnezzar defeating Israel and destroying the temple, which happened much later so it was evidently a prophesy.   Verse two adds, Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.  Asaph asked God to remember His congregation which He had purchased of old, and we can be certain that God will never forget us as followers of Christ because He purchased us by the shed blood of Christ on the cross.  Verse three continues, Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary.  Asaph asked that God restore them from the perpetual desolation that had even occurred to God's sanctuary.  Today, the only real sanctuary of God that people can destroy is believers themselves, because our faith represents the temple of God.  Verse four states, Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.  I believe that we can say that the enemies of God roar against His people today as Asaph said they did in this psalm.  Verse five adds, A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees.  Matthew Henry says this refers to the destruction of the tembers of the tabernacle, which was viewed as no more than cutting down any tree.  Some people today see the destruction of the things dedicated to God as no more than destroying anything else, and they may even take pride in doing so.  Verse six continues, But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers.  This is a further reference to the destruction of the temple, which would happen much later.  Verse seven says, They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. Once more, Asaph refers to the destruction of the temple, which was seen as God's dwelling place.  We know that God is not limited to a particular place, but that does not stop those who deny or defy Him from attempting to destroy everything associated with Him.  Verse eight adds, They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.  Not only was the temple being destroyed, but also any place that represented God was.  People of the world today would often like to destroy anything that represents God, even Christians themselves.  Verse nine continues, We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.  Asaph said there were no signs or prophets to tell them how long the destruction would last.  We are given some signs of the return of Christ when all of God's enemies will be defeated, but I don't believe there will be any new prophet to tell us when this will occur.  Verse ten asks, O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?  Asaph asked how long God would allow His enemies to blaspheme His name.  We as followers of Christ may ask the same thing today, but instead we need to simply be content to live by faith every day and continue to witness for and worship God.  Verse eleven adds,Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.  Asaph asked how long God would wait before restoring His people by His power.  We may sometimes wonder how long God will allow evil to attempt to destroy His people, but we know that through our faith in Jesus Christ we have already won the victory. 

Psalms 73:15

Psalms 73:15 says, If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.  Asaph said that if he voiced the thought that the wicked prospered and the Godly suffered that he would offend a whole generation of God's children.   It is better to keep doubts that we might have about God to our self than to voice them to others and maybe lead them astray as well.  Verse sixteen adds, When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;  Asaph said this idea was too painful to Him, as it should be to us.  Verse seventeen continues, Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.  Asaph said that he continued to be confused until he went into the temple of God.  Matthew Henry says that Asaph went there to study, pray and meditate on the nature of God, and this is what we should do today if we have questions about God as Christians.  Verse eighteen states, Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.  Asaph said he realized that the prosperity of the evil was a temporary thing, no matter how long it lasted.  We need to view life from an everlasting view, because anything less is just temporary.  Verse nineteen adds, How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.  When God's judgment comes, in that minute the wicked, those who do not put their faith in Jesus Christ, will be consumed with terrors.  Verse twenty continues, As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.  Asaph said that when God awoke, or came in judgment, that He would despise the image of those who denied Him.  Though when we see all the evil in the world today we may feel that God is asleep, He never is.  Verse twenty-one declares, Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.  Asaph said his heart was grieved when he realized how wrong his thoughts had been, and so should we be if we start to question God based on material wealth.  Verse twenty-two adds, So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.  Asaph said he was foolish and ignorant before God when he was questioning Him.  We are the same today as Asaph was then when we question God, foolish and ignorant.  Verse twenty-three says, Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.  Asaph said even when he questioned God that he knew that God was still with him and holding him by the hand.  God is even closer to Christians today, because we have the Holy Spirit living in us.  Verse twenty-four adds, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.  We as followers of Christ like Asaph should acknowledge that God will guide us in this lifetime and the receive us in the glory of heaven when this life is over.  This is all that really matters.  Verse twenty-five asks, Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.  As Asaph asked, Whom do we have in heaven beside God, and since this is true, there should be none on earth that we desire besides God.  Verse twenty-six adds, My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.  As Christians, God should likewise be our strength when our heart and flesh fail.  Verse twenty-seven states, For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.  This will never change.  Those who do not believe in God and put their faith in Jesus Christ will be far from Him spiritually and will perish.  Verse twenty-eight adds, But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.  As Asaph said, it is good for us as Christians to draw near to God and to proclaim all His work in the world, no matter how much the wicked may seem to prosper. 

