Thursday, March 15, 2012

Half-way Through our 150 Days of Psalms


Whe I choose a time, I will judge fairlyl When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, I am the One who steadies its pillars. v.3
For there is a cup in the LORD'S hand, full of wine blended with spices, and He pours from it. All the wicked of the earth will drink, draining it to the dregs. v.8 HCSB


Psalm 75 reminded me of verses in Revelation.

he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
Revelation 14:10 NASB

A tapestry by Nicolas de Bataille of France from the 14th Century
He has a whole series of tapestries based on the book of Revelation

From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
Revelation 19:15 NASB

I see "strong" world leaders who lift up their horn (a symbol of power) against heaven and speak arrogantly. They blaspheme against God and persecute His Church. Because of this, I like seeing verses like v.7 "God is the Judge: He brings down one and exalts another." I've often wondered how God allows these world leaders - presidents, dictators, kings (whatever their title) - to stay in power when they are so wicked and ungodly. I remind myself that there is coming a day when the Antichrist will rule the world and that evil will seem to have triumphed - and to get to that place we have to have leaders now that will make it possible for the Antichrist to take power. But in the end we see here and we see in Revelation (and other places throughout scripture) that God is the Judge and one day He will pour out His wrath on "all the wicked of the earth."
 
In the mean-time, I will join the psalmist - "I will tell about Him forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob."

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