Psalm 75:1 Study Bible: [For the Chief Musician. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A Psalm by Asaph. A song.] We give thanks to you, God. We give thanks, for your Name is near. Men tell about your wondrous works.

◄ Psalm 75:1 ►

We give thanks to You, O God; we give thanks, for Your name is near. The people declare Your wondrous works.

We give thanks to You, O God
The phrase begins with an expression of gratitude, a central theme in the Psalms. The Hebrew word for "give thanks" is "yadah," which implies not only gratitude but also a public confession or acknowledgment of God's goodness. This act of thanksgiving is directed towards "O God," emphasizing a personal relationship with the divine. In the historical context, this gratitude is often linked to deliverance or blessings received, reflecting a deep-seated tradition of acknowledging God's providence and sovereignty.

we give thanks
The repetition of "we give thanks" underscores the communal aspect of worship and gratitude. It is not merely an individual act but a collective expression of the community's acknowledgment of God's deeds. This repetition also serves to emphasize the sincerity and depth of their gratitude. In the Hebrew tradition, repetition is a literary device used to stress importance and urgency, inviting the worshippers to reflect deeply on the reasons for their thanksgiving.

for Your name is near
The "name" of God in Hebrew culture is more than a label; it represents His character, presence, and power. The phrase "Your name is near" suggests God's imminent presence and accessibility to His people. Historically, this reflects the belief that God dwells among His people, particularly in the temple, and is always ready to intervene on their behalf. The nearness of God's name assures the faithful of His constant watchfulness and readiness to act in their lives.

The people declare
This phrase highlights the role of the community in proclaiming God's deeds. The Hebrew root "nagad" means to make known or to announce, indicating that the people are actively involved in spreading the knowledge of God's works. This communal declaration serves as a testimony to others, reinforcing the faith of the community and inviting others to witness God's power and grace.

Your wondrous works
The term "wondrous works" refers to the miraculous and mighty acts of God. In Hebrew, "pala" signifies acts that are extraordinary and beyond human capability, often used to describe God's interventions in history, such as the Exodus. These works are a testament to God's power and faithfulness, serving as a reminder of His covenant with His people. The historical context of the Psalms often reflects on these acts as a source of hope and encouragement for future deliverance and blessings.

Persons / Places / Events

1. God
The central figure in this verse, to whom thanks and praise are directed. His presence and works are acknowledged as near and wondrous.

2. The People
Those who are giving thanks and declaring God's wondrous works. They represent the community of believers who recognize and proclaim God's deeds.

Teaching Points

The Importance of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a vital part of our relationship with God. It acknowledges His sovereignty and goodness in our lives.

Recognizing God's Presence
The phrase "Your Name is near" reminds us that God is always present and active in our lives. We should live with an awareness of His nearness.

Proclaiming God's Works
As believers, we are called to declare God's wondrous works. Sharing testimonies of God's actions in our lives can encourage and strengthen the faith of others.

Community of Believers
The collective "we" emphasizes the importance of communal worship and thanksgiving. Engaging in corporate praise strengthens the body of Christ.

Reflecting on God's Deeds
Regular reflection on God's past works can bolster our faith and trust in Him for the future.

Bible Study Questions

1. What are some specific ways you can incorporate thanksgiving into your daily routine?

2. How can you become more aware of God's presence in your life, and what impact might this have on your faith journey?

3. In what ways can you share God's wondrous works with others in your community or church?

4. How does the practice of communal thanksgiving and worship enhance your personal relationship with God?

5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's nearness. How did that experience shape your understanding of His character?

Connections to Other Scriptures

1 Chronicles 16:8-12
This passage also emphasizes giving thanks to God and recounting His wondrous works, highlighting the importance of remembering and declaring God's deeds.

Philippians 4:6
Encourages believers to present their requests to God with thanksgiving, aligning with the theme of gratitude found in Psalm 75:1.

James 4:8
Speaks about drawing near to God, which complements the idea of God's name being near in Psalm 75:1.

