Psalm 75

Psa 75:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "A PSALM OF ASAPH. A SONG." Asaph psalms related to time of Hezekiah (2Ki 18:18,37; 2Ch 29:30). Psa 75 has surprisingly close links with Hannah's Song (1Sa 2) and Mary's Song (Luk 1), in both of which the exaltation of the low and the bringing down of the mighty figure prominently (cp Luk 18:14).

YOUR NAME IS NEAR; MEN TELL OF YOUR WONDERFUL DEEDS: The two ideas come together in an awe-inspiring prophecy of the destruction of Sennacherib's army: see Isa 30:27-30.

Psa 75:2

(NT) Here Messiah speaks on God's behalf. This is the gathering to him of all saints, faithful and unfaithful (1Th 4:16,17; Mat 24:30,31), leading to the judging of (or ruling over) God's Kingdom (Act 17:31).

APPOINTED TIME: Heb "moed"; the word always (about 150 times) ref to a holy feast of the Lord (Psa 102:13; Isa 31:5; Hab 2:3; and see WPsr 34-37).

Psa 75:3

THE EARTH AND ALL ITS PEOPLE QUAKE: The destruction of Sennacherib's host. The verb suggests "melting away" in extreme fear, as occurred in the events of the Exodus (Exo 15:14-16, sw) and the conquest of the Land (Jos 2:9, sw again). Poss alluded to in 2Pe 3:10.

IT IS I WHO HOLD ITS PILLARS FIRM: Prob an allusion to the Temple pillars, Jachin and Boaz. One of the main objectives of the Yahweh-hating Sennacherib was the destruction of the Temple. (NT) See Rev. 3:12 and cp Gal 2:9. The apostles, and all the saints, are the "pillars" that are situated in the divine house of "Wisdom" (Pro 9:1).

See Lesson, Selah.

Psa 75:5

See Lesson, Double negative, Hebrew.

OUTSTRETCHED NECK: A "stiff neck" (AV) is the sign -- as in a beast at the plow -- of obstinacy and rebellion (Exo 32:9; 33:3,5; 34:9; 2Ch 30:8; 36:13; Pro 29:1; Jer 7:26; Act 7:51). Isaiah speaks of the neck of the obstinate sinner as resembling an iron sinew (Isa 48:4).

Psa 75:6

This may be translated: "For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south cometh lifting up." Hezekiah's kingdom and capital and people seemed to be completely derelict, bereft of all help from any human source. To the east the Arabs were aligning themselves with the Assyrians (Isa 21:13-17); to the west the Philistines were about to be overrun themselves. And as for the south (the desert): the added emphasis on that direction alludes to the high hopes which the "fools" (v 4) put in a valueless Egyptian alliance (Isa 30:1-5; 31:1-3). The omission of north is as natural as can be: it was the last place to look for any help whatsoever. From that direction were coming the seemingly irresistible Assyrians; and their main camp was mount Scopus, on the north side of Jerusalem.

Psa 75:7

HE BRINGS ONE DOWN, HE EXALTS ANOTHER: The one put down (not destroyed!) was Sennacherib. The one lifted up was the sick Hezekiah. Alternatively, the former could be such a man as Shebna (Isa 22), who was prob one of "the drunkards of Ephraim" (v 8 here; cp Isa 28:1). Hab 2:15,16 uses language very similar to this psalm.

(NT) Cp the parable of the sheep and the goats in Mat 25:31-46. "One... another" speaks of the judgment of individuals, not nations.

Psa 75:8

IN THE HAND OF THE LORD IS A CUP: The prophets use this figure of a "cup" of judgment being filled up by God to the very brim: Psa 11:6; Isa 51:17,22,23; Jer 25:15-29; Oba 1:16: Rev 14:8,10; 16:19; 18:6.

MIXED WITH SPICES: The spices which were used presumably increased its intoxicating effect (Pro 9:2,5; 23:29-30; Song 8:2; Isa 5:22; 65:11).

Psa 75:9

THE GOD OF JACOB: Points to Psa 46:7,11; 76:6; both are Hezekiah psalms. Though Jacob is dead, God has given to him wonderful promises, having to do with eternity (Gen 28:3,4,13,14). Therefore God is still his God -- thus proving his future resurrection from the dead (Exo 3:15; Luk 20:37).

Psa 75:10

This allusion (along with vv 4, 5), at least in part, is to the horns of the pagan Assyrian altars and the horns of the altar of the Lord in Zion. This v figuratively asserts the favorable outcome of the vindictive "holy war" of Ashur against Jehovah.

THE HORNS OF THE RIGHTEOUS: The Cherubim of Glory are now associated once again with God's people. In addition to the altar symbolism, the horn is a figure of strength and vigor (Psa 89:17,24; 112:9; 2Sa 22:3; 1Sa 2:1,10; Luk 1:69; etc), and may be intended to evoke the ox-imagery of the Cherubim.

SUBSCRIPTION: "FOR THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC. WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS": "Neginoth" (Psa 3, 5, 53, 54, 60 -- "Neginah", singular, Psa 66, 75; Hab 3:19; Isa 38:20). "Neginoth" sig "to strike", as upon a musical instrument, or in affliction. Trials of affliction are for the development of godly character; so we are exhorted to sing even in the "Philippian jail"!