Psalm 75 Study Notes
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Ps 75 title On Do Not Destroy, see note at Ps 57 title. On Asaph, see note at Ps 50 title.
75:1 Name represents the Lord’s presence among his people (see note at 20:1). Wondrous works can refer either to God’s creative acts or to his saving acts on behalf of his people (see note at 9:1).
75:2 Choose a time refers to a “set” or “appointed” time, which in this case is God’s time for judging. He is orderly in his actions and has appointed times for the seasons (Gn 1:14), the festivals of Israel (Lv 23:2), and a final time when he will bring his justice to the world (Dn 12:7).
75:3 “Shaking” probably refers to earthquakes that were regular occurrences in and around Israel. Pillars of the earth (1Sm 2:8; Jb 9:6) are equivalent to “foundations of the earth” (Jb 38:4; Ps 104:5; Pr 8:29; Is 51:13; Mc 6:2).
75:4 Horn was a symbol of power, often used in military contexts (see notes at 18:1-2; 22:20-21). Lifting up a horn is parallel to boasting, probably about one’s might. The only boasting appropriate for God’s people is that they know him (Jr 6:23-24; see note at Ps 34:1-3). Note also 75:10.
75:5 Against heaven means that this arrogance was directed against God himself (see note at 73:9).
75:6 Exaltation is from the same Hebrew root (rum) as “lift up” in vv. 4-5, linking the two concepts together.
75:7 God is the Judge is a statement of his sovereignty and his right to bring down or exalt anyone he wants (147:6; 1Sm 2:6-7; Lk 1:52-53). This extends to the whole earth (Gn 18:25; see note at Ps 7:6-8).
75:8 Cup depicts God’s judgment (60:3; Is 51:17; Jr 25:15,28; 49:12; 51:7). Since all the wicked of the earth are referred to, God’s judgment will fall on all humanity.