Sermons

A Pious Rulers Purposes and Confidences	R. Tuck	Psalm 75:1
Reasonings from the Divine Activity	R. Tuck	Psalm 75:1
The Divine Name and Names	R. Tuck	Psalm 75:1
The Uplifting God	S. Conway	Psalm 75:1
God Revealed in Nature	The Signal.	Psalm 75:1-10
God's Nearness to the World	Homilist	Psalm 75:1-10
God's Works Declare Him		Psalm 75:1-10
The Nearness of God	R. Simpson, M. A.	Psalm 75:1-10
The Righteous Judgment of God	C. Short	Psalm 75:1-10
The Undaunted One	S. Conway	Psalm 75:1-10

People

Asaph, Jacob, Psalmist

Places

Jerusalem

Topics

Al-taschith, Al-tashheth, Asaph, Chief, Choirmaster, Clear, Declare, Deeds, Destroy, Gt, Honour, Leader, Lt, Marvellous, Music, Musician, Music-maker, O, Overseer, Power, Praise, Psalm, Recount, Recounted, Song, Thanks, Tune, Wonderful, Wonders, Wondrous, Works

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Psalm 75:1

5042 name of God, significance

Psalm 75:

5420 music
7963 song

Library

Of Compunction of Heart
If thou wilt make any progress keep thyself in the fear of God, and long not to be too free, but restrain all thy senses under discipline and give not thyself up to senseless mirth. Give thyself to compunction of heart and thou shalt find devotion. Compunction openeth the way for many good things, which dissoluteness is wont quickly to lose. It is wonderful that any man can ever rejoice heartily in this life who considereth and weigheth his banishment, and the manifold dangers which beset his soul. …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Advertisement.
It seems necessary to give the following outline of the history of this Oxford translation. It was undertaken as part of the great series of original translations which appeared "under the patronage of William, Archbishop of Canterbury, from its commencement, a.d. 1836, until his Grace's departure in peace, a.d. 1848." It proposed to include all the "Fathers of the Holy Catholic Church before the division of the East and West," and this exposition was dedicated as a memorial of Archbishop Howley …
St. Augustine—Exposition on the Book of Psalms

Derivative Doctrines. Grace and the Means of Grace; the Christian Life; the Last Things.
The idea of Grace is important to the theological system of Athanasius, in view of the central place occupied in that system by the idea of restoration and new creation as the specific work of Christ upon His fellow-men (supra, §2, cf. Orat. ii. 56, Exp. in Pss. xxxiii. 2, cxviii. 5, LXX.). But, in common with the Greek Fathers generally, he does not analyse its operation, nor endeavour to fix its relation to free will (cf. Orat. i. 37 fin., iii. 25 sub fin.). The divine predestination relates …
Athanasius—Select Works and Letters or Athanasius

The Power of God
The next attribute is God's power. Job 9:19. If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong.' In this chapter is a magnificent description of God's power. Lo, he is strong.' The Hebrew word for strong signifies a conquering, prevailing strength. He is strong.' The superlative degree is intended here; viz., He is most strong. He is called El-shaddai, God almighty. Gen 17:7. His almightiness lies in this, that he can do whatever is feasible. Divines distinguish between authority and power. God has both. …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Appendix v. Rabbinic Theology and Literature
1. The Traditional Law. - The brief account given in vol. i. p. 100, of the character and authority claimed for the traditional law may here be supplemented by a chronological arrangement of the Halakhoth in the order of their supposed introduction or promulgation. In the first class, or Halakhoth of Moses from Sinai,' tradition enumerates fifty-five, [6370] which may be thus designated: religio-agrarian, four; [6371] ritual, including questions about clean and unclean,' twenty-three; [6372] concerning …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Mountainous Country of Judea.
"What is the mountainous country of Judea? It is the king's mountain." However Judea, here and there, doth swell out much with mountains, yet its chief swelling appears in that broad back of mountains, that runs from the utmost southern cost as far as Hebron, and almost as Jerusalem itself. Which the Holy Scripture called "The hill-country of Judah," Joshua 21:11; Luke 1:39. Unless I am very much mistaken,--the maps of Adricomus, Tirinius, and others, ought to be corrected, which have feigned to …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Of his Cross what Shall I Speak, what Say? this Extremest Kind of Death...
9. Of His cross what shall I speak, what say? This extremest kind of death He chose, that not any kind of death might make His Martyrs afraid. The doctrine He shewed in His life as Man, the example of patience He demonstrated in His Cross. There, you have the work, that He was crucified; example of the work, the Cross; reward of the work, Resurrection. He shewed us in the Cross what we ought to endure, He shewed in the Resurrection what we have to hope. Just like a consummate task-master in the matches …
St. Augustine—On the Creeds

