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Illustration for Psalm 75: God Is the True Judge

Psalm 75

God Is the True Judge

PraiseCourage

God says: 'I choose the right time to judge, and I do it perfectly.' He holds a cup of judgment for the wicked. No one should be proud because all strength and power comes from God alone — He brings some people down and lifts others up.

  1. 1We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your name is near; people tell of Your wonderful deeds.
  2. 2You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly.
  3. 3When the earth and all its peoples quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. Selah
  4. 4To the arrogant I say, 'Do not boast,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horn.
  5. 5Do not lift your horn against heaven; do not speak so defiantly.'"
  6. 6No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.
  7. 7It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another.
  8. 8In the hand of the LORD is a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices; He pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth drink it down to its very dregs.
  9. 9But I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
  10. 10I will cut off all the horns of the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

What it means

God says He picks exactly the right moment to put things right, and He does it perfectly. That means we do not have to rush around trying to make ourselves look important. Every bit of strength anyone has was a gift from God in the first place.

A little prayer

God, thank You that You always choose the right time and always get it right. Help me not to show off or push myself forward. Everything good I have came from You. Amen.

Memory verse

“You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly.”

Psalm 75:2 (BSB)

It says the timing belongs to God, which is the part we most want to take back.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. God says He picks the right time to put things right. What is hard about somebody else choosing the timing?
  2. The psalm says nobody should boast. What is the difference between being pleased and boasting?
  3. It pictures judgement as a cup. Why a cup?
  4. What are you waiting for someone else to decide?

Try this

Right time

Bake or cook something with a set time and take it out five minutes early. Then do it properly. Compare. Talk about what waiting for the right moment actually does.

You will need: Anything with a cooking time.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)