The God of Judgment (Through the Psalms) Psalm 75

Welcome to through the songs we give ministry of the truthful teaching God's people. God's word over time will study all 150 Psalms with pastor Don Greene from truth Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio were so glad you're with us. Let's open to the Psalms right now as we join our teacher in the truthful altogether this evening to return to our study of Psalm Psalm 75 is our text for this evening and I'd invite you to turn there with me.

This is kind of the classic illustration of his the glass half empty or is it half full laughter tonight will either be halfway finished with the Psalms will have half of them left to go after starting about four years ago, so this is a bit of a milestone and I've enjoyed every one of them Psalm 75. Let me read it as we begin, we give thanks to you, oh God, we give thanks for your name is near men, declare your wondrous works.

When I select an appointed time it is. I judge with equity the earth and all who dwell in it melt it is I who have firmly set its pillars so I said to the boastful do not boast into the wicked. Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high do not speak with insolent pride for not from the East nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exultation, but God is the judge he puts down one and exalts another breakup is in the hand of the Lord, and the wine phones.

It is well mixed and he pours out of this. Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs. But as for me I will declare it forever. I will sing praises to the God of Jacob and all the horns of the wicked he will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up this song speaks of God is the God of judgment and if you're taking notes that's the title of tonight Psalm that the God of judgment. Here in Psalm 75 Psalm 74 ended with a plea for justice against the enemies if you look up to verses 22 and 23 of Psalm 74 it says arise, O God, and plead your own cause. Remember how the foolish man reproaches you all day long.

Do not forget the voice of your adversaries. The uproar of those who rise against you which ascends continually that the compilation of the Psalter is a matter of of of interest to me while I was each song placed in the particular sequence that it was and we can't always tell when determined that, certainly not through the whole sweep of all 150 Psalms, but sometimes you can see that Psalms were intentionally placed back to back because of the way or even in even in longer sequence because of the way that they respond to one another, and common themes carry over from one song to the next and that is the case with Psalm 74 in Psalm 75 in Psalm 74 we saw that the psalmist was praying that God would return and deliver them is a prayer for justice. A prayer for deliverance in the midst of the destruction of the land by enemies and so and at the end of Psalm 74 it prays for God to rise up against the enemies will now here in 75 Psalm 75 you see the answer of God to that prayer and Psalm 75 is a grateful recognition of God's role as judge and it also has God's declaration that he will indeed judge the wicked.

When his time comes and you know the more that we go through the Psalms.

I hope that you're starting to see more and more. You know it's it's very common in its proper and right for people in times of hardship to turn to the Psalms and to look for comfort in them. But as you study the Psalm systematically what you find is is that they are presenting a comprehensive worldview that helps you interpret all of life and Psalm 75 is like that in the midst of in the midst of setbacks in the midst of the prosperity of the wicked when it seems as though the people of God are on the downturn that the people of God are being marginalized in the wicked, and those who oppose the name of God and oppose Scripture are elevated. It's easy to wonder how long is this going to go on where is God in all of this will what you find in the Psalms and in Psalm 75. In particular, is a is a steadfast certainty that God reigns overall and that, in his good and sovereign wisdom and good and sovereign time, he will exercise his judgment and make things right.

In the end, and we must have that as the formative principle that informs our view of the future and even our view of the present.

You could say that in the end God's sovereignty will prevail and the seeming injustices of the present day will be righted. He will make things right. In the end. And we know that to be true because he is God he is righteous, he is sovereign and he is the God of judgment and the wicked. You could say are living on borrowed time to use a very kind and crass picture of it. God has already stepped on the air hose of the wicked, and they are breathing on borrowed oxygen that will not last them long God delays his judgment only long enough to give them opportunity to repent God market as that which determines your view of the future that God will judge at his appointed time, he will put down the wicked, and he will raise up the righteous and that is more than sufficient motivation and comfort for you and I to persevere in the midst of a hostile world in the midst of a hostile environment in the midst of personal setbacks.