St. Malachy's Apostolic Labours, Praises and Miracles.
[Sidenote: 1140, October] 42. (23). Malachy embarked in a ship, and after a prosperous voyage landed at his monastery of Bangor,[576] so that his first sons might receive the first benefit.[577] In what state of mind do you suppose they were when they received their father--and such a father--in good health from so long a journey? No wonder if their whole heart gave itself over to joy at his return, when swift rumour soon brought incredible gladness even to the tribes[578] outside round about them. …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

Third Stage of the Roman Trial. Pilate Reluctantly Sentences Him to Crucifixion.
(Friday. Toward Sunrise.) ^A Matt. XXVII. 15-30; ^B Mark XV. 6-19; ^C Luke XXIII. 13-25; ^D John XVIII. 39-XIX 16. ^a 15 Now at the feast [the passover and unleavened bread] the governor was wont { ^b used to} release unto them ^a the multitude one prisoner, whom they would. { ^b whom they asked of him.} [No one knows when or by whom this custom was introduced, but similar customs were not unknown elsewhere, both the Greeks and Romans being wont to bestow special honor upon certain occasions by releasing …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Ci. Foretelling his Passion. Rebuking Ambition.
(Peræa, or Judæa, Near the Jordan.) ^A Matt. XX. 17-28; ^B Mark X. 32-45; ^C Luke XVIII. 31-34. ^b 32 And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem [Dean Mansel sees in these words an evidence that Jesus had just crossed the Jordan and was beginning the actual ascent up to Jerusalem. If so, he was in Judæa. But such a construction strains the language. Jesus had been going up to Jerusalem ever since he started in Galilee, and he may now have still be in Peræa. The parable …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Eternity of God
The next attribute is, God is eternal.' Psa 90:0. From everlasting to everlasting thou art God.' The schoolmen distinguish between aevun et aeternum, to explain the notion of eternity. There is a threefold being. I. Such as had a beginning; and shall have an end; as all sensitive creatures, the beasts, fowls, fishes, which at death are destroyed and return to dust; their being ends with their life. 2. Such as had a beginning, but shall have no end, as angels and the souls of men, which are eternal …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Few Sighs from Hell;
or, The Groans of the Damned Soul: or, An Exposition of those Words in the Sixteenth of Luke, Concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar WHEREIN IS DISCOVERED THE LAMENTABLE STATE OF THE DAMNED; THEIR CRIES, THEIR DESIRES IN THEIR DISTRESSES, WITH THE DETERMINATION OF GOD UPON THEM. A GOOD WARNING WORD TO SINNERS, BOTH OLD AND YOUNG, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BETIMES, AND TO SEEK, BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, TO AVOID, LEST THEY COME INTO THE SAME PLACE OF TORMENT. Also, a Brief Discourse touching the …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Providence of God
Q-11: WHAT ARE GOD'S WORKS OF PROVIDENCE? A: God's works of providence are the acts of his most holy, wise, and powerful government of his creatures, and of their actions. Of the work of God's providence Christ says, My Father worketh hitherto and I work.' John 5:17. God has rested from the works of creation, he does not create any new species of things. He rested from all his works;' Gen 2:2; and therefore it must needs be meant of his works of providence: My Father worketh and I work.' His kingdom …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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