Psalm 75 1

Psalm 75:1 kjv

Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Psalm 75:1 nkjv

To the Chief Musician. Set to "Do Not Destroy." A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.

Psalm 75:1 niv

For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." A psalm of Asaph. A song. We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 75:1 esv

We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.

Psalm 75:1 nlt

We thank you, O God!
We give thanks because you are near.
People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalm 75 verses

Psalm 75 1 Meaning

Psalm 75:1 begins with a declaration of profound gratitude and testimony, affirming the Lord God's active presence and His mighty, extraordinary interventions in the world. It states that praise is rendered because God's very being and power are tangibly near to His people, manifested through His awe-inspiring actions throughout history. The verse sets a foundational tone for the psalm, grounding its subsequent themes of divine justice and sovereignty in the direct, personal experience of God's redemptive work.

Psalm 75 1 Context

Psalm 75, often designated as an "Al-tashcheth" psalm (Do Not Destroy), stands in a cluster with other psalms bearing this superscription (Psa 57, 58, 59) which are generally associated with times of intense distress, yet anticipating God's ultimate deliverance and justice. The historical context for Psalm 75 could relate to a national crisis, potentially an impending invasion or a period of internal turmoil where justice was perverted, leading the psalmist (Asaph) to appeal to God as the righteous Judge of all the earth. The opening verse grounds the entire psalm's message of divine judgment and sovereignty by first acknowledging God's profound goodness and immediate presence, manifested in His powerful deeds. It reminds the audience that God, who is about to judge, is the very God they have known through His benevolent and wondrous interventions in their history, thereby validating His authority and ensuring His righteousness in judgment.

Psalm 75 1 Word analysis

• To the choirmaster: according to Al-tashcheth. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song.

  • This is a superscription, common in Psalms, providing instruction or context for musical performance and authorship.
  • "To the choirmaster" (לַמְנַצֵּחַ - lamnatzeach): Designates the psalm for the leader of music or overseer, indicating it was for public liturgical use.
  • "according to Al-tashcheth" (עַל אַל־תַּשְׁחֵת - ‘al ’al-tashcheth): Meaning "Do Not Destroy" or "Do Not Destroy Them." It may indicate a specific tune, a melodic setting, or even the occasion of a psalm recited during a time when the people cried out against destruction (Psa 57:1, 58:1, 59:1 also share this, implying urgency and dependence on God). It links to a theme of preservation in the face of annihilation, despite divine judgment.
  • "A Psalm of Asaph." (מִזְמוֹר לְאָסָף - Mizmor le’Asaph): Asaph was a chief musician appointed by David (1 Chr 15:19, 16:5), suggesting an official and liturgical setting for this praise. Asaphic psalms often focus on God’s justice, Israel’s history, and covenant faithfulness.
  • "A Song." (שִׁיר - shir): Specifies the type of musical composition.

• We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks,

  • "We give thanks" (הוֹדִינוּ - hōdînû): From the root יָדָה (yadah), meaning "to praise, thank, confess." The Hiphil form used here emphasizes declaring or confessing. The repetition intensifies the act, conveying earnestness, emphasis, and collective agreement in expressing profound gratitude. It's a spontaneous outpouring of the community's heart.
  • "to you, O God" (לְּךָ אֱלֹהִים - lekha ’Elohîm): The direct address emphasizes a personal, relational praise towards Elohim, God as the powerful Creator and Judge, a common name for God in the Old Testament, often used where God’s power and might are prominent.

• for your Name is near.

  • "for" (כִּי - kî): Introduces the reason for the repeated thanksgiving.
  • "your Name" (שִׁמְךָ - shimkhā): In biblical thought, "Name" is not merely a label but represents God's revealed character, His presence, His authority, and His power. It encapsulates His attributes, His deeds, and His covenant relationship. To speak of God's Name is to speak of God Himself in His manifested being.
  • "is near" (קָרוֹב - qārôv): This signifies not just physical proximity but accessibility, readiness to intervene, attentiveness, and active presence. God is not distant or uncaring but intimately involved in the affairs of His people and the world. This contrasts with idols that are impotent and unresponding.

