You Are Not the Only One

Psalm Chapter 75: Righteous judgment: Judge the wicked YHWH!

(Unless otherwise cited the scriptures in this devotional are from the King James Version (KJV) of the Bible. It is not chosen for is veracity, but only because it is a public domain version of scripture.)

Context

According to Tremper, Psalm Chapter 75 contains both the words of the worship leader as well as divine oracles. Because of the latter, the psalm is sometimes called a prophetic psalm. However, it is better to see this psalm as a hymn, which praises God for judging the wicked (see also Pss 7, 9, 95, 96 – 99). (Longman, Tremper, III. Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, InterVarsity Press, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central, Http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/liberty/detail.action?docID=2033987.)

1 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

The psalmist begins his praye by voicing the name of God YHWH and posits that he is near to his people.  Have you ever sat down to read a devotional, or God’s word, and just felt as it you could touch him? That is how the psalmist felt in this verse. He also offers up a prayer of thanks for all that YHWH has done for him, and all of the people.  This is not a personal prayer.  The psalmist is praying on behalf of the community of Israel. Although, the Old Testament people of God did not experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, they knew that he was with them. (See John 14:1, 16-17; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19)

² When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. 

Judgment day is a day that all human beings will experience.  Unlike our human judges, YHWH will judge his children with righteous judgment. 1 Peter 4:17 KJV exhorts believers that judgment begins in the house of God first. Accordingly, 1 Thessalonians4:14-17 tells all believers about what happens after that righteous judgment occurs. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 

³ The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. ⁴ I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: ⁵ Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. 

We need to remember that YHWH judges and he judges all people according to his own time table.  Although people were experiencing oppression then, and today, their day of judgment will come.

[A cup filled with wine is a common theme throughout the Bible that metaphorically represents YHWH’s wrath. (See Isa. 19:14; 51:17; Jer. 25:15– 38; Nah. 1:10; 3:11)

Many times we are disturbed about why a person is promoted, elected, or given a position of authority when it is evident to us that they are not the best choice.  Verses 6-7 tells us who determines the promotion of leaders.  They do not promote themselves.  He decides who should rule, when, why, where, and for how long. For example, let’s look at Jehu [see 2 Kings 9 & 10] was a person who was chosen to be the King of Israel. Read about what he was ordained to do! Israel had descended to a level of debauchery that was unparalleled. Jehu was ordained to erase the idolatry and evil from the land. However, he became too big for his britches.  Look at what he did after he killed the king and queen, who had led Israel into idolatry. Verse ^{31 “}Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.” He was called to erase sin from the land, but he fell prey to sin himself.  Another king was chosen by God too. This is a long read, but it is essential to understand that God will appoint certain leaders as part of his judgment for his people.

Hazael Murders Ben-Hadad: 2 Kings 8:7-15

Elisha went to Damascus, and Ben-Hadad king of Aram was ill. When the king was told, “The man of God has come all the way up here,” ⁸ he said to Hazael, “Take a gift with you and go to meet the man of God. Consult the Lord through him; ask him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” ⁹ Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him as a gift forty camel-loads of all the finest wares of Damascus. He went in and stood before him, and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” ¹⁰ Elisha answered, “Go and say to him, ‘You will certainly recover.’ Nevertheless, the Lord has revealed to me that he will in fact die.” ¹¹ He [Elijah] stared at him with a fixed gaze until Hazael was embarrassed. Then the man of God began to weep. ¹² “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the harm you will do to the Israelites,” he answered. “You will set fire to their fortified places, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little children to the ground, and rip open their pregnant women.” [God revealed to Elijah exactly what would happen to Israel because of their sinful attitude. He chose Hazeel to carry out his judgment on Israel.] ¹³ Hazael said, “How could your servant, a mere dog, accomplish such a feat?”  “The Lord has shown me that you will become king of Aram,” answered Elisha. ¹⁴ Then Hazael left Elisha and returned to his master. When Ben-Hadad asked, “What did Elisha say to you?” Hazael replied, “He told me that you would certainly recover.”¹⁵ But the next day he took a thick cloth, soaked it in water and spread it over the king’s face, so that he died. Then Hazael succeeded him as king.”  Hazael did exactly what Elijah prophesied. [Read about his exploit on the page about archeology.]

FYI: Conquests by Hazael.
2 Kings 8:28-29; 2 Kings 9:14; 2 Kings 10:32-33; 2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Kings 13:3; 2 Kings 13:22; 2 Chronicles 22:5-6

All of these things happened after King David [the man after God’s own heart] died.  The godly and righteous leader died, and the people reverted back to their pernicious ways. It just warmed my heart when I read the last two verses of this psalm.  Just look at faith and trust.

⁹ But I will declare forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 

The psalmist declares, even if the horns of Baskerville are snapping at my heals [spiritually speaking], I will praise your name through song. Why? You are the “God of Jacob.” Now the writer becomes bold and declares that fear will not become his thought process.

¹⁰ All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off,

[A reindeer without antlers is a pitiful sight. A bull without horns cannot defend the flock. Thus is YHWH’s final judgment on the wicked. They may be standing tall, they may be haughty, or as a young lady said the other day. they may be talking smack now, but when YHWH’s judgment is pronounced, they will be whimpering.] The psalmist ends with these encouraging words for God’s people, “but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.” The power of God’s people does not reside in their words, their actions, nor their perceived power. It lives within the power of God, His righteousness, and His plan for their lives.

Prayer: Lord, thank you that we are not left to our own devices. Thank you that you are the final righteous judge. Your word declares that wickedness will only last for a season. Then you will act.  I do pray that in judging you will be merciful, even to our enemies. AMEN.