In The Word
Read: Psalms 75 – 76
God Abases the Proud, but Exalts the Righteous.
For the choir director; set to Al-tashheth. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.
75 We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks,
For Your name is near;
Men declare Your wondrous works.
2 “When I select an appointed time,
It is I who judge with equity.
3 “The earth and all who dwell in it melt;
It is I who have firmly set its pillars. Selah.
4 “I said to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn;
5 Do not lift up your horn on high,
Do not speak with insolent pride.’”
6 For not from the east, nor from the west,
Nor from the desert comes exaltation;
7 But God is the Judge;
He puts down one and exalts another.
8 For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine foams;
It is well mixed, and He pours out of this;
Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs.
9 But as for me, I will declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 And all the horns of the wicked He will cut off,
But the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
The Victorious Power of the God of Jacob.
For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.
76 God is known in Judah;
His name is great in Israel.
2 His tabernacle is in Salem;
His dwelling place also is in Zion.
3 There He broke the flaming arrows,
The shield and the sword and the weapons of war. Selah.
4 You are resplendent,
More majestic than the mountains of prey.
5 The stouthearted were plundered,
They sank into sleep;
And none of the warriors could use his hands.
6 At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
Both rider and horse were cast into a dead sleep.
7 You, even You, are to be feared;
And who may stand in Your presence when once You are angry?
8 You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;
The earth feared and was still
9 When God arose to judgment,
To save all the humble of the earth. Selah.
10 For the wrath of man shall praise You;
With a remnant of wrath You will gird Yourself.
11 Make vows to the Lord your God and fulfill them;
Let all who are around Him bring gifts to Him who is to be feared.
12 He will cut off the spirit of princes;
He is feared by the kings of the earth.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
The theme of both psalms is praise for God’s power to help His people and abolishment of the wicked. The psalmist acknowledged that God would establish judgment at the chosen time. This judgment would destroy the wicked and would reward the righteous. Thus, he warned the wicked to change their heart attitude toward the God who could deliver them. They were to no longer be arrogantly confident or stubbornly rebellious against God. They should also realize that when God judges, no help comes from any earthly form. The psalmist promised to sing praise to God because of His triumph for the righteous.
God will judge the deeds of both the righteous and the wicked and will repay them both accordingly. For those of us who are saved, we should not be satisfied with only our salvation. Rather, we should work daily for the Kingdom by sharing Jesus with others to keep them from God’s judgment. God’s promise to judge the wicked should grieve us so that we give our life to help people find Jesus. God’s promise to judge the righteous should lead us to perform good deeds to those in need. What we do with our remaining time on earth matters to God. While He has made us righteous through the sacrifice of Jesus, we are also to act in a righteous manner.
Prayerfully consider which person you are more like: the sinner or the righteous. If you are the sinner, turn to Jesus to escape God’s judgment. If you are the righteous, do good deeds to please the Father.