[1] God is renowned in Judah; in Israel his name is great.
[2] His tent is in Salem, his dwelling place in Zion.
[3] There he broke the flashing arrows, the shields and the swords, the weapons of war.
[4] You are radiant with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game.
[5] The valiant lie plundered, they sleep their last sleep; not one of the warriors can lift his hands.
[6] At your rebuke, God of Jacob, both horse and chariot lie still.
[7] It is you alone who are to be feared. Who can stand before you when you are angry?
[8] From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet—
[9] when you, God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land.
[10] Surely your wrath against mankind brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained.
[11] Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them; let all the neighboring lands bring gifts to the One to be feared.
[12] He breaks the spirit of rulers; he is feared by the kings of the earth.
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Psalm 76 was written by a descendant of Asaph and ancient tradition holds that it was written in celebration after God heard King Hezekiah's prayer, and destroyed the Assyrian army who was threatening Judah and blaspheming God (2 Kings 18:13-19:37).
Assyria had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel because "they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated His covenant - all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened to the commands nor carried them out" (2 Kings 18:12).
Now, Assyria was coming for Judah. In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah's reign, Assyria attacked Judah and captured them. In response, Hezekiah paid Assyria tribute with silver and gold from the temple. However, Hezekiah's tribute did not stop Assyria. The king sent his chief officer and field commander with a large army to Jerusalem to persuade Hezekiah to bargain with him. He tried to persuade the people by telling them that Hezekiah was misleading them and that they should not trust in the Lord because God was not going to deliver them from Assyria because He had instructed his king to attack and destroy them. He said that no other gods were able to protect the peoples Assyria had conquered, and the God of Israel would not be able to either.
When Hezekiah's administration heard this, they tore their clothes and returned to relay the message to King Hezekiah. When he heard it, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth, and sent his men to Isaiah the prophet. Isaiah said to them,
[6] “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. [7] Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’ ” (2 Kings 19:6-7 NIV)
However, the king Assyria again sent messengers to threaten Judah saying,
[10] “Say to Hezekiah king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ [11] Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? [12] Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them—the gods of Gozan, Harran, Rezeph and the people of Eden who were in Tel Assar? [13] Where is the king of Hamath or the king of Arpad? Where are the kings of Lair, Sepharvaim, Hena and Ivvah?” (2 Kings 19:10-13 NIV)
When Hezekiah received the letter, he went into the temple of the Lord, spread the letter out before the Lord, and he prayed that the Lord their God would deliver them from Assyria's hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that He alone is God.
Isaiah sent a message to Hezekiah assuring him that God has heard his prayer, and He will defend Jerusalem against Assyria. He said that a remnant, a band of survivors, will come out of Jerusalem who will take root below and bear fruit above. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. God said to Hezekiah through Isaiah that the king of Assyria would not enter the city, or even attack it. He would not even shoot an arrow against it. He will defend Jerusalem for His sake, and for the sake of His servant David.
That night, the angel of the Lord put to death 185,000 in the Assyrian camp, causing the king of Assyria to withdraw and return to Nineveh where he stayed. One day while worshipping his God Nisrock, two of his sons killed him with the sword, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that He will make the king want to return to his own country, and there He would have him cut him down with the sword.
Isaiah's prediction that God would defend Jerusalem and that a remnant would come out of Jerusalem were also fulfilled, demonstrating that Isaiah was a true prophet of God.
Hezekiah demonstrated faithfulness to God and dependence upon God to defend His people. Hezekiah's reaction to the problem at hand was the reason why God defended Judah. We know this because Hezekiah's son Manasseh who succeeded him as king, was so wicked, that God promised to give Judah over to her enemies. He eventually fulfilled His promise by giving her over to Babylon, putting an end to the kingdom of Israel.
This is the back story of Psalm 76, and the reason why Asaph wrote it in celebration of God's defense of Judah. God is the defender of His faithful people.
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