Psalms 75 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Psalm 75

God Will Judge with Equity

To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

75:1   We give thanks to you, O God;
    we give thanks, for your name is near.
  We¹ recount your wondrous deeds.
2   “At the set time that I appoint
    I will judge with equity.
3   When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,
    it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah
4   I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
    and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;
5   do not lift up your horn on high,
    or speak with haughty neck.’”
6   For not from the east or from the west
    and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
7   but it is God who executes judgment,
    putting down one and lifting up another.
8   For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup
    with foaming wine, well mixed,
  and he pours out from it,
    and all the wicked of the earth
    shall drain it down to the dregs.
9   But I will declare it forever;
    I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10   All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
    but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

Footnotes

[1] 75:1 Hebrew They

Commentary

A Psalm of Asaph - God's mercy to His people.

v1: God is revealed by His works.

v2-3: Judgment belongs to God; to judge simply means to make a distinction; He puts one down, and raises another up. In the O.T., punishment or blessing follows as a consequence of a choice; Gen 18.25; Judg 11.27; 2 Chr 20.12; Matt 25.32-33; Rev 19.11.

Our confidence is twofold;

that God is always fair;
that Christ has taken upon Himself God's judgment against us.

Justice is based on the powerful God; He holds the pillars firm.

v4-5: The folly of unbelievers who continue to reject Christ, taking delight in themselves, their abilities and thoughts.

v6-7: Exaltation and honour only from God.

v8: The ungodly will be judged, Rev 14.10.

v9-10: The confidence that the godly will not suffer judgment; for God makes a clear distinction between the righteous and the wicked.