Psalms
75 – 77
Verse 75:4 shows a theme which is scattered throughout the
Bible:
“I discipline the
arrogant by telling them, ‘No more bragging.’
I discipline the wicked by saying, ‘Do not
raise your horn to demonstrate your power.
Why is this? Think about it arrogant braggarts eventually
want more glory than God. They want the glory for what was achieved and not
God. Sure life may seem like we did this or that, but in all honesty God needed
to be given credit for all. Satan wanted this credit and has created an
environment where you’re considered a freak to give God credit and not consume
it yourself.
Verse 76:12 shows what God does with this spirit:
He squashes the arrogant spirit
of the rulers
and inspires fear in the hearts of the
kings of the earth.
God wants us to know He is in control, we may be in charge
of our little spot in this world but ultimate control is in God’s hands. The
little things that make the big things possible were orchestrated by God. I
know this will open the “then why do bad things happen to good people”
question. Again this is a long discussion on free will, which I addressed a few
thoughts back. God is not some praise crazed dictator, He just wants credit to
be where credit is due.
Verse 77:9 is a time in Israel when they are not being
blessed as they were before:
Has the True God forgotten how to
be gracious?
In His anger, has He withdrawn His compassion?”
Has God forgotten you? How many times have I felt this? The
Psalmist was David’s “music director” so I can only assume it was during the
times after Bathsheba or when He did not listen to God’s orders totally. Either
way it’s not that God has abandoned us, but rather we need to go deeper.
People often call this “winter” in their seasons where God
seems distant. It may be punishment for wrongs done, or it may be giving us the
opportunity to go deeper into exploring God. Often “winter” is when God is with
us, but whispering rather than making it obvious or yelling.