That's all we need to know that's all that we need to know. We don't need to know how our circumstances turn out in the end it's enough to know who God is, because knowing that determines the outcome for us.

So, in light of those lofty themes.

This Psalm warns the wicked to repent and it encourages the righteous to praise what I would have you see is is that the the call to the wicked to repent, and the call to the righteous to praise is rooted in a single common reality both responses are rooted in the fact that it is the God of the Bible who is the God of judgment and all that that means.

So let's look at it. I think there's three points to tonight's message that usually the my default.

I know that some people wonder if I'm actually able of counting to four based on the number of points that I put into my messages and I can 1234 just to prove the point, but we have three headings for tonight's assimilation of the Psalm. It opens with point number one.

A word of thanks from the people. A word of thanks from the people of God. It opens in. It opens on a triumphant note of thanksgiving and it gives the reason are the grounds for their thanks. Look at verse one with me as I read from the new American Standard version. We give thanks to you, oh God, we give thanks repeated for emphasis. This is an emphatic declaration of gratitude given to God, we give thanks. Yes, I'll say it again.

Oh God, we give you thanks, Andy gives the reason for his thanks as he opens here for your name is near men, declare your wondrous works. The ground of the reason for which he gives thanks in this Psalm is the fact that the name of God is near, and in this context, the name is a representation of his presence. The name indicates that God is everywhere near and as a result. As we see this Psalm unfold his judgments on the wicked are inescapable.

It's not that the wicked operate in around that is outside the view of God. It's not that they operate somewhere that is outside the exercise of his authority as we said the wicked conduct their sinful ways on borrowed time and the fact that they flourish for a time.

The fact that they have the upper hand for a season is no indication that God has lost his righteous rule. His help for the righteous and certain to come in his judgment on the wicked is inescapable and beloved rooted in all of those things is a a great and profound reality that we have to we have to settle in our minds and the beauty of you being here this evening.

Some of you in the midst of a bit of trial.

Some of you just in the midst of a period of calm in your life.

Beloved, I can't tell you how critical it is for you to be doing what you're doing here tonight hearing the word of God and taking it in. In a period of relative peace and calm. Certainly as we sit here this evening and certainly in for that period of time that some of you are enjoying in your life it is. It is in the midst of such calm times that we are able to look at Scripture with a clear mind develop our understanding and our resulting convictions about what it says and say yes this is what I believe this is what Scripture teaches. This is where I rest my heart. This is where my convictions and my loyalties will always lie, I will live you say to yourself I will live to believe these things to teach these things to defend these things to to live by faith in these things to live by faith in the Christ who is the culmination of all of them.

And as you do that with a song like Psalm 75 it starts to dawn on you, it starts to take root in your heart and in your thinking and in your worldview, a recognition that your life is not accidental. Your life is not unplanned you are not subject to random chaotic forces that are beyond anyone's control. They may seem unplanned to you. They may strike you at times that you are not expecting that you come to Scripture and you realize that as this Psalm praises him for this God of the Bible is the God who is near. He is the God who who reigns overall and beloved Mark this it him imprinted deeply on your thought and heart and mind that will come what may. Whatever else might happen in life with us with you. God's sovereign knowledge and God's sovereign care undergird the entire world. God's sovereign knowledge and his sovereign care undergird the entire world. Your life is not an unplanned sequence of random events randomly bouncing from wall-to-wall your life is unfolding. According to a plan that God established for you before the foundation of the world that includes the joys it includes the sorrows that includes every point in between your relationships that God brings to you are not random and chaotic.

There is a purpose in them. Why do we know that because God is near and all that happens, God is near his presence is manifested and expressed through everything that happens everywhere for all time. Look, if you will, at Psalm 23. David in this far more famous Psalm of Psalm 23 finds his comfort and finds his courage. Notice the alliteration to help you remember his comfort and his courage in life is grounded on the reality of the presence of God that unbroken present the omnipresence of God, so that in Psalm 23 verse four. He can say, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil, why, how can you say that, David. If your enemies are all around you. I fear no evil because I know how it's all going to turn out in the end that's what he says.

