Chapter Seventy-Five

This psalm is a direct continuation of the previous one. In the first, threats were made against the enemies of Jerusalem, and here the fulfillment of this threat is described, when the Lord became “known” everywhere, His name became great (Ps 75:2), when numerous enemies perished (Ps 75:6-7) and the earth was quieted (Ps 75:9) through God’s miraculous help (Ps 75:10). The descriptions of the psalm correspond with the account of the destruction of the Assyrians at Jerusalem as set forth in (2 Sam 19). In the LXX and in the Vulgate a note was added in the heading “against the Assyrian.”

The name of the God of the Jews is great: He crushed the terrible enemies, who perished at His command (2–7). He is terrible in His exalted command from heaven, when He rose to defend His people. The enemies perished and the earth was quieted (8–11). May all peoples render Him worship (12–13).

Psalm 75:2. God is known in Judea; His name is great in Israel. “God is known in Judea,” the name of Him who rules and protects Judea has become known, that is, the name of the Lord has become known everywhere.

Psalm 75:3. And His dwelling was in Salem and His abode on Zion. “Salem” is the ancient name of Jerusalem, where the Lord constantly dwells in the Holy of Holies of the temple.

Psalm 75:5. You are glorious and more mighty than the mountains of prey. “More mighty than the mountains of prey.” The mountain is an image of unshakability. Mountains of prey are the Assyrians, who attacked Jerusalem in hope of rich plunder. Among the peoples of the East of that time they were the most terrible enemies, but the Lord showed that He is “mightier than them.”

Psalm 75:6. The stout-hearted became spoil, they slept their sleep, and none of the men of might found their strength. “The stout-hearted” are the brave and courageous enemies. “They slept their sleep” means a sleep from which they do not wake, that is, death. “None of the men of might found their strength” means their destruction was unexpected and unavoidable; they had no means to resist it, and their personal courage and military skill proved fruitless in the struggle against the Lord’s command. In that night 185,000 Assyrians perished.

Psalm 75:8. You are terrible, and who can stand before your face in the time of your wrath? “To stand before your face in the time of God’s wrath” means to struggle with God; no one is able to do this.

Psalm 75:9. From the heavens you declared judgment; the earth feared and was silent, “The earth feared and was silent,” the terrible punishment that befell the enemies filled the hearts of the Jews with terror, and at the same time brought peace to the life of the country.

Psalm 75:11. And the wrath of man shall turn to your praise: you will restrain the remainder of wrath. “The wrath of man shall turn to your praise,” the wrath against God from man not only cannot cause Him any harm, but serves His glory. In the person of Rabshakeh the enemies mocked the Lord and threatened the Hebrews, but this threat ended in their own defeat and the increase of the glory of the Lord. “You will restrain the remainder of wrath.” You will not allow your wrath to be fully poured out on the enemies, that is, although the destruction of the Assyrians was terrible, it was not the complete expression of the wrath of the Lord that they deserved; God was merciful to them. It is also understood this way: You, O Lord, have kept back the remainder of wrath to pour it out on the enemies in case of new attacks from them, that is, to protect us from them forever.

Psalm 75:12. Make vows and fulfill them to the Lord your God; all those around Him shall bring gifts to Him who is fearful: “All those around Him” means the pagan nations living around Palestine. The growing military power of Assyria and the independence of these peoples posed a constant threat, and therefore the destruction at the walls of Jerusalem of the military force of Assyria should bring peace to them and fill them with feelings of reverent gratitude toward the God of the Hebrews.