Psalm 75 – I Choose
In Psalm 75 God chooses, but what does he choose? What do we learn about God from Psalm 75 – I choose?
Psalm 75
Psalm 75 is another psalm of Asaph, the musician. He begins by praising God: “We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.” (1)
But then he changes to God speaking:
“You say, “I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge with equity.
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 so defiantly.’” (2-5)
Then he switches back to himself as speaker, talking about God.
“No one from the east or the west or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another.
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.” (6-8)
Asaph ends with an assertion of his faith that God judges rightly, again quoting God.
“As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.” (9-10)
Thus ends the back and forth between God and Asaph.
What Does God Choose?
In Psalm 75 – I choose, God chooses the appointed time, more precisely, the time to render justice. Other translations of this verse include:
“When I shall receive the congregation, I will judge uprightly.” King James
“God says, “When I decide the time is right, I will establish justice just so.” Common English Bible
“When I select an appointed time, It is I who judge fairly.” New American Standard
“At the set time that I appoint I will judge with equity.” Revised Standard
“Yes,” the Lord replies, “and when I am ready, I will punish the wicked!” Living Bible
God chooses the time and what he will do is judge justly.
All things happen in the appointed time. In the appointed time, God sent his son, no sooner, no later. In the appointed time, each of us were born and each of us will die. We don’t know this time. That is up to God. And in the appointed time, at the end of time, God will come as judge to separate the wicked from the good, Asaph tells us. Words of reassurance that in the end, good will prevail.
Habemus Papam – the Appointed Time
Last week thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square, and millions throughout the world watched and waited for the white smoke that indicated a new pope had been chosen. This was followed by the announcement of the new pope, Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. A surprise to many, it brought tears of joy as well as disappointment to some who had hoped for another pope, perhaps an Italian.
Much as it was a surprise, it happened in the appointed time, God’s time. The selection of the pope by the college of cardinals is not an election but a prayerful act. While politics may reign outside the doors, once the doors are closed, the cardinals are brought into an atmosphere of prayer. Discussions and politics are brought to a minimum as the cardinals prayerfully assess who they feel called to vote for. After the initial vote, if their candidate does not receive the required vote, they reflect on the top candidates and ask whether God might be asking them to vote for someone else.
I have never taken part in this process and never will, however I have taken part in processes of prayerful discernment, seeking God’s will in consensus decision making while I was in a leadership position in a Catholic Church. It required setting aside personal preferences in order to listen to the leading of the spirit within the community. I imagine that such was the experience in the conclave.
And so, at the appointed time, we have a pope, an American, the pope God has chosen to lead the Catholic Church.
Psalm 75 – I Choose
We all like to have options, choices, and we like to be chosen. God gives us free will so that we can make choices. Hopefully we make good choices, but whether a poor choice or a good choice, they are ours to make. God doesn’t take away our free choice. We can choose for God or not choose God.
But God makes choices as well. God chooses each of us to be part of God’s kingdom. Think about it. We are chosen by God. All the more reason to prayerfully assess the choices we make and try to make choices that align with God’s will.
In the appointed time, God will separate the sheep from the goats, the good from the bad. But the choice is yours. Where do you want to end up? Choose wisely.
I want to pause for a moment to mark a milestone. I am now halfway through the book of Psalms. Seventy-five done, seventy-five to go. Time for a celebration, as I write in Psalm 75: Let’s Have Some Wine! – Patricia M Robertson. Thank you for coming with me this far. Enjoy a glass of wine or your favorite beverage. I hope you stay till the end!
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
(Please note – in order to help ensure you receive email with link to new book, please add my email, patricia@patriciamrobertson.com to your contact list. Some servers are quick to send newsletters to spam or other boxes.)
Leave a Reply