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Psalms

About this book
Psalm 75

1 For the music director, according to the al-tashcheth style; a psalm of Asaph, a song. We give thanks to you, O God. We give thanks. You reveal your presence; people tell about your amazing deeds. 2 God says, “At the appointed times, I judge fairly. 3 When the earth and all its inhabitants dissolve in fear, I make its pillars secure.” (Selah) 4 I say to the proud, “Do not be proud,” and to the wicked, “Do not be so confident of victory. 5 Do not be so certain you have won. Do not speak with your head held so high. 6 For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness. 7 For God is the judge. He brings one down and exalts another. 8 For the Lord holds in his hand a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices, and pours it out. Surely all the wicked of the earth will slurp it up and drink it to its very last drop.”⁠ 9 As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 God says, “I will bring down all the power of the wicked; the godly will be victorious.”

Texts in conversation

Compare Habakkuk 2:16 and Psalm 75:8

Hebrew Bible

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Summary

Habakkuk and Psalm 75 both use the image of a cup of wine held in God’s hand to symbolize judgment. In Psalm 75 the nations drink from the cup, while Habakkuk describes the Babylonians becoming drunk and exposed after forcing others to drink.

Passages

Habakkuk 2:16

Hebrew Bible
14 For recognition of the Lord’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea. 15 “Woe to you who force your neighbor to drink wine—you who make others intoxicated by forcing them to drink from the bowl of your furious anger so you can look at their naked bodies. 16 But you will become drunk with shame, not majesty. Now it is your turn to drink and expose your uncircumcised foreskin! The cup of wine in the Lord’s right hand is coming to you, and disgrace will replace your majestic glory! 17 For you will pay in full for your violent acts against Lebanon; terrifying judgment will come upon you because of the way you destroyed the wild animals living there. You have shed human blood and committed violent acts against lands, cities, and those who live in them. 18 What good is an idol? Why would a craftsman make it? What good is a metal image that gives misleading oracles? Why would its creator place his trust in it and make such mute, worthless things?
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Habakkuk

Psalm 75:8

Hebrew Bible
6 For victory does not come from the east or west, or from the wilderness. 7 For God is the judge. He brings one down and exalts another. 8 For the Lord holds in his hand a cup full of foaming wine mixed with spices, and pours it out. Surely all the wicked of the earth will slurp it up and drink it to its very last drop.” 9 As for me, I will continually tell what you have done; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 God says, “I will bring down all the power of the wicked; the godly will be victorious.”
600–201 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Psalms

References

"... The second strophe continues the imagery of drinking, but this time it is the Chaldeans who are forced to drink from the cup of wrath from God, 'You are sated with dishonor rather than glory. Drink! Even you, and be counted uncircumcised. The cup of the right hand of the Lord will turn upon you, and emetic shame will be upon your glory.' This strophe gives a vivid description of the notorious Babylonian drinking party whereby participants often get drunk and expose themselves. This description also gives an ironic twist: the oppressor, who makes others drunk and gazes at their nakedness, is in turn getting drunk and being exposed as uncircumcised. And the cup they are drinking from is the one that comes from the Lord. 'The cup,' especially when it comes from the Lord, usually symbolizes divine judgment (e.g., Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17, 22; Jeremiah 25:15; 51:7; Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 23:32-33). The cup is often described as containing 'wine of wrath' (Jeremiah 25:15), which passes around the nations (Jeremiah 25:15; 49:12), and whoever drinks of it would 'stagger' (Isaiah 51:17-22; compare Jeremiah 25:15), 'go mad' (Jeremiah 51:7), and 'be naked' (Lamentations 4:21) ..."
Grace Ko, Theodicy in Habakkuk (University of St. Michael's College, 2009), 107–108.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Habakkuk 2:16 and Psalm 75:8

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