THE LORD JUDGES THE PROUD

Passage: Psalm 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 here rejoices in thinking about God’s coming judgment. God judges in a way that is truly equitable and restores God’s order, which is based on love (2).

God’s judgment is mainly against the wicked, here shown to be the proud who use their power, symbolized by horns to exalt themselves above God (5). In their arrogance, they boast without limit. In the present world, such wicked people do hold great power, and can make us feel like nobodies whose lives are worth little. But the wicked will not be able to exalt themselves for long (6). God’s judgment on the wicked will be thorough and severe (8).

Waiting for God’s justice to be revealed is difficult, but we can take comfort in knowing that God has already appointed his time to judge. God’s judgment will raise up the children of God, revealing their great worth, while bringing others down, all according to perfect justice. Yes, God’s judgment is a reason to praise! It is part of our true hope in Jesus.

Prayer: Father, thank you for your coming just judgment, which comforts me when I see all the evil in the world. Help me take courage through my hope in you.

One Word: The Lord will judge with justice.