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Psalms 75

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Thanksgiving and God's Righteous Judgment 1–3

1
We give thanks unto thee, O God; We give thanks, for thy name is near: Men tell of thy wondrous works. ​
2
When I shall find the set time, I will judge uprightly. ​
3
The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I have set up the pillars of it. [Selah ​

Warning Against Arrogant Boasting 4–8

4
I said unto the arrogant, Deal not arrogantly; And to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5
Lift not up your horn on high; Speak not with a stiff neck. ​
6
For neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor yet from the south, cometh lifting up.
7
But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another. ​
8
For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; It is full of mixture, and he poureth out of the same: Surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them. ​

The Triumph of the Righteous 9–10

9
But I will declare for ever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. ​
10
All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. ​

Bible text: American Standard Version (1901) · Public domain

Study Notes for Psalms 75

Verse 1

Altaschith — Al-tashchet, 'Destroy not', stands over Pss 57, 58, 59 and 75, and nowhere else. The psalm opens with thanks said twice; 'give thanks' is yadah, from the hand held out. 'Thy name is near' answers 'The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him' (Ps 145:18), and his 'wondrous works' (pala, things set apart as marvellous) are what 'declare' (saphar, to recount) it.

Verse 2

receive the congregation — 'Congregation' is mo'ed, an appointed time, the word of the 'tabernacle of the congregation' (Ex 27:21). God speaks: when he takes the set time he will 'judge uprightly' (meyshar, evenness), as the world is judged 'in righteousness' and the people 'in uprightness' (Ps 9:8). Paul preaches the same: God 'hath appointed a day' (Acts 17:31).

Verse 3

I bear up the pillars — 'Dissolved' is mug, to melt: the earth and its inhabitants melt, and the pillars are held. 'Bear up' is takan, to weigh out, the verb of 1 Sam 2:3, 'by him actions are weighed'; Hannah's song also says 'the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them' (1 Sam 2:8). Compare 'upholding all things by the word of his power' (Heb 1:3).

Verse 5

Lift not up your horn — The horn (qeren) is the emblem of strength, as in 'in thy favour our horn shall be exalted' (Ps 89:17); to lift it 'on high' (marom) is to boast. The 'stiff neck' is a neck that speaks (dabar) with 'athaq, arrogance, the word of Hannah's 'let not arrogancy come out of your mouth' (1 Sam 2:3). Stephen charges Israel with being 'stiffnecked' (Acts 7:51).

Verse 7

he putteth down one, and setteth up another — Shaphel, to bring low, and rum, to lift up: the pair in Hannah's song, 'he bringeth low, and lifteth up' (1 Sam 2:7). Mary's song has it: 'He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree' (Luke 1:52); Daniel says he 'removeth kings, and setteth up kings' (Dan 2:21).

Verse 8

a cup, and the wine is red — 'Red' is chamar, to foam or ferment; 'mixture' is mesek, wine mixed with spices. The cup is 'in the hand of the LORD', who pours it out; Jer 25:15 has 'the wine cup of this fury at my hand'. The wicked 'wring them out' (matsah, to drain) as well as drink, the verb of Isa 51:17; 'this shall be the portion of their cup' (Ps 11:6).

Verse 9

declare for ever — The speaker is again the psalmist, as in v.1. 'Declare' is nagad, to make plain by word of mouth, and 'sing praises' is zamar, to touch the strings, the root of mizmor, the 'Psalm' of the title. The vow runs 'for ever' (olam), as in 'I will bless thy name for ever and ever' (Ps 145:1).

Verse 10

the horns of the wicked — The horn of v.5 returns. Gada', 'cut off', is to hew down, as a tree is felled; the horns of the righteous 'shall be exalted' by rum, the verb of 'lift up' in v.5 and 'setteth up' in v.7. 'He also exalteth the horn of his people' (Ps 148:14).