Psalms 75 – Promotion Cometh Neither From the East

A reminder that God alone raises up and puts down.

Psalms 75: Unto Thee O God We Give Thanks

This chapter of the Psalms overview answers the lament of Psalms 74 with confident thanksgiving, declaring that God alone decides who is put down and who is set up, since promotion comes from Him and not from any direction on earth.


> We give thanks to you, God, We give thanks, for your Name is near. Men tell about your wondrous works.

When I choose the appointed time, I will judge blamelessly.

The earth and all its inhabitants quake. I firmly hold its pillars. Selah.

I said to the arrogant, \"Don't boast;\" To the wicked, \"Don't lift up the horn.

Don't lift up your horn on high. Don't speak with a stiff neck.\"

For neither from the east, nor from the west, Nor yet from the south, comes exaltation.

But God is the judge. He puts down one, and lifts up another.

For in the hand of Yahweh there is a cup, Full of foaming wine mixed with spices. He pours it out. Indeed the wicked of the earth drink and drink it to its very dregs.

But I will declare this forever: I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, But the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up.

Its image of a cup of judgment poured out for the wicked to drink to the dregs parallels the fate described in <a href="/bible/web/job/chapter-21/20">Job 21:20</a>. The psalm closes with the righteous exalted, leading into the victory hymn of <a href="/bible/web/psalms/chapter-76">Psalms 76</a>.