Behind the progress of civilization that we are proud of, the world still has a dark face: rampant injustice, bloody conflicts, and discrimination that undermine humanity. Science and technology promise efficiency, but on the other hand, wars are still raging, the economic gap is widening, and the cries of the weak are drowned in the cacophony of political interests and the domination of strong nations. This situation begs the question, "Where is justice, and who has the power to enforce it?
Psalm 76 comes as a song of victory that reveals God as King and Judge of the nations. This psalm was born out of the collective experience of Israel who witnessed God's intervention in silencing the military might of the enemy. However, it is not Israel's victory that is exalted, but God's power that breaks weapons, knocks down pride, and restores peace to His land. The image of God dwelling in Zion reinforces the belief that human power, no matter how great, never compares to His divine power.
More than a conqueror, God is praised as a Judge who establishes justice for "all the oppressed of the earth" (verse 10). His victory is not limited to Israel, but extends to the nations. This psalm corrects the logic of human warfare, born of ambition and greed, by presenting a divine vision: the power of God that overthrows tyranny to uphold justice. His power is not military domination, but rather a power that sustains life, disarms war, and makes room for justice.
This declaration leads us to reinterpret the realities of a violent world, to understand that true justice is not enacted by politics or the military alone, but is rooted in the power of God that overthrows pride and upholds the dignity of the oppressed. True power is not that which survives through oppression, but that which favors justice and life. From this it is clear that we are called not to submit to systems that perpetuate injustice, but rather learn to place our hope in a God who judges righteously.
Friends of the Bible, to this day we still witness legal injustice, economic inequality, religious or ethnic discrimination, and horizontal conflicts that cost lives. All these show how human power is often abused, while the truth is twisted for the benefit of certain groups. In such situations, Psalm 76 brings comfort and strength: that true justice is not born from guns or political games, but from God who defends the weak.
Faith in a just God encourages us to speak up for the truth, foster solidarity with the oppressed, and practice integrity in the small spaces of daily life. As such, believers are called to bear witness to God's justice in the midst of the nation, while kindling the hope that ultimately it is God himself who will restore this world with his justice.
