Gods Justice on His Terms

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading & Discussion — Psalm 75
• Sermon
• Pastoral Prayer

---

Sermon Title: God's Justice on His Terms

Scripture: Psalm 75

I. The Congregation Speaks — Psalm 75:1

A. Asaph opens with confident thanksgiving, not questioning — a contrast to Psalm 73

1. In Psalm 73, Asaph's foot nearly slips as he envies the prospering wicked
2. Here, even amid likely Babylonian exile (cf. Psalm 74), there is immediate resolve and confidence

B. The nearness of God's name signals the nearness of God himself

1. God's name = God's presence throughout the Hebrew Scriptures
2. Cf. the Aaronic blessing of Numbers 6:24-26 — to place God's name on Israel is to place his presence upon them

C. A recurring theme throughout the Psalter: recount the wondrous deeds of God in the past

1. The anchor of the soul in suffering is objective, not subjective — not feelings, but the historical redemptive acts of God
2. The psalmist draws macro-cosmic redemptive history (Exodus, David) into his micro-cosmic experience
3. The God who has judged justly in the past will judge justly in the future

II. God Speaks — Psalm 75:2-5

A. God brings assurance of just judgment to the righteous (Psalm 75:2-3)

1. Judgment will come at God's set time, not ours — an answer to the cry of Psalm 74:10: "How long, O God?"
2. Judgment is executed with equity — on God's terms and timeline, not ours

B. Two scriptural reasons for the delay of God's judgment

1. To give time for repentance — Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:8-9
2. To store up wrath — God allows wickedness to reach its fullness before judgment falls; cf. God's word to Abraham that the Amorites' iniquity must be made complete

C. The delay of judgment is also an opportunity for believers

1. Luther's first thesis: the life of a Christian is a life of repentance
2. The delay is not cause for frustration but for examining and ordering one's own life

D. God brings warning to the wicked and arrogant (Psalm 75:4-5)

1. The horn = a metaphor for strength; the wicked boast in their own power
2. Historical examples of arrogant rulers brought low: Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, Hitler — all humbled by God

III. The Preacher Speaks — Psalm 75:6-8

A. Do not look to human powers for deliverance (Psalm 75:6)

1. Israel repeatedly turned to foreign nations — east, west, wilderness — for aid
2. Example: King Ahaz seeking Assyria's help instead of trusting God (Isaiah 7)
3. God sends Isaiah with a sign — the virgin birth, Immanuel — God himself is Israel's protector and savior
4. The Christmas sign: God and God alone saves his people (cf. Matthew 1 — he shall save his people from their sins)

B. The cup of God's wrath poured out on the wicked (Psalm 75:8)

1. The image of God's wrath as a cup of foaming wine appears throughout the prophets (Jeremiah, Isaiah)
2. Spurgeon: "If the very color of divine wrath is terrible, what must the taste be?"
3. Trusting temporary human powers leads to the same fate as those powers — here today, gone tomorrow

IV. The Individual Psalmist Speaks — Psalm 75:9-10

A. The psalmist resolves not only to rest in God's justice but to proclaim it

1. We are called to be heralds of righteousness, warning the unrepentant of coming judgment

B. The Christian application of Psalm 75: two cups to present to the world

1. The cup of God's wrath has already been poured out on Christ — Romans 3 (propitiation); cf. Gethsemane
2. In the fullness of time God sent his Son — Galatians 4:4 — the appointed time of judgment has arrived in Christ
3. The cup of salvation: Christ has drunk the dregs of God's wrath for all who trust in him
4. The cup of wrath remains for all who are outside of Christ
5. Christians go to the highways and byways calling people to repentance — cf. Paul at the Areopagus (Acts 17)