I fear no evil for you are with me.

In other words, you are near your rod and your staff representative of God's sovereign control, God's sovereign power, God's sovereign care.

His discipline and his care.

God the fact that you are sovereign like you are and that you are near your God of comfort to me your God of provision to me your God of guidance to me. Therefore, I am confident as I look to the future. I am not afraid David says. How could I be afraid when the God who is sovereign and good and wise and imperfect control has set his affection on me and uses his rod and his staff to guarantee my protection. No matter where I go forward now, beloved, I know that you quoted Psalm 23 multiple times in your life.

That's great. Psalm 23 is a passage that I almost always turn to in pastoral visits simply because it is so familiar. I like to take people to familiar words when there in times of distress because the stability of that gives them strength in a way that I think is unique to perhaps a song like Psalm 23 but you have, you know this song what we want to move onto is to move beyond those words to what they mean and to the implications that they have for the way that we think about all of life. David said I fear no evil for you are with me.

The one racked in pain on his bed could say I fear not. The doctors report for your with me one isolated and alone says I fear no evil for your with me one betrayed by friend says I fear no evil for you are with me.

The one on the beginning cusp of life facing challenges that are exhilarating looks forward with confidence. I fear no evil for you are with me your with me your near C and and I'll ask you rhetorically. The question that I know the answer to. But I ask you to reflect upon the fact.

Do you believe that to be true. Do you believe that God is near Christian, you who have put your repose, your faith in Christ alone for the salvation of your souls you who have been born again by the spirit of God, you who belong to him eternally. Do you believe that he is near as you are walking, step-by-step, through your life. I know that you say to that. Yes I do. What were saying tonight is is it that has consequences that that is like having a string of dominoes set up on a table and you say I believe that God is near.

You have just flicked the first domino, and a lot of thing other things fall in response to that your view of life is change your fear of the future is challenged as being inconsistent with what you say is the fundamental conviction of your heart and on it goes.

We don't fear the rising prevalence of wicked politicians you can supply the DR, the DD according to your predilections. I don't care about that we don't fear what they do because they exercise their little bit in realm and temporary hold of authority under the sovereign hand of God and he will take what they do and God will judge it. God will bring it to the outcome that he is appointed he's doing that in everything that happens. Therefore, David says. I fear no evil for you are with me, go back to Psalm 75 you see at the parallel response that goes with that. I fear no evil for you are with me. We give thanks to you, oh God, for your name is near, and these convictions are not abstractions. These are the reason that we live.

This is the core of what it means to be a Bible believing Christian is to trust in these things into gear our thinking and our lives around them and I'll say beloved. This is not the refuge that you go to after everything else is failed. And you say well I tried to fix this on my own and I thought the election would come out differently and I thought our finances would be differently. I thought this relationship would go differently now that it hasn't now turn to God, no, no, that's the exact reverse if Don Bellamy our friend with railroad days experience were here I would gladly say that's putting the caboose before the engine see you don't put this knowledge that God is near on the shelf and just pull it down in time of need. This is what you base all of life on this is the engine that pulls everything else. And as we consider God's name here in verse one. He says your name is near God's name highlights the close connection with Psalm 74 as the enemy. In Psalm 74 reviles and rejects the name of God. Look at Psalm 74 verse seven. For example, Psalm 74 verse seven. They have burned your sanctuary to the ground. They have defiled the dwelling place of your name. Verse 10 how long know God will the adversary revile in the enemy's burn your name forever. The people of God were were dealing with the destruction of their place of worship, the place where God manifested his presence by all external appearance. The presence of God was not near it had just been destroyed.

