Welcome to Day 2672 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Day 2672 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 75:1-10– Daily Wisdom

Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script – Day 2672

Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2672 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.

Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: God, The Ultimate Judge – No Boasting Before Him – A Trek Through Psalm 75:1-10. Today, we embark on a powerful new trek through Psalm 75 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 10.

Psalm 75, like the last two psalms we explored, is also penned by Asaph, one of King David’s chief musicians. However, after the raw, desperate cries of Psalm 74—a communal lament over the utter devastation and desecration of the Temple, and a fervent plea for God to remember His covenant and His honor—Psalm 75 strikes a decidedly different and triumphant note. It’s a psalm of thanksgiving, yes, but also a bold proclamation of God’s righteous judgment and absolute sovereignty.

It addresses one of the most agonizing questions we face: why do the wicked often seem to get away with their wickedness, even prospering, while the righteous suffer? Asaph wrestled with this very question in Psalm 73, nearly losing his spiritual footing. Psalm 75 now provides God’s definitive answer: He is the ultimate Judge. He sets the time, He determines who rises and who falls, and He will ensure that justice is served. This psalm is a direct, authoritative word from God that brings order and reassurance after the chaos and despair of the previous psalm.

So, let’s immerse ourselves in this powerful declaration of God’s ultimate control, allowing its truth to anchor our trust in His perfect justice.

(Reads Psalm 75:1-3 NLT)

We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. “For at the time I appoint,” says the Lord, “I will judge everyone fairly. The earth and its people tremble, but I keep its foundations firm.”

Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with an outpouring of thanksgiving, immediately countering the despair we felt in Psalm 74: “We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near.” The repetition of “We give thanks” emphasizes the depth and sincerity of their gratitude. This isn’t a forced thanks; it’s a genuine outpouring from a community that has experienced God’s presence despite deep suffering. The reason for their thanks is profound: “for you are near.” This stands in stark contrast to the agonizing question in Psalm 74:1, “Why have you abandoned us forever?” The answer here is a resounding affirmation: God has not abandoned them; He is near, even in the midst of their trials.

Because God is near and active, “People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.” This refers to God’s miraculous acts of deliverance and His interventions in history. The community is now proclaiming God’s mighty works, indicating a renewed sense of His power and faithfulness. This declaration sets the stage for the rest of the psalm, which will explain how God is near and what His wonderful deeds entail, particularly in His role as Judge.

Then, we hear a direct quotation from God Himself, a powerful divine pronouncement: “For at the time I appoint,” says the Lord, “I will judge everyone fairly.” This is the voice of the Sovereign Judge. The key phrase here is “at the time I appoint.” This addresses the very struggle Asaph faced in Psalm 73—the apparent delay in justice. God declares that judgment is not arbitrary or dependent on human timing; it is precisely “at the time I appoint,” meaning God’s perfect, predetermined timing. This is a crucial truth for those who suffer injustice: while justice may seem delayed, it is never denied. When God’s appointed time comes, He will judge, and He will judge “fairly” (Hebrew: mesharim), with uprightness and equity, showing no partiality. This provides immense comfort and reassurance that God is indeed in control of the timeline of justice.

The psalm then presents a powerful cosmic image of God’s stability in the face of chaos: “The earth and its people tremble, but I keep its foundations firm.” This evokes a sense of global instability and chaos, perhaps reflecting the kind of national turmoil and societal upheaval experienced during the Temple’s destruction in Psalm 74. The “tremble” suggests shaking, instability, and a world seemingly losing its footing. Yet, in the midst of this universal trembling, God declares His unwavering sovereignty: “but I keep its foundations firm.” The “foundations” (Hebrew: ammudim) can refer to the literal pillars or supports of the earth, symbolizing the very structure and order of creation. God, the Creator, ensures that despite human chaos and wickedness, the fundamental order of the world remains secure under His control. He is the ultimate stabilizer, preventing utter dissolution. This is a powerful declaration of God’s absolute authority over both creation and human affairs.

This opening triumvirate of verses—thanksgiving for God’s nearness, His declaration of perfect, timely judgment, and His unwavering control over a tottering world—lays the groundwork for the warning against arrogance that follows.

Now, let’s move to verses 4 through 10, where the psalmist, emboldened by God’s pronouncement, warns the wicked against their arrogance, describes the cup of God’s wrath, and commits to continually proclaim God’s just actions.

(Reads Psalm 75:4-10 NLT)

I warned the proud, “Stop your boasting!” I told the wicked, “Don’t flaunt your strength! Don’t flaunt your strength with such arrogance. Don’t speak with such a stiff neck.” For no one in the east or west and no one in the desert can exalt themselves. It is God alone who judges; he brings one down and lifts another up. For in the Lord’s hand is a cup filled with a foaming wine mixed with bitter poisons. He pours it out, and all the wicked on earth will drink it down to the last drop. But as for me, I will always proclaim this message; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. For God will break the strength of the wicked, but he will increase the power of the godly.

Guthrie Chamberlain: Empowered by God’s divine declaration, the psalmist now turns directly to the wicked with a stern warning: “I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t flaunt your strength! Don’t flaunt your strength with such arrogance. Don’t speak with such a stiff neck.'” This directly addresses the kind of arrogant behavior Asaph lamented in Psalm 73, where the wicked “boasted against the heavens” and “swaggered through the earth.” Here, the psalmist confronts their “boasting” (about their successes), “flaunting their strength” (their apparent power), and speaking with a “stiff neck” (an idiom for stubborn pride and defiance, refusing to bow to God or man). He warns them to cease their rebellious self-exaltation.

