PSALM 76. THE DIVINE POLICY IN HUMAN AFFAIRS. Here is another Psalm by Asaph the Seer. The heart of the psalm is in verse 10. - "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee; the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain." God uses the wrath of man, but the surplus or excess of it He restrains. We must however take note of how the psalmist approaches this thought in this particular song. Initially we are reassured that God moves among His people. "In Judah He is Known." Judah was the most powerful tribe, and the seat of political power for the whole of the Nation. The power of Judah was felt in the political heart of the nation. God was where all the decisions were made. he was known and He was knowing. It is one thing to say that "God is known in our nation."; it is another to be able to appreciate that God KNOWS all that is being decided in the heart of the nation. Ever since they started telecasting "Today in Parliament" in England, I have been more confused than ever. It takes a politician to understand what is going on. When I lived in London, people referring to the Houses of Parliament called it "The Gas Works in Westminster." Now I understand why. There are times when it seems nothing but "Jaw. Jaw!" (What the Bible call - 'a pit of noise') But, I have the reassurance that God knows what is going on in the decision making committees of every nation. God dwells among His people. Righteousness exalts a nation. the pressing need of every nation today is that God should be KNOWN in the nation, and the acceptance of the fact that God is KNOWING in every nation. God not only moves among His People, He also dwells among His People. He has even promised to be where two or three are gathered together in His Name. When they gather together, He is in the midst, and if ONE MAN with God is in the majority, how much more is that principle true when two or three are in unison and He presences Himself with them. When we enter into the presence of God's People, to pray together; to worship together; we enter Zion. I love the hymn, "We're marching to Zion." It speaks of the hope that is before us, and of the time when we shall meet before His Throne. But God has promised to be present when His people gather together now. He dwells with His people. Here is the answer to people who ask the question, "Why should we gather together?". We meet together because God is in the midst of His people. We have the assurance that God is there. He has promised to be there. It is specific in the Word of God - He not only moves among His people, He also dwells among His people. The Psalmist develops the theme: "The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep, and none of the men of might have found their hands." God can render the weapons of men useless. Even in these days, with all the technology available, God is still a power in world affairs. When we are presented before Him, we shall have a great surprise to see what "Technology" God has. He set the universe in motion, and it is still working. That is a technology the greatest scientist alive would give his all to discover. From the Atom to the Universe, God controls everything. Whether it is so small that you cannot see it with the naked eye; or so great that it is impossible for you to grasp its existence, whatever God is doing, it will continue by His Power. We struggle for our brief life, then go to sleep. HE goes on for ever. THIS IS OUR GOD. He is still a power in world affairs. The ungodly cannot treat the people of God as they like. They cannot do what they like with Believers. They can only do what God allows. There is an interesting story in 2 Kings 10.35.;You may look it up at your leisure; where Sennacherib is compassing Jerusalem about. He was fighting Jerusalem and it seemed that it was all over for Israel. Everybody was sure that Israel would be wiped out. (How many times in history have men said, "Israel is finished.") The Bible tells us that in the case of Sennacherib, when he gathered his armies around the city, the Angel of the Lord went out in the night, and smote the camp. There were 185,000 dead by morning, and Israel had not picked up a sword. The angel of the Lord did it. As long as God is in charge Israel will survive. Since this is within the Power of the Almighty, it is essential for us to remember not to trifle with the things of God. In our own times, when it seemed that Israel were going to be defeated in the Yon Kupur war; the enemies who had Israel on the run stopped to rest and drink, and the tide of war was turned. It was so unbelievable an event that many of us were convinced that it was the Hand of God. When Asaph sings in this Psalm, "Thou art more glorious and excellent than the 'Mountains of Prey'", he is using prophetic language. The "Mountains of Prey" refer to the kingdoms around Israel who practised rapine and spoilation, devastating other nations. But all the world knows when God rises to judge. Things have happened in the past few years which we could never have imagined could take place. The Russias have fallen to pieces. Not merely because of the 'Billions' spent in putting hardware in the skies to keep a watch over the activities of other nations. But because the whole world is moving toward the End Age. God Himself has kept a watch over this old world from the beginning. He has His plan specially prepared for the last days. When one considers what is within God's Power to do. In Sennacherib's day He sent ONE angel out one night mission, and 185,000 men died by morning. If that is His Power. ought we not to be careful how we regard His Word, His Power, and His Plan. The Holy Scriptures makes His Plan for the End Days clear. When God rises to judge - He will judge ALL. The majority on earth today will ask, "If there is a God, WHAT is He doing? What is His policy for earth, and among men?." The Scriptures make it plain that God overrules the wickedness of men for His Own Glory. Read the histories of the Bible:- The cruelty of Joseph's brethren. They though he was finished when they put him in a pit, and that they would see him no more. God turned their action to good, Joseph becoming a ruler in Egypt. The hatred in Pharaoh's heart made the Exodus certain under the hand of God. The Crucifixion of Christ brought salvation to every nation. The extermination of the Jews in Nazi Germany, brought the Jewish nation back to Palestine. God allows the wrath of man, within the boundaries of His Will and Purpose. Note the tenth verse of the psalm: "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain." God does not permit the wrath of man to work any further than it fulfils His purpose. He does not allow mankind to do ALL the mischief they intend to do. GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. He will bring His purposes to pass, and fulfil every Promise He has made to all His people. Copyright (c) 1996, Hedley Palmer. All rights reserved. ---------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/hpalmer/psalms: ps-076.txt .