• We recount your wondrous deeds.

  • "We recount" (סִפְּרוּ - sippĕrû): From the verb סָפַר (saphar), meaning "to count, tell, declare, publish, relate." It implies a detailed, perhaps numerical, recounting of events, ensuring they are not forgotten but declared and published to others, affirming their truth and significance. It is an act of communal memory and teaching.
  • "your wondrous deeds" (נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ - niphle’ōteykha): From the root פָּלָא (pālā’), meaning "to be wonderful, extraordinary, difficult to understand." These are God's miraculous, astonishing acts of power and deliverance, beyond human comprehension or capability. They often refer to the mighty acts of salvation history, like the Exodus, or acts of creation and providence. These deeds serve as a concrete basis for their faith and thanksgiving.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your Name is near.": This phrase establishes the primary reason for thanksgiving. The repeated "we give thanks" emphasizes earnestness and underscores the communal and heartfelt nature of the praise. The reason for this thanksgiving, "your Name is near," points to God's immediate, active, and available presence. It's not thanks for an abstract concept but for a God who is real, personal, and actively involved.
  • "for your Name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.": The direct causal link between God's "near Name" and the "recounting of wondrous deeds" is vital. Because God is near and actively intervenes (His Name is near), there are tangible, miraculous acts to speak of. These two clauses work together: the divine proximity facilitates the divine acts, which in turn are declared by the beneficiaries of those acts. It's a continuous cycle of divine manifestation, human gratitude, and declaration.

Psalm 75 1 Bonus section

The superscription "Al-tashcheth" (Do Not Destroy) links Psalm 75 not only to a shared musical setting or historical period of distress but also to a deeper theological plea for preservation, even amidst impending judgment or difficulty. This connection subtly frames the thanksgiving in verse 1: the "wondrous deeds" are not just past deliverances but a continued trust that God, whose "Name is near," will not utterly destroy His people, despite the justice He brings upon the wicked in the later verses. This sets up a profound paradox of praise and confidence in a God who both judges the proud and preserves the faithful. Furthermore, the selection of Asaph, a prominent liturgical leader, suggests this was a psalm meant for public worship, aiming to affirm national faith in God's sovereignty, particularly when human authority (symbolized by the horns in later verses) fails or is corrupted. This public declaration served to bolster communal hope and remind everyone of God's unchanging nature and power.

Psalm 75 1 Commentary

Psalm 75:1 lays the spiritual groundwork for the entire psalm by framing the people's core conviction in the nature of God. The repeated "we give thanks" signals an earnest, communal, and perhaps spontaneous expression of gratitude. This isn't just a casual thanks but a deep confession of what God has done. The pivotal reason given for this thanksgiving is that "Your Name is near." This phrase powerfully communicates God's active presence and immediate accessibility, contrasting Him with distant or ineffective deities. His "Name" embodies His very character, His attributes, and His power as revealed through His interaction with creation and humanity. Therefore, a "near Name" implies a God who hears, sees, and intervenes. Because His Name is near, there are concrete "wondrous deeds" to recount. These are not merely human achievements but supernatural acts of deliverance, creation, and providence, confirming His sovereign power and faithful love. This initial declaration of fervent thanks for God's imminence and His historical interventions sets the stage for the psalm's broader themes of God as the righteous Judge who will ultimately set things right and exalt the humble, knowing He has always been a God who acts decisively on behalf of His people. The verse highlights the inseparable connection between divine character, divine action, and human worship.For practical usage, this verse calls believers to:

• Express thanksgiving sincerely and repeatedly.
• Acknowledge God's active and ever-present reality in their lives.
• Share personal and corporate testimonies of His "wondrous deeds" in daily life and history.