Psalm
75 reminds me of a time when my kids were very young and I had them
all convinced that the windshield wiper of the car was
voice-controlled. The switch was located at my finger tip and I
could easily manipulate the wiper to come on after I spoke the
command. After multiple demonstrations they were all certain that
the wiper would respond to an individual voice. At one point or
another, each would test it by repeating the command over and over to
make the wiper go crazy (set on high). Their command to the wiper
had nothing to do with the real need or safety or my ability to see
as I drove. Sometimes even when I protested that I could not see,
they would arrogantly refuse to turn on the wiper. They simply
enjoyed having “control”. Often I would have to “take back
control” to be able to drive safely. The psalm begins, “We
give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks“.
As a parent, there is nothing that is more pleasant than hearing
“thanks”. How simple, but how often it is neglected. He
continues, “Men
tell of Your wonderful deeds“.
He also notes God says, “I
choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly“.
Only God knows the heart of man and in the fullness of time will
judge. I am convinced that our earthly perspective is way off.
Matthew 25:40 tells us to everyone’s surprise; Jesus explained
“Whatever
you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for
Me“.
The
psalm continues by further defining the differences between God and
His creation. God says, “When
the earth quake… it is I who hold its pillars firm“.
When our life is the most chaotic, God is the most stable. I
believe one of the reasons God allows difficulties is because those
times draw us to our knees. Frequently it is when we are on top of
the world that we think we are in control and do not need God. He
continues, “To
the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift
up your horns“.
Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride
goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall“.
He adds, “But
it is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another“.
He is very clear that God is not shooting lightning bolts at
sinners, but rather gives this analogy, The Lord pours out “a
cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices”
and “all
the wicked of the earth drink it down”
heartily. I believe this cup represents the dulling effect of self
importance. People can be drunk with power or drunk with liquor with
the same result, putting
me first.
The more I focus on myself, the less I focus on others. The
psalmist adds the antidote, “As
for me…I will sing praise to the God of Jacob“.
Who are you lifting up in your life?
Psalm
76 gives us the results of being God-centered in our life. He
begins, “In
Judah
God
is known; His name is great in Israel“.
I hope everyone that knows me also knows that the God I serve is
great. He describes God as “resplendent
with light, more majestic than mountains“.
God is not sterile and white, but rich in color and full of every
delight. Scholars believe this psalm was written after God saved
Israel from attack by destroying a more powerful enemy. I believe
this more universally describes our individual choice to stand with
God or fight against God’s will. Romans chapter 1 describes the
fallen world that we know too well,
“For
although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave
thanks to Him… Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires
of their hearts… they not only continue to do these very things but
also approve of those who practice them“.
The psalm describes the ultimate result, “Valiant
men…
sleep
their last sleep…
At
Your rebuke, O God of… both horse and chariot lie still… Who can
stand before You when You are angry?“.
He adds, “You
pronounced judgment… to save all the afflicted of the land“.
It is clear that some turn to God after they see the results of
rebellion. “Your
wrath against men brings You praise… let all the neighboring lands
bring gifts to the One to be feared“.
God has certainly given each of us free will to decide if we will
honor Him as God, or not. God desires intimacy with each of us and
He loves to hear and answer our prayers, but do not think that this
world is in your control. Who is at the center of your life?