Verse 18 remember this so Lord that the enemy has reviled and a foolish people has spurned your name and in verse 21 let not the oppressed return dishonored, let the afflicted and needy. Praise your name, God, here we are afflicted and needy, here we are with the enemy prospering and exulting over their conquest of us. God, I appeal to your name. I appeal to your presence.

I appeal to the fullness of your character to come and vindicate this situation not when we talk about God's name.

Often we talk about it as being representative of the fullness of his character, the fullness of his attributes and that's accurate and that's probably the predominant sense in which it's used here.

However, it seems to be a little bit different and be speaking about his near the nearness in his presence, which would bid simply be a manifestation of him and all of his attributes. Anyway, what Psalm 75. Therefore, saying beloved is this I say this often, and I want to say it again it is it is a great blessing to my heart that's you all are so faithful to be here on Tuesdays. I can't tell you how glad I am to God for that. How grateful I am to share this kind of fellowship together and I'm grateful for what it means about your love for the word of God. What it means about the direction of your spiritual life you know you people don't come out on Tuesdays to hear in our Bible teaching less word of God means something to them and you manifest that week after week after week and so it's a privilege for me to stand in open God's word here and to be able to share in this kind of fellowship around his word with you. I love you I love this church I love with just church stands for and I look forward to what God's going to do in the future, why, why can I look for. Why can I fear no evil because his name is near. Psalm 75 shows us by its teaching that God is not a remote deity who is uninvolved in the affairs of men. Psalm 75 coming on the heels as it does of Psalm 74 is a declaration that God is not indifferent to attacks on his name.

The Bible records his intervention in life. He delivers his people. He judges their enemies in time and space. This is not a mere abstraction. This is not a theory. This is not some kind of abstract philosophy that were dealing with.

It's not that God can do this if he wants to, but he really doesn't. It's that God can do this and as a demonstration of the fact that he can do it.

He has done it in time and space in the past. In a real historical events in Old Testament days. A look back again and again at the way that God rescued them from Egypt and they would see the point clearly each year as they celebrated the Passover, they would remember how God had delivered to them in time and space. As Peter says, I believe it's in second Peter so important for us to understand this. We do not follow cleverly devised tales. We are not grounding our lives in foolish myths that somebody has made up in order to control and manipulate others. We are grounding our life in the God in the Christ was manifested himself in history revealed himself in the word conquered sin and Satan, and death at the cross of Calvary, and is risen from the dead on the third day now ascended on high where he intercedes for his saints at the right hand of God. That's what we ground our lives on. So I ask you is that do you believe that well that has a lot of consequences. Then about the way that you view the world and the way that you view what happens to you in life. Now here in Psalm 75 the consequences.

We give thanks we give thanks for all of these realities of God, of who you are now. Secondly, our second point for this evening is is a word of assurance and warning from God. A word of assurance and warning from God in in the structure of this particular Psalm, God now responds to their praise with the word of assurance to the righteous, and in light of how we've approach this here this evening and in the way of just saying this is this what we believe.

Yes it is.

We believe God is near.

We trust in that we believe in the coming of Christ wants in the coming of Christ again. We believe in all of these things and there is an assurance that the word of God would offer to men and women of faith like that God here responds to the faith and thanksgiving expressed in verse one. As the song turns to the first person singular God himself speaks.

Psalm 75 verse two. When I select an appointed time is I who judge with equity the earth and all who dwell in it melt it is I who have firmly set its pillars settle in other words, think about what was just said in these past two verses God says I judge with equity.

It's me, no one else. I am the one who does this and he says there in verse three when he brings his judgment call the power of this is stupendous. The assertion of sovereignty and this is magnificent. God says when I judge with equity. Here's what happens. The earth and all who dwell in it melt just like the wax of a candle burns before the flame on top of it and is powerless to resist the heat brought to bear upon it so the earth and all its inhabitants can only disperse can only yield to this God who is the God of judgment, and so God here earth emphatically affirms that it is he and he alone who judges and the great Certainteed that belongs alongside this is what he says at the open of verse two there. He says when I select an appointed time. This is this is awe-inspiring in the greatness of the sovereign to the God asserts and how it lists this principle beyond the realm of time and places it in the round of God's sovereign decisions.

