God alone keeps the earth steady
Psalm 75
To the leader: Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.
1 We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks; your name is near.
People tell of your wondrous deeds.
2 At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity.
3 When the earth totters, with all its inhabitants,
it is I who keep its pillars steady. Selah
4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast’,
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;
5 do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with insolent neck.’
6 For not from the east or from the west
and not from the wilderness comes lifting up;
7 but it is God who executes judgement,
putting down one and lifting up another.
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed;
he will pour a draught from it,
and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.
9 But I will rejoice for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
This psalm is a conversation Vs. 1 – the psalm writer speaks; vs. 2-5 – God speaks; vs. 6-9 – the psalm writer speaks; vs. 10 – God speaks.
The call is to humility. When the earth seems to be shaky (vs. 3) – it is God who bring stability, not human beings, not governments, not the skills of institutions. God is the one who keeps the pillars steady. That is why the warning is given to all persons who think that it is by their ability and strength and cunning they have come through uncertain times, is that they should not boast, they should not have “insolent necks” (that is, be puffed up).
God alone is the one who lifts people up and who brings people down. The way things are now, is not necessarily the way things will end. All human power is transitory and fleeting. That is why in verse 9 the psalm writer can be confident that they will be able to rejoice forever (that their confidence will never be shaken), because they praise (boast about) the God of Jacob. Their trust is in God alone, not in the passing array of human plans and schemes and leaders.
We live in a world of significant change. Many voices claim to have the answers to our challenges, and not a little boasting goes on among those who are convinced that their solutions are correct. This psalm would say, there is only one source able of doing the wondrous deeds our world needs, and that is the God who works wonders. To God alone be all glory and praise and honour.
PRAYER:
O Lord our God, we praise you above all other powers and dominions and authorities, before you all things will bow in reverence and awe. May the posture of awe and wonder before you be our posture throughout this day and through out our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.