For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another Psalm 75:6, 7
God Abases the Wicked and Exalts the Righteous
Psalm 75, a grand psalm of praise (Ps. 100), contains a lively interchange between the people, the psalm, and the Lord. For other psalms in which the Lord speaks, see Ps. 12; 75; 87; 91. In some ways this psalm may be regarded as God’s answer to the questions presented in Ps. 74. The structure of the psalm is based on its varied speakers: (1) the people’s praise of God for the sense of His presence (v.1); (2) God’s announcement of His sovereign determination to judge the earth at the proper time (vv. 2-5); (3) the people’s declaration that God is the true judge (vv. 6-9); (4) God’s declaration of His intention to bring final judgment (v.10).
75:1 Your name is near: God Himself is ready to intervene on the part of His people.
1 To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘Do Not Destroy.’ A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.
75:2 When I choose the proper time: God will not be rushed – not even by His people. Uprightly indicates the fullness and perfection of God’s justice.
2 “When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly.
75:3 The earth… dissolved: In times of great stress, it may seem that the world is falling apart (60:2). God’s response is I set up its pillars firmly. God has not abandoned His people, nor has He given up His authority.
3 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly.
75:4, 5 On the basis of God’s determination to wait until the “proper time” (v. 2), there are strong warnings to boastful and wicked people who misinterpret God’s delay and think there will be no judgment. The horn is an ancient symbol of strength. The wicked strut around like powerful animals, brandishing symbols of power with no thought of God. But the power of the wicked is feeble compared to the strength of the Almighty (v. 10).
4 ‘I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn. 5 Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ “
75:7 The words God is the Judge establish the fact that He is the true ruler of the universe (50:6; 58:11). He puts down… exalts: As Daniel declares in his prayer (Dan. 2:20-22), God is sovereign in the world’s affairs.
6 For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. 7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.
75:8 This is not a cup of blessing, but of the Lord’s wrath. The biblical image of wine and judgment goes back to Jacob’s blessing of Judah (Gen. 49:11) and is referred to in Christ’s judgment as depicted in Rev. 19:13-15.
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down.
He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Rev. 19:13-15
75:10 The psalm concludes with the words of God. Here God depicts the contrasting fates of the wicked and the righteous. Horns: The wicked have proudly lifted up their horn by boasting their strength (vv. 4, 5). The Lord will take away the very strength in which they have boasted.
10 ‘All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, But the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”
** It feels like God’s appointed time is very near. Thank God for the warning signs! The library lights are flickering, the market bells are ringing, and locusts are swarming for God’s people to wake up and be ready. Be ready!
75 1 To the Chief Musician. Set to ‘Do Not Destroy.’ A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. 2 “When I choose the proper time, I will judge uprightly. 3 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly. Selah 4 ‘I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn. 5 Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ ”
6 For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. 7 But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another. 8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, And the wine is red; It is fully mixed, and He pours it out; Surely its dregs shall all the wicked of the earth Drain and drink down. 9 But I will declare forever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 ‘All the horns of the wicked I will also cut off, But the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.”
