Introduction
To the chief Musician. Al-taschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph.
Nothing is more clear than that this psalm was written on occasion of some great national deliverance, which was wrought directly by the interposition of Jehovah, “who putteth down one and setteth up another.” Its tone is triumphal, breathing a spirit of faith in God and of fidelity to the principles of the theocracy, saddened only by the desolated state in which the land and people were left (Psalms 75:2-3) by the war. The fresh joy and quickened faith contrast with the “Arise, Jehovah, plead thine own cause,” of Psalms 74:0. The danger now passed, the review of the most evident work of God becomes more calm, and the mind turns to the shattered state of the nation, and the policy of restoration to be adopted. Throughout we must suppose the king speaks as the vicegerent of God. The dignified pathos, the didactic tone, and the strongly historic stamp, place it with the model lyrics of Asaphic origin. We are at once pointed to the time of Hezekiah, and the overthrow of Sennacherib’s army, as its most probable historic occasion. See 2 Kings 19:35-37; 2 Kings 2:0 Chronicles 22:21-23; Isaiah 36-37. See introduction to Psalms 76:0. Psalms 75:1 is a thanksgiving, and a confession of God’s presence with his Church; Psalms 75:2-3 contain a pledge of fidelity to the theocracy in the administration of government; Psalms 75:4-8 are an admonition to the haughty oppressor, and a profession of the psalmist’s faith in God during the impending danger; Psalms 75:9-10 express renewed pledges of faithfulness to God and the principles of the theocracy; the whole dividing into four unequal strophes.
TITLE:
To the chief Musician This assignment to the overseer of the temple music, with the strong Asaphic character of the psalm, would of themselves place it after David’s day, and before the Chaldean invasion, leaving the reign of Jehosaphat or Hezekiah as the only possible times of its origin. Al-taschith, ( destroy not,) may be understood as a Davidic motto, (see titles of Psalms 57, 58, 59,) here copied by Asaph, and applied, not merely as the air or tune to be used, but as an admonition to the pride and ambition of conquerors who threaten, as the Assyrian did Jerusalem, to destroy innocent nations. See Isaiah 36:0
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