Psalm 75 & 76 - "Here Come the Judge"

LINKS: Psalm 75 & 76  (Soak in these over the next two days)

BACKGROUND

Psalm 75

God will destroy the wicked and exalt the righteous in the final judgment at His appointed time. I should point out that the "horns" used to describe the wicked in 75:5 are a metaphor from the animal world. They signify a "defying, strutting, self-confidence" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: Volume 1, p. 849). The psalmist warns us not to have this attitude because God is the Judge. The psalmist's response is to praise God as Judge.

Psalm 76

This song of Asaph is praise for the power of the God of Jacob. God accomplishes His sovereign purposes over everything that stands in His way. He delivers the righteous and displays wrath against the wicked. It is part of a group of "Zion" psalms that include 46, 48, 87, 126, 132, and 137. Asaph concludes by exhorting leaders to pledge themselves to God.

Some versions correctly interpret 76:2 as "Salem" which means "peace" in Hebrew. This is an early reference to Jerusalem, and the only other time it is referred to in this way is in Genesis 14:18 when Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, brought out bread and wine and blessed Abram and God. Salem was the site of God's sanctuary (Ezra 7:19).

APPLICATION

Praise Him as the righteous Judge and God of power today!

Psalm 75 is referenced in this excerpt from Many Aspire, Few Attain:

9. Be faithful in the little things

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much” (Luke 16:10).

Many aspire, but few attain because they are unfaithful in the little things. Lorne Sanny, former president of the Navigators, has said that. Charlie Riggs was one of the few men he has ever worked with who could be counted on to carry through a request. Lorne could check it off as accomplished without ever going back to see if it was done. That challenges me tremendously, and I hope you also. 

Can people say that about you? When you are given an assignment, when somebody’s asked you to do something, can they mark it off as being completed? No matter how small it is - whether it’s picking up a couple of postage stamps or mailing a letter - when people have asked you to do something, can they count on you to get it done? Are you faithful in that which is least? Jesus said there is no way He is going to give you greater responsibilities until you have proven yourself faithful in the little things.

Promotion, when it comes, doesn't come from others, it comes from God. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another” (Psalm 75:6,7). 

Make sure you commit yourself to faithfulness in even the smallest areas of responsibility.

PRAYER

We praise You as the Righteous Judge! Help us to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to You in our smallest areas of responsibility. Amen.