There is a cup

There is a cup

Any nation that claims to be a 'Nation under God' will at times have its heart revealed. (Matthew 25:32, Luke 12:48).

Psalm 75:1 How we thank you, Lord! Your mighty miracles give proof that you care. "Yes,"the Lord replies,"and when I am ready, I will deal with the ungodly! Though the earth shakes and all its people live in turmoil, yet its pillars are firm, for I have set them in place!" 4. I warned the proud to cease their arrogance! 5. I told the ungodly to lower their insolent gaze and I said Do not brandish the horn of power, and to cease being so stubborn. 6. For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. 7. He promotes one and deposes another. 8. In Gods hand there is a cup of mixed wine. It is his judgment (crisis of accountability), poured out upon the ungodly of the earth. They must drain that cup to the dregs. 9. But as for me, I shall forever declare the praises of the God of Jacob. 10. "I will cut off the strength of those who do evil," says the Lord," and increase the power of the godly in their place."

This psalm contains three striking signs. The first sign is the picture of a shaking world, (vs.4). These are the times in which we live today- unsteady, shaken, and insecure. Enormous disorder is in the earth, and unrest is being felt across the world. But God intervenes, so trust him (I have set the pillars in place). The second sign is that of the horn that symbolises power, majesty, and dignity, (four times in the psalms). However, these can be raised in pride and defiance, as in verses 5-6. Which ever party gets into power at any given time, there will be the temptation to think man is in charge and not God. Vs.6. For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. 7. He promotes one and deposes another. Verses 5 and 6 are God's word of warning to the boastful and ungodly, collectively, both those who deny his lordship or those who try to use his name for their own ends. Those who exalt themselves instead of trusting in him are denying the fundamental nature of reality: God is in charge, and His dealings will come. To those who truly call themselves God’s people this is a word of hope. The third sign is that of the cup of mixed wine of judgment (crisis of accountability) in the hand of God (v 9). The psalms speak of a number of cups in the Lord’s hands – There is a cup of salvation (Psalm 116:13), and a cup of blessing (Psalm 23).

But psalm 60 says that before the cup of blessing and salvation there will come another cup.

Psalm 60:2 O God, You have cast us off; You have broken us down; You have been displeased; Oh, restore us again! You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; Heal its breaches, for it is shaking. You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of humiliation and confusion. You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth.

There has been longsuffering from God, which means He waits till the people’s collective behaviour has filled the cup that is in His hand and he will make them (and us) drink it. He tips everything upside down so that all expectations are dashed. When the cup is drunk there comes a realization by many that God is in charge – the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Chaos will erupt, but God’s steadying hand will be there to restore order. God wants to get people to trust him but he has to disrupt their trust in man and in self so that they will call on his name. Then they will see the cup in God's hand for what it is.

The psalm ends with the promise that ‘The horns of power of the ungodly will be cut off, but those of the godly will be lifted up’ (who are the godly?). This is the basis for those who truly fear the Lord to give thankful praise to God.