Psalms 75-77

Thoughts

Psalm 75

 God Will Judge with Equity.To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.

• God’s name is near, He is near
• Gratitude can come from remembering God’s acts.

At the set time that I appoint
I will judge with equity.
When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,
it is I who keep steady its pillars.
I say to the boastful, “Do not boast,”
and to the wicked, “Do not lift up your horn;
do not lift up your horn on high,
or speak with haughty neck.”

• Now God speaks directly
• “Earth totters” = instability
• “Horn” symbolizes strength or power, do not lift yourself up. 
• “Haughty/stiff neck” stubborn arrogance.

For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
but it is God who executes judgment,
putting down one and lifting up another.

• Elevation comes from God alone 
• So does judgment 

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.

• “Cup” = God’s wrath or justice 
• Drinking “to the dregs” shows full accountability for sin

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

• Praise is a response to God’s just rule.
• God cuts off the “horns” (strength, pride) of the wicked.
• God lifts the horns of the righteous

Psalm 76

Who Can Stand Before You? To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

In Judah God is known;
his name is great in Israel.
His abode has been established in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion.
There he broke the flashing arrows,
the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war.

• “Salem” refers to Jerusalem
• God is the true warrior

Glorious are you, more majestic
than the mountains of prey.
The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
they sank into sleep;
all the men of war
were unable to use their hands.
At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
both rider and horse lay stunned.

• “Stouthearted” warriors fall before God.
• A single rebuke from God defeats entire armies.

But you, you are to be feared!
Who can stand before you
when once your anger is roused?
From the heavens you uttered judgment;
the earth feared and was still,
when God arose to establish judgment,
to save all the humble of the earth.

• No one withstands God’s divine anger
• God judges to save the oppressed “humble” עֲנָוִים (anavim)

Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them;
let all around him bring gifts
to him who is to be feared,
who cuts off the spirit of princes,
who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

• Human rebellion will ultimately serve God’s purpose (“wrath shall praise you”).
• “Remnant of wrath” means what remains of sin
• God “cuts off the spirit” (the arrogance) of rulers

Psalm 77

I Will Remember the Deeds of the LORD. To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A Psalm.

I cry aloud to God,
aloud to God, and he will hear me.
In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
my soul refuses to be comforted.

• Asaph is seeking God day and night 
• “Soul refuses to be comforted” nothing Is helping

When I remember God, I moan;
when I meditate, my spirit faints.
You hold my eyelids open;
I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
I consider the days of old,
the years long ago.

• Remembering God is bringing Asaph sorrow
• Sleeplessness (“you hold my eyelids open”) 

I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
let me meditate in my heart.”
Then my spirit made a diligent search:
“Will the Lord spurn forever,
and never again be favorable?
Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
Are his promises at an end for all time?
Has God forgotten to be gracious?
Has he in anger shut up his compassion?”

• “Song in the night” remembering past happiness
• “Steadfast love” (חֶסֶד, ḥesed) and “compassion” (רַחֲמִים, raḥamim) feel absent.

Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.

• He now is choosing to remember God’s faithful acts.
• When we meditate we can shift from the problem to God’s character 

Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
you have made known your might among the peoples.
You with your arm redeemed your people,
the children of Jacob and Joseph.

• There is no God like our God

When the waters saw you, O God,
when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
indeed, the deep trembled.
The clouds poured out water;
the skies gave forth thunder;
your arrows flashed on every side.
The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
your lightnings lighted up the world;
the earth trembled and shook.

• Water is personified as fearing God 
• Exodus imagery: Red Sea, storm, thunder, lightning.
• “Your arrows” = lightning bolts (common Hebrew metaphor).

Your way was through the sea,
your path through the great waters;
yet your footprints were unseen.
You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

• God makes a path where none exists
• “Footprints unseen”  God’s is not always visible but always there

Questions

Application

Psalm 75 shows us that  God’s timing in judgment is perfect, even when the wicked seem to rise. God defends the oppressed and protects His people. Psalm 76 speaks of God’s power. Armies, war horses, rulers collapse instantly before God. He humbles kings and nations. Psalm 77 shows us that sometimes God feels distant, but we can remember His “unseen footprints”. He is working even when we cannot find Him.