PM July 30th Psalm 75

July 30^th Psalm 75

A Psalm or Song of Asaph

The Lord will be fair

1: Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. 2: When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. 3: The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. 4: I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: 5: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. 6: For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7: But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. 8: For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. 9: But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10: All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

To the chief musician on Neginoth

Psalm 76

A psalm or song of Asaph

The Lord will give victory

1: In Judah is God known: his name is great in Israel. 2: In Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion. 3: There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah. 4: Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. 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, 9: When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah. 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.

To the chief musician to Jeduthun

Today we are reading Psalm 75 & 76. The First Psalm No 75 is a song composed by Asaph. This Psalm has two identical verses. Both begin with Praise and both end with God the judge of all men, who will put down the wicked and lift up the upright. He begins saying, O God, to you we will give thanks because your works show that your name is near us. He says when the Lord receives all the people of Israel he judges them in truth and righteousness and all the people of the earth who forsake God are destroyed. Think about that! The Psalmist says, I said to the fools do not be so foolish and to the wicked do not raise up an army in arrogance against the Lord. It’s no good looking to the east or south or west for support because they will not help you. God is the judge of men and he raises up and puts men down in perfect justice. Because in the hand of the Lord is a cup of mulled wine and he causes all the wicked in the earth to drink from it to the bottom of the cup. I will declare forever and I will sing the praises to the God of Jacob and all the strength of the wicked will be destroyed and the strength of the righteous will be increased. This song was to be sung when the wicked were destroyed. Psalm 76 is also a song of Asaph. This song has four identical themes separated with three declarations regarding the Lord. The four themes are the destruction of the Jebusites and the three declarations are that the Lord is, glorious, to be feared and to be praised. He begins saying, In Judah God is known and his name is great in Israel. We must never forget that Israel had the prophets of God who revealed the word of God to men and that the true religion of God was Judaism. He also declares that in Jerusalem the tabernacle of God is set up and In Zion God is pleased to dwell among his people. Asaph says, that it was there that the Lord broke the weapons of the enemy in battle. Think about that! And the Lord is more glorious and he exceeds the mountains of prey. The valiant conquered and robbed in battle. They sleep the sleep of death. At the rebuke of the Lord the enemy vehicles are destroyed. Everyone fears the Lord when he rises to do battle. Who can stand before him when he is angry? You brought judgment from heaven and the earth was afraid and silenced. God arose to bring judgment and to deliver the meek of the earth. Think about that. Even the anger of men is turned into praise for the Lord. And you restrain your wrath to men. May the whole earth bring their vows and pay tribute to the Lord who is to be feared. He will kill the spirit of the princes and he will be terrifying to the Kings of the earth. This Psalm is prophetic in its tone and speaks of Christ’s kingdom reign when all kings will come and kneel at his feet.

• In what sense will God be fair in his judgments?
• How does the Psalmist give glory to God?
• What will the meek inherit?