Psalm 75 (74):6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

What does He convey in another Psalm? This lists particular transgressions. "These actions you have performed," He states and remains quiet. Was I indeed silent? Although He never fails to issue a command, He is silent regarding punishment: He restrains His wrath and does not declare judgment upon the guilty. Yet this individual asserts: I committed this and that, and God did not retaliate; look, I am fine, nothing has befallen me. You say, "I have done this," and I remained silent: you suspected wrongdoing as if I would be like you. What does it imply that I would resemble you? As you are unjust, you have perceived Me as unjust too; as if I were endorsing your sins instead of opposing or avenging them. And what does He say to you? I will confront you and present your actions before you.

Do not raise your strength in pride; for those with power wield it excessively. The Psalm instructs us not to amplify wickedness through arrogance or to speak against the Lord.

Do not exalt your power to the heights of the earth. The prophet clarifies the height he refers to. Furthermore, do not utter injustice against God. Beasts with horns wield great strength, yet the prophet's message encourages us to avoid multiplying wrongdoing through pride and to refrain from speaking falsely about God.

David reiterates these same phrases to reinforce and enhance his witness and instruction to those who transgress. The directive to "Speak not unrighteousness against God" aligns with the command to "Speak unrighteousness on high," which we have previously discussed in Psalm 72:8.

The prophet, after revealing to the faithful the divine Providence directed toward them, now addresses the wicked, denouncing their folly and celebrating their defeat. This sacred victory over the unrighteous is rooted in the judgment he previously prophesied through the voice of God. For those who are faithful, knowing God's righteousness, their boasting continues even amid intense persecution. They find amusement in the futile attempts of the wicked, urging them to abandon their madness, thereby demonstrating that the wicked flail uselessly, like those caught in storms leading to ruin. It is important to note that the Prophet identifies pride as the source of folly, and rightly so.

Idiphum and Asaph held the esteemed positions of chief singers under David, and this psalm was entrusted to them by David so that they might perform it together, their expressions reflecting the glory and reverence owed to God. Some interpret Idiphum as a name for a specific instrument known at the time, which Asaph, the leader of the singers, utilized when proclaiming this psalm. However, since Idiphum signifies the one who approaches, and Asaph represents the assembly of believers, the psalm conveys a message to the faithful gathered in the name of Christ our Lord. It encourages them to transition from their temporal existence to eternal life, moving from their earthly pilgrimage to their heavenly homeland.

Do not ridicule your achievements, nor utter unjust words about God, meaning do not claim that He has abandoned the world without His sustenance.