Psalm 75

Authorship

This psalm was authored by Asaph.

Outline

(This began as Wendland's Expository Outline, but may be adapted.)

I. Thanks to God. (1-3)

A. For His works that declare His name.

B. For His righteous judgements.

C. Because He sustains the earth and bears up its pillars.

(Pillars are the social structures of the world.)

II. A word to fools and the wicked. (4-7)

A. Deal not foolishly.

B. Lift not up your horn on high.

(The horn is a symbol of strength in the animal world. When an animal with horns tosses its head, it is showing its dominance.)

C. Don’t speak with a stiff neck.

1. Promotion doesn’t come from the east, west, or south.

(Note that north is omitted. Promotion must come from the north. That must be where God dwells because Satan wanted to ascend on the sides of the north. See Leviticus 1:11, Job 26:7, and Isaiah 14:13. Astronomers say there is a black hole in the north–they don’t know what is there.)

2. God is the one who puts down one and sets up another.

III. A righteous judge. (8)

A. There is a cup of judgment in the Lord’s hand.

B. It is full.

C. He pours it out on the wicked of the earth.

IV. Praise for God’s righteous judgment. (9-10)

A. I will declare it forever and sing praises to the God of Jacob.

B. The horns of the wicked will be cut off.

C. The horns of the righteous will be exalted.

Textual Criticism

The following is from Barthélemy's Critique textuelle de l’Ancien Testament volume on the Psalms. For a key to the various symbols and abbreviations, click here.

Ps 75,2(1) cor וְקָרוֹא בִּשְׁמֶךָ {C} G, S // err-divis: MT, σ', Hebr, T ָוְקָרוֹב שְׁמֶך

Ps 75,6(5) בְּצַוָּאר {C} MT, α'ε', σ', Hebr, S, T // err-graph: G clav בצור

Ps 75,7(6) הָרִים {A}

Ps 75,9(8) מִזֶּה {B} MT, σ', Hebr, T // lic: G, S

Ps 75,10(9) אַגִּיד {B}

Ps 75,11(10) אֲגַדֵּע {A}