3 There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah.

5 The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands.

6 At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.

7 Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

8 Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still,

10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

11 Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.

12 He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth.

Outline

(1) God is great to His people (v 1-3 )
- a. In His abiding presence (v 1-2 )
- b. In His power to protect them (v 3 )
(2) God is most fearful only to His enemies (v 4-9 )
- a. In His judgment against His enemies (v 4-8 )
- b. In His salvation of His own (v 9 )
(3) God rules overall acknowledged (v 10-12 )
- a. In even man's wrath, He is praised (v 10 )
- b. In keeping our vows, God is honoured (v 11 )
- c. In His wrath, kings are cut off (v 12 )

It is sad scenario in the world today that the living and true God is not known. Man seemed to think that they are masters of their own destiny. This is a fearfully wrong notion that needs to be corrected. This psalm seeks to make known that the great God of Israel is the living and true God. It seeks for this truth be declared and published abroad. Let all the powers on this earth acknowledge, worship and fear the God of Israel.

"In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah."

Israel is raised by God as His witness. Israel by her obedience to God's laws magnifies the name of God. He has chosen to dwell in the midst of Israel, His people. What tremendous privilege. His abiding presence with His people, for in "Salem", the name for Jerusalem, is peace and safety. From His dwelling place will His power be demonstrated to destroy Israel's enemies.

"Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry? Thou didst cause judgment to be heard from heaven; the earth feared, and was still, When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah."

"Mountains of prey" (v 4 ) describes the overwhelming strength of the enemies who were destroyed by Israel's God.

"The stouthearted" (v 5 ) describes the mighty strength of Israel's enemies with defying strength. These enemies were cast into a deep sleep by God. How can it be? It did occur during the reign of King Hezekiah when the Assyrian army besieged Jerusalem. King Hezekiah cried unto the Lord (2 Kings 19:1 ,15-19 ).

This was the account was recorded in 2 Kings 19:35 "And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."

Truly, great fear came upon all who realized the awesome power of the living God.

God turned the threats and destruction of men to glorify His own name. His people who have vowed a vow in their adversity and are delivered, are required to pay their vow to the LORD. For this is God honouring. The kings of this earth must acknowledge and worship Israel's God.

What great comfort for all of God's people who depend upon Him in all their vicissitudes of life. Let us publish abroad our great God that others may come too to trust in Him.

CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS

Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne.

Hark! How the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless King through all eternity.

Crown Him the virgin's Son, the God incarnate born,

Whose arm those crimson trophies won which now His brow adorn;

Fruit of the mystic rose, as of that rose the stem;

The root whence mercy ever flows, the Babe of Bethlehem.

Crown Him the Son of God, before the worlds began,

And ye who tread where He hath trod, crown Him the Son of Man;

Who every grief hath known that wrings the human breast,

And takes and bears them for His own, that all in Him may rest.

Crown Him the Lord of life, who triumphed over the grave,

And rose victorious in the strife for those He came to save.

His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of peace, whose power a scepter sways

From pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise.

His reign shall know no end, and round His piercèd feet

Fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet.

Crown Him the Lord of love, behold His hands and side,

Those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified.

No angel in the sky can fully bear that sight,

But downward bends his burning eye at mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of Heaven, enthroned in worlds above,

Crown Him the King to Whom is given the wondrous name of Love.

Crown Him with many crowns, as thrones before Him fall;

Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, for He is King of all.

Crown Him the Lord of lords, who over all doth reign,

Who once on earth, the incarnate Word, for ransomed sinners slain,

Now lives in realms of light, where saints with angels sing

Their songs before Him day and night, their God, Redeemer, King.

Crown Him the Lord of years, the Potentate of time,

Creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime.

All hail, Redeemer, hail! For Thou has died for me;

Thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.

Index of Golden Year's Messages