God's sovereign plan alone. God judges watch this God judges not in response to the immediate provocation of men. He does not judge in immediate response to the provocation of his enemies.

God judges at the time that pleases him when he thinks it's time to judge Hill judge and no one will stand in his way when he does the lofty nature of the of the power of this God of judgment is great beyond all human imagination. You've probably seen. As I have interacted with people. I remember many many years ago for being in some venue where witnessing was going on and there was some drunken fool that was in the place heard what was going on and just began fouling profaning the name of our precious Lord Jesus in our presence, and the sense as I recall it now. Today was as he was saying if your God is so great. Let them judge me now let them strike me dead right now. Sinful people in their effort to mock the God of the Bible, profaning his name like that when their sin or their alcohol carries them away into the outer recesses of of depravity and in wickedness and they think that if God was who he says he is that he would judge them immediately as if they could provoke God to act against them, and if he doesn't then it proves their point.

Either that he doesn't exist or he doesn't care or is not present or is not powerful enough to deal with and they bought themselves against the holiness of God and point as proof that he didn't just judge them for their blasphemies that they had just uttered.

This foolishness is a complete misunderstanding of who God is and how his judgment operates God will judge you in time center market for certain, but he'll mark you in the time that he finds appropriate, not the one that you try to provoke him to. That's how great and how sovereign he is. In the meantime, look at solitude. What does God do in the meantime, not just with drunken individuals mocking the gospel being shared with them. This is God's attitude toward the nations.

Psalm two verse one why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing. The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us. We are the ones who sovereign. Here we mock we reject the name of God, we will cast aside his yoke. Thus, we have spoken. We are kings on the earth. What's God's response you sits in the heaven laughs Lord scoffs at them is not provoked by them as if as if they could make him act contrary to his timetable as if he had to respond to their foolish words in the moment, he laughs at the arrogance and the foolish pride that animates them to think that they can rise up against the sovereign God, so he laughs and this is this is an absurd today in his time of judgment will come when he is ready go back to Psalm 75 it's a fearful thing to see these things.

Really it is here in Psalm 75 verse three God says the earth and all who dwell in it melt and as if to prove his point. He says it is I who have firmly set its pillars. It's a metaphor for the fact that God is the creator of the earth. God created this world on which these arrogant men walk, God gives them their breath, even to do as they are voicing their blasphemies.

God is the one who appointed there. The days of their existence and the thought here is that since God had the power to create the earth, he certainly has the power to preserve and govern the earth and all who are within it, and so from Psalm 74 the reviling of the enemy you move into this new chamber and the revelation of God.

If you want to put it that way and realize that from this chamber of chaos in Psalm 74 describes your now in the realm of absolute control and the chamber of Psalm 75 and you realize whatever it look like in Psalm 74. It was not a sacrifice of the sovereignty of God is not that he had lost control. He's just accomplishing his purposes in ways that seem perplexing to the eyes of men, but he created the earth. He gives life to men. He rules over all, he's the God who is near, and therefore the fact that they revile his name in time cannot possibly be an indication that he's lost control, or that somehow sinful men have the upper hand, perish the thought out on the suggestion is Martin Lloyd Jones said in another context. The earth melts before the judgment of God because it cannot resisted beloved to say that God is near is a recognition that God is the one who sustains life.

He guides all the events in human affairs and what may seem chaotic to us in the moment is simply unfolding. According to the plan that God knows that God sees the gods directing the God will culminate this this changes wife. Don't ever let anyone tell you that theology doesn't matter if your theology says that God is sovereign like this.

It shapes the way that you think and respond.

