Psalm 76:8-10 - August 1, 2009

Ps 76:8-10 "From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet — 9 when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. 10 Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained." NIV

Does God get involved in the affairs of the nations? Does God judge the wicked with power and vengeance? Yes, Yes, Yes, the answer is a resounding yes. God observes the nations of the earth and their injustice and wickedness towards one another. From the beginning of time the scriptures record God’s careful observation of the hearts and ways of man. Gen 6:5-8 tells us that “5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. 6 The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain. 7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth — men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air — for I am grieved that I have made them." 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” By this passage we can see the extent of both God’s concern and His willingness to act in regard to dealing with man when his heart has turned to wickedness and away
from righteousness.
The gift that Psalm 76:8-10 provides for us is that it presents to us not just a glimpse of God’s wrath but an insight into the motives of God’s wrath. Ezek 18:30-32 introduces us to the heart of God in regard to people "Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!” God would rather see men turn from their sinful ways than have to send judgment upon them but men have too often refused God’s appeal to turn from their sins. But God does not stop at a warning and a call for change. Even in judgment God’s heart of mercy is calling to those who remain and that is the message of Psalm 76:8-10.
There are at least three overriding principles at work in these higher realms of divine judgment. Verse 8 says that when God pronounced judgment the land feared and was quiet. God’s first effort at turning the hearts of men is to announce intended judgment. His intent is that this warning, much like a parent warning a child, will remind the nations of the need for Holy Fear and cause them to be still and silent before Him. However, in many cases the peoples of the earth continue in their rebellion against God and so He is forced by their stubbornness to propel His judgments to the level of action. In God’s restraint of evil He is bringing forth both judgment upon the rebellious and deliverance for the oppressed. This is an expression of the supreme ability that God possesses to produce multiple outcomes from one event. The third outcome that flows out of the release of God’s judgment against the unrepentant is again two-fold in its outcomes; on one hand those who love the Lord are strengthened in their confidence that their allegiance to God will be defended and rewarded by His eternal justice, this results in their increased security and produces praise in their hearts, the second component to this dimension of God’s dealings is the reality that when many are swept away by God’s unseen hand in an act of awesome judgment those who survive that act of judgment are restrained for a season from committing further evil. Righteousness is given a chance to flourish in the earth by this season of restraint created in their earth through the release of the waves of reverent fear that follow after judgment.