Psalm 75, Horns Lifted Up

For the director of music. [To the tune of] "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A song.

This psalm bears the same tune as Psalms 57-59.

Psalm 75: 1,  God near

 We give thanks to you, O God, we give thanks, 

for your Name is near; 

men tell of your wonderful deeds.

This song, of Asaph, begins with thanksgiving and praise. God's Name (and thus His Presence) is near and the psalmist is eager to sing praises.

Psalm 75: 2-7, Appointed time

 You say, "I choose the appointed time; 

it is I who judge uprightly.

 When the earth and all its people quake,

 it is I who hold its pillars firm.

 To the arrogant I say, `Boast no more,' 

and to the wicked,`Do not lift up your horns.

 Do not lift your horns against heaven; 

do not speak without stretched neck.'"

 No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt a man.

 But it is God who judges: 

He brings one down, 

he exalts another.

The first words of verse 2 in the NIV "You say" are not really in the text but are implied. The text in verse 2 switches to first person and it is clear God who is speaking.

God chooses the appointed time. Even if the earth is shaking, it is God who holds its pillars and keeps it from crumbling. The arrogant and wicked eventually will see God's timing. 

Animal horns are a sign of power. The arrogant start to lift up their horns towards heaven but God witll bring them down.

The middle stanza above gives a warning to the arrogant.  It is God who lifts up people and brings down others. This is distress for the wicked but the psalmist exults in this reminder.

Psalm 75: 8, Wicked drink the wine of wrath

 In 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.

God prepares a drink of foaming wine for the wicked and they gulp it down. (This image of a wine glass for the wicked appears in the New Testament in Revelation 14: 8-10.)

Psalm 75: 9-10, But I will sing praises

 As for me, I will declare this forever; 

I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

 I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, 

but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

While YHWH prepares this cup for the wicked, Asaph will instead praise God and rejoice. He rejoices that God will someday cut off the horns of the wicked but lift up the horns of the righteous.