In Psalm 75, God's people together give thanks for God's "wondrous deeds," his works of creation and salvation.
Verse 1 contains the interesting phrase, "your name is near." This has been interpreted in two different ways. One is that those who call on God's name tell of his wondrous deeds. The second is that God's name is brought near to us through the story of his wondrous deeds. Both are true.
Verses 2-5 record an oracle from God, where he assures his people that at the appropriate time, he brings righteous judgment; and when human sinfulness unleashes chaos upon the world, he holds things together. Those who suppose that they can impose their own will in opposition to God ultimately will not be successful.
Asaph the seer responds to this revelation from God in verses 6-8. He affirms that indeed, there is no earthly power that determines the future. Instead, it is God who judges the world, and people will be held accountable for what they have done.
In verse 8, Asaph pictures the judgment of the wicked as a cup of potent wine that they will be forced to drink. Other prophets use the same image (Ps 60:3; Isa 51:17; Jer 25:15-16; 51:7), and so does John in Rev 14:10.
We might look at Jesus' words at Gethsemane in connection with this image. "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). Jesus at that point was looking at the prospect of bearing the world's sins on our behalf and drinking the cup of judgment in our stead.
Asaph declares that he personally will proclaim God's great works and assist him in opposing the arrogant (vv 9-10).
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