Everything if you think that God is just responding in playing a chess match with Satan. Satan made a move. God, you're in check.

Now what are you going to do.

I don't know. I gotta figure this one out there and have a completely different view of the world.

If you think as charismatics are taught to think if you think that your life is subject to the do some kind of independent authority of Satan to inflict harm upon you at his will and you got it behind him and chased him around in order to protect yourself. You're going to live in completely different way than someone who understands that God is sovereign and he is sovereign even over Satan and if Satan is at work and something God is simply using him as a tool to accomplish his own purposes, just like he did in Job chapter 1, two, in the following 40 verses of that great book of the Bible. Since this all matters. That's what I'm trying to get you to see you see it ocular all matters.

This changes everything. Having assured the righteous. In verses two and three that he still on his throne. God now turns his piercing gaze in his piercing words to the wicked. Look at verses four and five with me and he gives them a warning as he says in verse four, still speaking in the first person I said to the boastful do not boast, and to the wicked. Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high do not speak with insolent pride corn here is a word picture.

It's a metaphor of strength and pride while the oxen will toss their hands on their head about in a show of strength. Their horns are weapons of battle for them. Weapons of intimidation to them, and God uses that that that very vivid word picture to speak to the wicked about the tools of their trade. The boastful pride their threats, their blasphemies, and in context. God is morning then God is telling them stop submit.

Do not try to resist my judgment which I have just described as that which the earth melts before the call to repentance. It's an invitation to mercy. He calls them to silence in his presence because their human power cannot resist the creator of the earth. Sometimes I dream about places where I'd really love to preach.

That'll never happen, but I would love to preach something like that before the United Nations and all of the leaders of the world and just be a voice to articulate be a time to speak these glories of God to men in power that hasn't given that round to anybody's given this round to me and I'm grateful for that. As I've already said, but just to declare on God's behalf a warning to people who despise reject and test him to warn them to tinged with mercy. You are on a path of self-destruction you are you are sealing your own doom with your unrepentant heart you foolishly believe that you can prevail.

Don't you realize that your life is but a vapor amiss.

That will blow away in the next puff of wind that comes don't you realize that think about what you're doing and turn away from this path of destruction before it's too late. Still your horns of opposition and instead bow your neck about your horns before this great God, who set the pillars of the earth. This God of judgment who is near. While there's still time. Perhaps one here this evening needs to hear that same word an invitation of warning of repentance before it's too late.

Rouse yourself out of your slumber and recognize that this God against whom you have been sending this God that you have been ignoring and resisting and treating as a casual matter is the great God of judgment who is near who is not afraid to unveil the fury of his power, when the time comes, but now in this brief season of opportunity extends to you, the crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus Christ and appeals to you in mercy come to Christ for the forgiveness of your sends doors of mercy are open. You do not have to collapse into the pit.

All of these things are invoked by what we see here in Psalm 75 well. Thirdly, her final point for this evening. If you see a word of trust from the people in response to what God has said the people now respond in faith. They confess their faith in verse six.

Now God is spoken about in the third person as opposed to being the one who is speaking in the first person verse six for not from the East nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exultation, but God is the judge he puts down one and exalts another look at verse seven again with me. He puts down one and exalts another. These verses are a recognition that God is the one who disposes and orders the outworking of human affairs.

If if a man has power and authority. It is only because God has given it to him for time in any realm that you want to consider. God is the one who lifts a man up. God is the one who puts another man down Heyman in the book of Esther was second in charge to the king was prepared to hang Mordecai and to exterminate the Jews, not realizing that the Kings Queen was a Jew herself, and he was exalted and he was prepared to hang Mordecai on a gallows that is built lifted up, and within 24 hours his own neck was sacrificed on the gallows. You can read that in the book of Esther God lifts one up tasks another down time and circumstance are not a barrier to his ability to do that and so from the sun rise in the east to the sun set in the West anywhere that you look under the round under which this which moves under the orbit of the sun. You can find no ultimate strength in the world. There's no one to rise up out of a desert wilderness place to come and be the deliverer and so what God's people are saying here in this section of the song God we're not looking to the world for our strength for answers to our problems. We are looking up to you alone. Who are the judge because we understand as we been going through this Psalm, the people of God are saying. We understand that you alone are the judge you determine what stands. Therefore, our eyes are fixed on you. That theme was echoed by two women in the Bible. If you want to turn to look at these quickly in first Samuel chapter 2 first Samuel chapter 2.

