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Illustration for Psalm 76: God Is Majestic

Psalm 76

God Is Majestic

Praise

God is famous in Israel — His home is in Jerusalem and He is more powerful than the mightiest warriors. When He speaks in judgment, the whole earth goes silent and still. God is to be respected and honored by all the kings on earth.

  1. 1God is known in Judah; His name is great in Israel.
  2. 2His tent is in Salem, His dwelling place in Zion.
  3. 3There He broke the flashing arrows, the shield and the sword, the weapons of war. Selah
  4. 4You are radiant and majestic, more than the mountains of prey.
  5. 5The valiant lie plundered; they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
  6. 6At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
  7. 7You alone are to be feared. Who can stand before You when You are angry?
  8. 8From heaven You pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—
  9. 9when You, O God, arose to judge, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah
  10. 10Surely the wrath of men will praise You, and the survivors of Your wrath are restrained.
  11. 11Make vows to the LORD your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.
  12. 12He breaks the spirit of rulers; He is feared by the kings of the earth.

What it means

This psalm says that when God speaks, the whole earth goes quiet. There is a kind of respect that makes you stop talking and just listen. God is our friend, but He is never small or ordinary — and remembering that is good for us.

A little prayer

God, You are great and powerful, and the whole earth goes quiet when You speak. Help me to be still and listen to You. I want to give You the honor You deserve. Amen.

Memory verse

“when You, O God, arose to judge, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah”

Psalm 76:9 (BSB)

Power in this psalm exists for a reason, and the reason is the people at the bottom.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. The psalm says God is stronger than the strongest warriors. Who is the strongest person you can think of?
  2. It says the earth went quiet when God stood up to save the humble. What makes a room go quiet?
  3. Why does the psalm connect God's power with rescuing people who have none?
  4. When did someone stand up for you?

Try this

Stand up

Everyone sits. One person names something unfair, and anyone who would stand up against it stands. Do it five times. Talk about what it felt like to stand, and to see others stand with you.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)