Psalms 75

Psalm 75

1

For the music leader. Do not destroy. A psalm of Asaph. A song.

1 We give thanks to you, God. Yes, we give thanks! Your name is near. Your marvelous deeds are declared.

2 God says,"When I decide the time is right, I will establish justice just so.

3 The earth and all its inhabitants will melt, but I will keep its pillars steady." Selah

4 I said to the arrogant, "Don't be arrogant!" To the wicked I said, "Don't exalt your strength!

5 Don't exalt your strength so highly. Don't speak so arrogantly against the rock."

6 Because what exalts someone doesn't come from the east or west; it's not from the south either.

7 Rather it is God who is the judge. He brings this person down, but that person he lifts up.

8 Indeed, there's a cup in the LORD's hand full of foaming wine, mixed with spice. He will pour it out, and all of the earth's wicked people must drink it; they must drink every last drop!

9 But I will rejoice always; I will sing praises to Jacob's God!

10 God says: "I will demolish every bit of the wicked's power, but the strength of the righteous will be lifted up."

Psalms 75 Commentary

Chapter 75

The psalmist declares his resolution of executing judgment. (1-5) He rebukes the wicked, and concludes with resolutions to praise God. (6-10)

Verses 1-5 We often pray for mercy, when in pursuit of it; and shall we only once or twice give thanks, when we obtain it? God shows that he is nigh to us in what we call upon him for. Public trusts are to be managed uprightly. This may well be applied to Christ and his government. Man's sin threatened to destroy the whole creation; but Christ saved the world from utter ruin. He who is made of God to us wisdom, bids us be wise. To the proud, daring sinners he says, Boast not of your power, persist not in contempt. All the present hopes and future happiness of the human race spring from the Son of God.

6-10. No second causes will raise men to preferment without the First Cause. It comes neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. He mentions not the north; the same word that signifies the north, signifies the secret place; and from the secret of God's counsel it does come. From God alone all must receive their doom. There are mixtures of mercy and grace in the cup of affliction, when it is put into the hands of God's people; mixtures of the curse, when it is put into the hands of the wicked. God's people have their share in common calamities, but the dregs of the cup are for the wicked. The exaltation of the Son of David will be the subject of the saints' everlasting praises. Then let sinners submit to the King of righteousness, and let believers rejoice in and obey him.

Footnotes

• [a]. Heb lacks God says.
• [b]. LXX against God; MT speak with an arrogant neck
• [c]. LXX; MT I will declare
• [d]. Heb lacks God says.

Chapter Summary

To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph. Of the word "altaschith," See Gill on "Ps 57:1," it signifies "do not destroy," or "do not corrupt"; the Targum renders it, "do not destroy thy people;" so Jarchi, "do not destroy Israel;" perhaps it may be considered as a petition, that God would not suffer the man of sin to go on to destroy the earth, and corrupt the inhabitants of it with his false doctrine, idolatry, and superstition, Revelation 11:18, for the psalm respects the times of the Gospel dispensation, and includes both the first coming of Christ in the flesh, and his second coming to judgment; the argument of it with the Syriac version is, "the divinity of Christ, and a remembrance of the judgment;" it is said to be a psalm or song of Asaph, but is thought to be written by David, and delivered to Asaph; for it may be rendered "for Asaph" {k}; and so the Targum, "by the hands of Asaph;" though some think it was written after the Babylonish captivity; perhaps by some person whose name was Asaph, or was of the family of him that lived in David's time. Theodoret supposes it was written in the person of the captives in Babylon.