Over the years I have occasionally watched legal dramas on TV, and even now and then watched Court TV, with the live or recorded broadcasts of real court cases. One thing that you learn is that it is never wise to yell at, or be disrespectful to the judge. Even if the defendant is completely in the right, it will never help his case to mouth off or make snarky remarks to the judge. In our psalm today, the psalmist Asaph reminds us of our Divine Judge, who we will each one day be standing before.
As we read through this somewhat brief psalm of Asaph’s, we see that God is the Judge. The day is coming when He will judge all mankind, everyone who has ever lived, including you and I. No one will escape His judgment. Another thing Asaph addresses is that God is the Judge, not any other person, not you or me. In the first verse the redeemed are speaking. Then throughout the rest of the psalm, it is the Lord God, our Divine Judge, speaking.
When we have a case that is to be heard in court, the judge or his office decides when that date will be. Likewise, it is God who will decide when He will judge mankind (vs. 2). For the believer, that will be at the Judgment Seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10). For the lost, that will be the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15). As Jesus said, no one but the Father knows the exact time these will be.
In the courtroom, occasionally we see a defendant who acts very arrogantly and proudly. They show no one any respect, nor act with any humility. As I mentioned earlier, that type of behavior won’t help their case. Sometimes the judge has to give a stern reprimand to the defendant for his behavior, maybe even hold him in contempt of court. Our psalmist speaks of the proud and boastful who have no fear of God in them, who act arrogantly and proudly before Him, with no fear of His eternal judgment. The phrase “lift up the horn” in verses 5, 6, and 10 refers to someone who is exceedingly proud, like a seemingly proud and strong animal with horns. God is warning us, and the wicked in particular here to not be too proud and sure of ourselves. Like the smug, conceited, and disdainful defendant who is guilty, but thinks he will get off just because of who he thinks he is, his judgment will come.
People, even within the Church, look to one another for promotion or affirmation (vs. 6-7). However the Lord Jesus is the only One who will lift our “horn”, not other people. When we try to lift ourselves or others, it brings pride. When God does it, it shows humility.
Jesus gave us warning that when God brings His righteous judgment upon the wicked in this world, it will be worse than any time in history (Matthew 24:21). Asaph describes this time of His judgment as having to drink a cup of liquid down to the dregs (vs. 8). Drinking something “to the dregs” is to drink it all the way to the bottom where any sediment may have settled. It is drinking it completely. The wicked have arrogantly mocked God and scoffed at His Word from the dawn of time, and He has patiently, lovingly, and mercifully sought to call them back to Him. Now the time for mercy has passed, and God will bring judgment. Asaph pictures it as a cup that the wicked must drink down to the dregs.
In verse 9 Asaph sings his praise to the God of Jacob. Throughout Scripture we read of God being called the “God of Jacob”. Why the “God of Jacob”? God blessed Jacob, even when he deserved nothing good, as Jacob was so often a rascal. That was because Jacob turned to God and repented. God will honor and accept anyone who repents and calls upon Him as Savior, no matter what was in their past, just as Jacob did. If they put their faith and trust in Jesus and what He did for us on the Cross, then they will be accepted by Him, and He will be their God, just as He was the God of Jacob.
Where will we be on that Day of Judgment that is coming ever closer? What will our attitude be? One of contempt and arrogance, tossing our head high? Or have we come to His throne in humility, calling upon His Son Jesus to be our Savior. For those who have called upon Jesus, He is our Advocate, our Divine Attorney (I John 2:1-2). He will show the Eternal Judge the nail prints in His hands, saying that He has taken our judgment for us. Let’s make sure we are prepared for that Judgment Day.
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