This psalm presents two extremes, with God in the centre seeing and responding to each as they deserve. It is a helpful picture, though worth remembering there aren’t clear-cut goodies and baddies in real life. Most of us are a big mix of both, dependent on God’s grace in everything.

Here, though, we have an either/or. There are ‘the arrogant’ (v 4). These people boast and flaunt their ‘horns’ – a symbol of strength, audaciously picking a fight with heaven itself! The psalmist is scathing, pointing out that no one can exalt themselves (v 6). We could walk out of our houses right now and declare to the street that we are now in charge of the universe, but we’d be laughed at (or taken away for psychiatric evaluation). 

On the other hand, we have the righteous, who understand their place. They praise God and know he has all the power, and that they have none if he hasn’t given it (v 7). It is these people God lifts up, granting them honour and strength. 

Pride is a perennial temptation. It distorts our perspective, enlarging us and minimising God, and it has devastating consequences. Thankfully, we have a loving father willing to discipline us for our own good, to forgive us and to continue working on our characters.

When tempted to despair because of circumstances far beyond my ability to control, dear Lord, help me to rest my hope and confidence in you, our Maker and Sustainer.

During the Babylonian Exile, God’s people were in despair. They were without hope, in bondage, stateless and scattered from Egypt to Babylon. Kingship had disappeared. The prophetic voice was dim and the priesthood and its cultic apparatus were irrelevant. Could there still be a bright future, full of hope? Psalm 75 sounds a clear note of confidence.

In 2022 we too can empathise with the plight of ancient Israel. Many today are stateless: the refugee highway is huge. Even for the most developed of nations, the burden of debt is crushing. Climate change and its consequences threaten to destabilise the natural order as we have known it. Under these circumstances, it is easy to fall into despair and a sense of hopelessness. This psalm speaks to us a message of hope, just as it did to Israel.

The psalm starts with a declaration of thanksgiving to God whose ‘Name is near’1 and whose wonderful deeds of salvation, such as the Exodus, indicate his presence and activity among his people. God is portrayed as the Sovereign Judge whose judgements are impartial. He is also the Sustainer of his creation. Yes, we must exercise good stewardship over his creation, but its ultimate fate and that of its inhabitants are in his hands. Neither the Babylonians to the north nor the Egyptians to the south have the final word. That prerogative belongs to the Lord. This God, to whom alone belongs ultimate judgement, will make all his enemies drink the wine of his wrath to the dregs. This is the confidence we have in the midst of destabilising circumstances.

Remember what the Lord has done in history and in your own life. From such knowledge, you will draw comfort, encouragement and hope in times of difficulty.

¹ See also Deut 4:7