#806 To The Dregs They Gave a Toast

We give thanks to you, O God;

we give thanks, for your name is near.

We recount your wondrous deeds.

2 “At the set time that I appoint

I will judge with equity.

3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants,

it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah

4 I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’

and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;

5 do not lift up your horn on high,

or speak with haughty neck.’”

6 For not from the east or from the west

and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,

7 but it is God who executes judgment,

putting down one and lifting up another.

8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup

with foaming wine, well mixed,

and he pours out from it,

and all the wicked of the earth

shall drain it down to the dregs.

9 But I will declare it forever;

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off,

but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. Psalm 75 ESV

A Psalm of Asaph, set to the tune of "Do Not Destroy", which was also the music of some of the Davidic Psalms like 57-59. Asaph was a singer and a prophet.

We give thanks to You, O God - Asaph is no stranger to despair, as seen in previous songs attributed to him. He has been in need of God's deliverance, but there is never an occasion not to give thanks. Once a human can reconcile the reality of God's Holiness and their own lack thereof, that you are alive to do so, that you come to do so, is a reason for eternal gratitude and thanks. Lord God, that You have made Yourself known, I must give thanks.

For You name is near - God has made Himself known to this people through His Word, His deeds, the law, the prophets and the tabernacle. He has not left them in darkness; they know that He is the Creator, His name is Holy and that He is the Redeemer.

14 And it will be said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, take every obstacle out of the way of My people.” 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble of spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite. 16 For I will not accuse you forever, nor will I always be angry; for then the spirit of man would grow weak before Me, with the breath of those I have made.… Isaiah 57: 14-16

…9 that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with your heart you believe and are justified, and with your mouth you confess and are saved. 11 It is just as the Scripture says: “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”…

…12 For there is no difference between Jew and Greek: The same Lord is Lord of all, and gives richly to all who call on Him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach?… Romans 10: 9-14

…8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,… Philippians 2: 8-10

At the set time that I appoint - This shifts to God as the speaker, for He is never reactionary, nor late, but all things have been appointed by Him to their proper place and time. We would call down fire immediately, but thank God that He has not acted so hastily with me. Let His patience and love work through me, that I may forgive even as I have been forgiven.

ii. “If judgment were left in our hands, we would probably let it flash out against anything that displeases us whenever we see it. But God lets evil go unchecked sometimes for a rather long time, knowing that he has appointed a proper time when it will be brought down.” (Boice)

Selah - Let us pause and consider. Is God sovereign? Is He aware, and is there purpose in all that He does? Shall we be anxious in our circumstances? Who did we believe in then, if God is not our rock, our secure place, what did we believe? Where does our hope hang and who will deliver us? 

Do not lift up your horn on high - There is no place for arrogance before God, that is only delusion. The comparison of the horn relates to the yoke used for oxen. A stubborn ox or those "stubborn as a mule", will lift up their horns to resist the yoke. 

i. “Impudence before God is madness. The out-stretched neck of insolent pride is sure to provoke his axe. Those who carry their heads high shall find that they will be lifted yet higher, as Haman was upon the gallows which he had prepared for the righteous man.” (Spurgeon)

…29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11: 29-30

Putting down one and lifting up another - Some men become blind with ambition, wanting the title, the money, the exaltation of self, and see in the promotion occasion to think that they have arrived. We can not really attain to anything that God does not allow. If you are fast, God made you fast, so when you reach the finish line first, thank Him, for though you may train hard, God has provided all the means. If you are talented in any way, work it out as unto the Lord, and it will be grace, but unto the self and it will be the idol of demise. If you have come to know God, then know that salvation is of the Lord, and that you did not choose Him, but He chose you, so be humble and gracious to others. 

iii. “Empires rise and fall at his bidding. A dungeon here, and there a throne, his will assigns. Assyria yields to Babylon, and Babylon, to the Medes. Kings are but puppets in his hand; they serve his purpose when they rise and when they fall.” (Spurgeon)

And He pours out from it - This is the symbolism of God's wrath, and the judgment of this has been given to the Son, for He said let this cup pass from me, but nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done. Those who look to self, hold fast to earthly ideals of glory and honor, refusing the ark of God, the cross and the Lamb that He provided, will have more than a taste of God's judgment. For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life. Don't refuse God's mercy, His love, for to cling to anything else is to hold on to that which His Son died to set you free from.