The reason for this warning is rooted in God’s absolute sovereignty: “For no one in the east or west and no one in the desert can exalt themselves. It is God alone who judges; he brings one down and lifts another up.” This is a profound theological truth that dismantles all human pretensions to power. Exaltation, or rising in status and power, does not come from any human direction or effort – not from the rising sun (east), the setting sun (west), or the unpredictable paths of the desert. These directions symbolize all earthly sources of power and influence.

Instead, the psalmist declares, “It is God alone who judges.” He is the sole arbiter of destinies. He has the ultimate power and authority to “bring one down” (humiliate, depose, destroy) and “lifts another up” (exalt, bless, establish). This truth should shatter the illusion of self-made success for the wicked and provide immense hope for the humble. It means that the apparent prosperity of the wicked is temporary, and the suffering of the righteous is not forgotten. God holds the reins of history, and He orchestrates every rise and fall.

The psalm then introduces one of the most vivid and terrifying images of divine judgment: “For in the Lord’s hand is a cup filled with a foaming wine mixed with bitter poisons. He pours it out, and all the wicked on earth will drink it down to the last drop.” The “cup” is a powerful biblical metaphor for God’s wrath and judgment (Isaiah 51:17, Jeremiah 25:15). It’s not just ordinary wine; it’s “foaming wine mixed with bitter poisons.” “Foaming” suggests effervescence, perhaps implying the full, active ferment of divine wrath. “Mixed with bitter poisons” signifies its deadly and painful effects.

This cup is entirely in the Lord’s hand, emphasizing His sovereign control over judgment. He “pours it out” – a deliberate, intentional act. And the consequence is universal for “all the wicked on earth” – they “will drink it down to the last drop,” meaning they will experience the full, unmitigated severity of God’s righteous judgment, with no escape. This is a chilling yet definitive pronouncement of the fate awaiting the unrepentant wicked, providing the resolution to Asaph’s initial struggle in Psalm 73.

Following this powerful declaration of judgment, the psalmist reaffirms his own unwavering commitment: “But as for me, I will always proclaim this message; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.” In contrast to the wicked who will drink the cup of wrath, Asaph declares his personal resolve to “always proclaim this message”—the message of God’s ultimate justice and sovereignty. He will “sing praises to the God of Jacob.” “God of Jacob” refers to God’s covenant faithfulness to His people, particularly through Jacob’s lineage. It’s a reminder of God’s enduring commitment to His chosen ones, even as He judges the wicked. This commitment to praise demonstrates his restored faith and unwavering trust in God’s justice.

The psalm concludes with a summary of the two-fold outcome of God’s judgment: “For God will break the strength of the wicked, but he will increase the power of the godly.” This provides a clear contrast and a powerful promise. “Breaking the strength of the wicked” (metaphorically, their “horns,” symbols of power and pride) means utterly dismantling their ability to oppress, to boast, and to defy God. They will be utterly disempowered.

Conversely, God “will increase the power of the godly” (or “exalt the horns of the righteous”). This signifies God’s active strengthening and exaltation of those who serve Him faithfully. The righteous, who might have seemed weak and vulnerable, will be elevated and empowered by God Himself. This is the divine reversal of fortunes, a clear demonstration that God ultimately rewards righteousness and punishes wickedness, fulfilling His promise to judge fairly and uphold His moral order.

Psalm 75, particularly in these verses, is a powerful declaration of God’s ultimate sovereignty and His role as the righteous Judge. It serves as a stark warning to the arrogant and wicked, while providing immense comfort and reassurance to the humble and suffering.

What profound wisdom can we draw from these verses for our Wisdom-Trek today?

Firstly, this psalm calls us to humility before God. All exaltation comes from Him, and any human boasting or arrogance is ultimately futile. We are to trust in His timing and His judgment, not our own efforts or schemes.

Secondly, it offers a powerful antidote to the despair of seeing injustice. God declares that He will judge everyone fairly, and that He holds the “cup” of wrath for the unrepentant wicked. This should ignite our hope and confidence in His perfect justice, even when it seems delayed.

Thirdly, it reminds us that God is the one who brings down and lifts up. If we are struggling, we can trust that God is able to increase our power and exalt us in due time, just as He will surely humble the proud.

Finally, like Asaph, our response to this truth should be continuous proclamation and praise. When we truly grasp God’s role as the ultimate Judge and His unwavering control, it frees us to worship Him wholeheartedly and to declare His message to all, confident in His righteous reign.

Let us stand firm on the conviction that God alone judges, and let us commit to always proclaim His justice and sing praises to Him, knowing that He will break the strength of the wicked and increase the power of the godly.

Guthrie Chamberlain: Thank you for joining me on this powerful trek through Psalm 75. I trust that this exploration of God’s righteous judgment and ultimate sovereignty has deeply encouraged your heart today. Join me again next time as we begin a new segment of Wisdom-Trek, continuing to uncover the timeless truths of God’s Word.

Reflect…

If you found this podcast insightful, subscribe and leave us a review, then encourage your friends and family to join us and come along tomorrow for another day of ‘Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.’.

Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and, most importantly, I am your friend as I serve you through this Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal.

As we take this Trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

I am Guthrie Chamberlain….reminding you to’ Keep Moving Forward,’ ‘Enjoy your Journey,’ and ‘Create a Great Day…Everyday! See you next time for more daily wisdom!