These words were on the lips of Hannah. This theme was on her lips. When this dear woman who had been barren, had been given a son in response to her prayers by the sovereign Lord and we don't have time to go through her entire song of thanksgiving to look at chapter 2 verse seven for Samuel chapter 2 verse seven he says the Lord makes poor and rich, he brings low. He also exalts, he raises the poor from the dust. He lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with nobles and inherit a seat of honor for the pillars of the earth or the Lord's and he set the world on them. He keeps the feet of his godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness for not by might, shall a man prevail.

Verse 10 the Lord will judge the ends of the earth.

He will give strength to his king and will exalt the horn of his anointed. In response to this magnificent answer to prayer that she had received. She goes to the same place. In Psalm 75 echoes God I exalts your name because you are the one who exalt men and cast them down. You alone are the judge of the earth, the mother of Jesus, Mary, had similar words on her lips. Just listen as I read for the sake of time, Luke, chapter 1, verse 51. Marion said my soul exalts the Lord, my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. And in verse 51. She says he has done mighty deeds with his arms he has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart is brought down rulers from their thrones, and has exalted those who were humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent away the rich empty handed. Beloved, if we reflected more on the history that's recorded in the Bible we would see how true that is how God brings down the proud, the lives of Pharaoh in Egypt Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon Herod in the days of Jesus all testified to proud power leading to an un-glorious unmitigated defeat at the hand of God, exercising his power wicked people, especially in their prosperity face a certain reversal judgment will come to them. Look at verse seven with me. God is the judge he puts down one and exalts another verse eight for a cup is in the hand of the Lord in the wind phones is well mixed and he pours out of this. Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs. Again, another vivid word picture saying that the wicked, not only will the wicked not escape judgment. They will experience the full brunt of God's judgment, they will. It is like a cup of wine and they will drink it to the last drop. Despite their present power and notice here in verse eight that ultimately, the song is looking toward the culmination of time. This is magnificent is looking to the culmination of time it's looking forward to the judgment that is still final to us still ahead to us. I should say verse eight. Surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs. There is a time of judgment coming for all the wicked, for all who have rejected Christ.

They're all going to face it in Revelation is an account of that in advance. The final two verses here of Psalm 75 could be taken in a couple of different ways. It seems to be a testimony from an individual worshiper in response to this corporate testimony that has just been played out verse nine he says but as for me I will declare it forever. I will sing praises to the God of Jacob and all the horns of the wicked he will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up. This is responding to everything that Psalm 75 has taught the revelation of this God of judgment calls forth praise he's responding to what's been said in the first eight verses. He says all declared forever. I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. That is the believing response to the recognition that God is a God of judgment not to question his righteousness, not to ask people questions will what about those who have never heard the gospel not to go there and diminish in question his righteousness rather to respond with a sense of praise of unmitigated submissive joyful praise God this is who you are and in response mean for me and myself all worship you. I recognize your glory. You are the creator.

You are the judge, you are my God you are my Savior. You are the one who is near.

I will worship in response to who you are and you know there's a whole another dimension of glory. There's a whole another dimension of the glory of God that is revealed in these in this statement. Here in verse nine and 10.

Here you have think about this with me almost done. Stay with me we seen the glory of God revealed in his willingness to judge his sovereign care is sovereign majesty for been talking about for the past 60 minutes what you have here in verse nine is a whole another it. It's a completely different realm of the of the whole.

