Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2672 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before.
Today’s Wisdom Nugget is titled: God, The Ultimate Judge – No Boasting Before Him - A Trek Through Psalm 75:1-10. Today, we embark on a powerful new trek through Psalm 75 in the New Living Translation, encompassing its foundational verses, 1 through 10.
Psalm 75, like the last two psalms we explored, is also penned by Asaph, one of King David’s chief musicians. However, after the raw, desperate cries of Psalm 74—a communal lament over the utter devastation and desecration of the Temple, and a fervent plea for God to remember His covenant and His honor—Psalm 75 strikes a decidedly different and triumphant note. It’s a psalm of thanksgiving, yes, but also a bold proclamation of God's righteous judgment and absolute sovereignty.
It addresses one of the most agonizing questions we face: why do the wicked often seem to get away with their wickedness, even prospering, while the righteous suffer? Asaph wrestled with this very question in Psalm 73, nearly losing his spiritual footing. Psalm 75 now provides God's definitive answer: He is the ultimate Judge. He sets the time, He determines who rises and who falls, and He will ensure that justice is served. This psalm is a direct, authoritative word from God that brings order and reassurance after the chaos and despair of the previous psalm.
So, let’s immerse ourselves in this powerful declaration of God’s ultimate control, allowing its truth to anchor our trust in His perfect justice.
(Reads Psalm 75:1-3 NLT)
We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds. "For at the time I appoint," says the Lord, "I will judge everyone fairly. The earth and its people tremble, but I keep its foundations firm."
Guthrie Chamberlain: The psalm begins with an outpouring of thanksgiving, immediately countering the despair we felt in Psalm 74: "We give thanks to you, O God! We give thanks, for you are near." The repetition of "We give thanks" emphasizes the depth and sincerity of their gratitude. This isn't a forced thanks; it's a genuine outpouring from a community that has experienced God’s presence despite deep suffering. The reason for their thanks is profound: "for you are near." This stands in stark contrast to the agonizing question in Psalm 74:1, "Why have you abandoned us forever?" The answer here is a resounding affirmation: God has not abandoned them; He is near, even in the midst of their trials.
Because God is near and active, "People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds." This refers to God's miraculous acts of deliverance and His interventions in history. The community is now proclaiming God’s mighty works, indicating a renewed sense of His power and...