Psalms 73:1

Psalms 73:1 says, A Psalm of Asaph.  This is identified as a psalm of Asaph, then verse one says, Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.  Asaph said that it was true that God was good to those in Israel who were pure of heart.  Verse two adds, But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.  Asaph said that he was still almost tempted to stray away from God, because those who did were seemingly being more prosperous.  We as followers of Christ may look around at the those who do not believe in or follow God's will growing rich and be tempted to follow what they say and do instead of following God's word and will for our life.  Verse three continues, For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.  Asaph said he was envious of the foolish, those who did not follow God, because they, the wicked, prospered.  We as Christians should never be envious of the prosperity of the wicked, because the wealth of this life is only temporary.  Verse four states, For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.  Asaph said that the wicked did not die for their wickedness, but remained strong.  No matter how strong the wicked may seem in the world today, they will suffer for their wickedness when God's judgment comes.  Verse five adds, They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.  Asaph said that the wicked did not seem to be troubled or suffer as other people did.  There may be many people today who deny God and seemingly have no trouble in life, but we should never be tempted to try and be like them.  Verse six continues, Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.  There are so many people who are rich in material things today who are full of self pride.  They want to take credit for everything that happens around them and often are not afraid to use violence to accomplish their goals.  Verse seven says, Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.  Asaph said that the wicked, those who did not put their faith in God, often had more than their heart could wish for, and this often seems to be the case today.  Verse eight adds, They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.  Like then, there are many corrupt people in power today who don't think anything is wrong with oppressing others.  We as Christians must never believe that it is okay to oppress anyone, no matter how weak or poor they may be.  Verse nine declares, They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.  Asaph said the wicked set their mouth against heaven, or God Himself.  So many prosperous people speak out against God and His teachings today, but that does not mean that we are to be envious of or follow after them.  Verse ten adds, Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.  Asaph said that God's people returned wrung out of the blessings of life.  We often hear people who do not believe in God ask why if God is so good and powerful are those who believe in and live by His word not rich, but faith in Christ is never about earthly riches.  Verse eleven states, And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?  Asaph said the wicked questioned the knowledge and authority of God, and too many people today attempt to deny that God exists and is in charge.  Verse twelve adds, Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.  Just as Asaph said was happening then, we often see the ungodly prospering in the world today, but we should never be envious of them as followers of Christ.  Verse thirteen continues, Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.  Asaph said that it seemed that he had cleansed his heart in vain, or that following God's leadership had done him no good.  We should never be guilty of judging the benefit of following God by how rich or poor we may be in this lifetime.  Verse fourteen concludes, For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.  Asaph said that even though he put his faith in God that he suffered every day, and that was why he was tempted to turn away from God.  Even if we suffer for our faith, we must never be tempted to turn away from God and chase after the things of this world. 

Psalms 72:12

Psalms 72:12 says, For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.  David once again speaks about God helping the poor and needy and those that have no helper.  This does not mean that being poor automatically brings a person salvation.  Salvation still only comes from having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Verse thirteen adds, He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.  Once more, I don't believe that this means that all the poor and needy will be saved, but means that God will save them in spite of the fact that they are looked down on by the world.  Verse fourteen continues, He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.  David said that those who put their faith in God and are mistreated by the world are precious in God's sight.  Being poor and mistreated is not another way to salvation though, since salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ.  Verse fifteen states, And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba: prayer also shall be made for him continually; and daily shall he be praised.  Though this psalm was written about Solomon, and the gold of Sheba was given to him, as Christians we must likewise give all our material blessings to God to be used for His glory.  Verse sixteen adds, There shall be an handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains; the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon: and they of the city shall flourish like grass of the earth.  David said that during the reign of Solomon that people would be blessed with abundant crops.  Matthew Henry says this applies to the spreading of the gospel after Christ came and to the increase in believers because of it.  Verse seventeen declares, His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.  Though the name of Solomon may be remembered, this refers to Jesus Christ.  His name will never be forgotten and His kingdom will never end.  Verse eighteen adds, Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.  David now makes clear that it is God Who is to be blessed, and not Solomon.  No matter how good an earthly ruler may be, we should never give our praise to him or her, but to God alone.  Verse nineteen continues, And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.  David asked that God's name be blessed forever and the whole world be filled with His glory.  We know this is only going to happen when Christ returns to claim those who have put their faith in Him, but we as Christians need to be proclaiming the glory of God to the world every day.  Verse twenty concludes, The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.  Matthew Henry says this was likely means this was one of the last psalms written by David, but whether that is case or not, or if it simply means that David had concluded his prayers for Solomon at this time, I do know that as long as we live we cannot stop praying for God's will to be done in the world.