Another manifestation of his unmitigated glory here you see this God who is the judge receiving the praise and the regard the humble offer of faithful worship from one who is slowly isn't that sweet. The one like you and one like me and all of our weakness.

All of our frailty. All of our complete insignificance in the eyes of the world you and I can approach this God through the Lord Jesus Christ offer him our praise and he will receive it as a pleasing aroma in his in his sight, high and lofty, and yet you receive praise from me. I should have regard for you and Lord you had regard for me in my sin and now you have regard for my praise lost in this sense has we sing the hymn, I am lost in wonder of who you are.

I am lost in all of who you are. I'm lost in wonder, joy and praise and who you are, God sovereign over the wicked, high and lofty set. The pillars of the earth and yet you had regard to save my wicked soul, and now you receive my completely inadequate praise. It ends on that word. A promise in verse 10. All the horns of the wicked he will cut off all their power will be cut off, but the horns of the righteous representing our lives, our our love for God our love for Christ. It will be lifted up, those who trust the God of the Bible. Those who trust Jesus Christ will be lifted up in the end, the God who just as surely put down Herod Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh by his power cast those men of stature down to the worms is the same God who lifts up the lowly in faith the weak and trembling believer, the one just like you and so what can we do accept circle back to where it began in verse one. Now we see the complete unfolding of it now with more informed faith we say we give thanks to you, will God. We give thanks James Montgomery boy said not close with this God's way of ruling the universe is often puzzling to us and his judgments often seem delayed but God nevertheless is near his judgments are timely and the wicked will eventually be punished in full for the evil they have done."

To which I would only add in those declared righteous by faith in Christ will be lifted up will find that their trust in Christ.

Their confidence in the ultimate outcome as revealed in Scripture was not in vain to pray together, O God of judgment and God of grace were lost in the wonder of the glory in the majesty of who you are.

We take comfort we proclaim we trust in the fact that your name is near you see the wicked father, you will judge them in your time, therefore, were not afraid were not intimidated because we look to you and Lord.

You see, the humblest of believers in Christ. You see the dear sweet ones in foreign lands that name the name of Jesus and trust in him with a like precious faith, perhaps with meager means in so many different ways, but they look to you in faith and Lord you see them and you will lift them up dear people in lands as far-flung as Indonesia and Malaysia, Singapore and Mongolia in the inner recesses of Africa in the outback of Australia in the remote wilderness where Eskimos dwell in the land of Alaska father everywhere where your name is named everywhere that Christ is called on by faith. You see those ones in lands of affliction were believers dwell under the harsh reign of Islamic totalitarianism father you see those dear ones you care for them. You protect them and you will lift therefore not be in time and they will walk the streets of gold, with all of the rest who have known you all of the rest the Christ to save not one lost. God, how majestic you are, how majestic your plan, how majestic your goodness to your feet. What can we do except in complete in adequacy of word and feebleness of heart and live do anything other than say these revealed words we give thanks to you, will God. We give thanks for your name is near and we join with those men throughout the ages and throughout the world.

Now who declare your wondrous works.

In Jesus name, amen. Well, my friend.

Thank you for joining us on through the Psalms you know if you're enjoying this podcast I think you would love to join our church on our lifestream on Sunday mornings at 9 AM Eastern or 7 PM Tuesday evening. Also, Eastern time. You can find out lifestream link@truthcommunitychurch.org again our lifestream link is found@truthcommunity.org. We hope to see you there. God bless you.

Thanks, Don and Fran through the Psalms is a weekend ministry of the truth sure to join us next week for our study.

As Don continues teaching God's people. God's word and we also invite you to join us on Sunday at 9 AM Eastern for our lifestream from truth community church in Cincinnati, Ohio. You can find the link@thetruepulpit.com this message is copyrighted by Don Green. All rights reserved