READ Psalm 76:7–12. 7 It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry? 8 From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet— 9 when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. 10 Surely the wrath of mankind brings you praise, and with the remainder of wrath you arm yourself.73 11 Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared. 12 He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
YOU MAKE THE WRATH OF MEN PRAISE YOU. Verse 10 is full of interest. Not only will all efforts to rebel or defeat God in the end only fulfill God’s plan (Genesis 50:20; Acts 4:27–28), but they will only make the ultimate joy and glory of the renewed world and God’s people greater. That will be the ultimate defeat of evil. The greatest example is the death of Jesus. “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross” (Acts 2:23). This does indeed lead us to fear him, to wonder at his greatness, and to submit to his lordship (verse 7).
Prayer: “Lord, make us to have a perpetual fear and love of thy holy name; for thou never failest to help and govern them whom thou dost bring up in thy steadfast love.”74 Grant this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.