"We give thanks unto Thee, O God, we give thanks, for Thy name is near: men tell of Thy wonderous works. When I shall find the set time, I will judge uprightly. The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I have set up the pillars of it. Selah. I said unto the arrogant, deal not arrogantly; and to the wicked, lift not up the horn: lift not up your horn on high; Speak not with a stiff neck. For neither from the east, nor from the west, nor yet from the south, cometh lifting up. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and lifteth up another. For in the hand of Jehovah there is a cup, and the wine foameth; it is full of mixture, and He poureth out the same: surely the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall drain them, and drink them. But I will declare for ever, I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be liften up" (Psa. 75:1-10).

Notice these outstanding points to be taken from this rich and valuable stanza. (1) We give thanks, (2) God's name is near, (3) God's wonderous works, (4) Proper judgment, (5) Wicked men are weak, (6) Cup of God's fury, (7) Singing praises to the Lord. These seven challenging thoughts de-
mand our attention and will reward those who pursue a life of godliness and devotion. The first point and the last point blend together into what should come as natural to mankind as breathing -- worshiping the Creator fromt he depths of our souls.

Another passage, found in 1 Chron. 29:10-13 evinces this expression: "Wherefore David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be Thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and Thou art exalted as Head above all. Both riches and honor come of Thee, and Thou rulest over all; and in Thy hand is power and might; and in Thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name."

If men spent more time adoring God properly, we would have a much better world (Jno. 4:24). We are urged to "Praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men" (Psa. 107:21). We are blessed beyond measure, and wisdom demands that we acknowledge this fact. Notice: "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psa. 107:2), and, "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Psa. 103:1).

When we behold the wonders of heaven's creative genius, we should stand in awe of God! "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handiwork" (Psa. 19:1). Again the Psalmist says, "When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained: what is man, that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visited him?" (Psa. 8:3,4). The order, design and purpose of all that makes our daily sojourn here on earth so precious should cause us to exclaim before deity: "How Great Thou Art!"

We also learn from Psalm 75 the balanced view on judging. Jesus demands that we "judge righteous judgment" (Jno. 7: 24). Valid judgment must be based on the Scriptures, as Jesus declared in Jno. 12:48, "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My Words, hath one that judgeth him; the Word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." We can surely count on one thing, as Gen. 18:25 enunciates clearly: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" When the cup of God's fury (Isa. 51:17) is finally poured out, the wicked will realize their power was shallow and temporary in comparison with genuine power from heaven. "Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). To stand on the wrong side on Judgment Day will be but a reflection of a life misspent and choices foolishly made.

In view of the rich contents of Psalm 75, let us determine to sing praises (Jas. 5:13) and count our blessings before the beautiful throne of God. Let us rise above the petty nature of murmuring and complaining and truly be saints of God: "Do all things without murmurings and questionings: that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world" (Phil. 2: 14,15).

So shall my walk be close with God,
Calm and serene my frame,
So purer light shall mark the road
That leads me to the Lamb.

By Johnny Ramsey in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 55, No. 42, Oct. 20, 2006.

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