IN HIS TIME GOD JUDGES WITH EQUITY

Passage: Psalms 75:1-10

Key verse: 2

NIV

Psalm 75[a]
For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A psalm of Asaph. A song.

1 We praise you, God,
    we praise you, for your Name is near;(A)
    people tell of your wonderful deeds.(B)

2 You say, “I choose the appointed time;(C)
    it is I who judge with equity.(D)
3 When the earth and all its people quake,(E)
    it is I who hold its pillars(F) firm.[b]
4 To the arrogant(G) I say, ‘Boast no more,’(H)
    and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.[c](I)
5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
    do not speak so defiantly.(J)’”

6 No one from the east or the west
    or from the desert can exalt themselves.
7 It is God who judges:(K)
    He brings one down, he exalts another.(L)
8 In the hand of the Lord is a cup
    full of foaming wine mixed(M) with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
    drink it down to its very dregs.(N)

9 As for me, I will declare(O) this forever;
    I will sing(P) praise to the God of Jacob,(Q)
10 who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
    but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”(R)

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 75:1 In Hebrew texts 75:1-10 is numbered 75:2-11.
  2. Psalm 75:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
  3. Psalm 75:4 Horns here symbolize strength; also in verses 5 and 10.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

God Will Judge with Equity

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

75 We give thanks to you, O God;
    we give thanks, for your name is (C)near.
We[a] recount your wondrous deeds.

2 “At (D)the set time that I appoint
    I will judge (E)with equity.
3 When the earth (F)totters, and all its inhabitants,
    it is I who keep steady its (G)pillars. Selah
4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
    and to the wicked, (H)‘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 (I)lifting up,
7 but it is (J)God who executes judgment,
    (K)putting down one and lifting up another.
8 (L)For in the hand of the Lord there is (M)a cup
    with foaming wine, (N)well mixed,
and he pours out from it,
    and all the wicked of the earth
    shall (O)drain it down to the dregs.

9 But I will declare it forever;
    I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 (P)All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
    (Q)but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 75:1 Hebrew They
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

The psalmist starts and ends with praising God who is near his people and does wonderful deeds for them. He describes God as the ultimate and righteous judge. God’s judgment will be just and fair and come on his timeline. Although the world is messed up in sin, God in his patience and mercy keeps his hold on the pillars of the world firmly from collapsing. Godless people in their arrogance and pride defy God as if a bull lifts its horns to gore. God cuts off the horns of the wicked and brings them down but exalts the horns of the righteous. When he pours out the cup of his wrath, the wicked cannot refuse it but must drink it to its last drop. So, God’s people must trust him by faith and praise him who executes his timely righteous judgment.

Our God is the Lord of history and in control over the universe. He saves, protects, and guides his people. Although we are often spiritually blind to what God is doing, he has worked and is still working by keeping the world from eternal judgment. But in his “right time” Jesus will return to earth as the judge of the living and the dead. The righteous, holy, fair, and equitable Lord will deliver final judgment and take his people to his heavenly home and condemn the wicked. So, we sing praise to him and live before him to the end.

Prayer: Lord, help me trust in you no matter what the circumstances, give thanks to you, and live by faith.

One Word: God is still in control