Asaph the Musician's Middle Psalm--Psalm 75
Asaph was a Levite Psalm musician who authored twelve Psalms including Ps 50, and Psalms 73-83. Asaph's first Psalm is Psalm 50, and his last Psalm 83. Asaph's shortest Psalm has 8 verses, and his longest Psalm has 72 verses. Besides, there's the middle Psalm of the Psalter--Psalm 75--that has 10 verses.
Of the twelve Psalms Asaph wrote one is an historical psalm, two are wisdom psalms, three are songs of Zion and six psalms are laments. Now the very middle Psalm of the one-hundred fifty psalms is Psalm 75--a wisdom Psalm. Do you know which categories the others fall under?
It's Superscription or Title: Check your Bible for this caption "To the chief musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph" Instead of the chief musician some versions say: "To the chief choir master."
Its First Verse: "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare." Note the repetitious words which encourage us to offer thanks to the Lord.
Its Final Verse: "All the horns (strength) of the wicked will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted."
Its Key Verse: "But God is the judge: for he putteth down one, and setteth up another." (v.7)
Focus On the Ups: As you read through the Psalm, you'll notice a repetition of the words "up" and others that include "up" in them. I've divided the verses this way: Offer Up! (v.1) Judge Uprightly! (v.2) "Bear Up! (firmly set up") (v.3) "Lift not up!" (v.4,5) "Lift Up!" (exaltation) (V.6) "Setteth Up!" (v.7) "Drink Up!" (cup) (v.8) "Offer Up!" (v.9) and "Lifted Up!" (v.10).
God's In Charge!
(Action Rhyme with Bible Verse)
Write it big and write it large,
Pay attention! God's in charge!
Write it big and write it bold.
Don't forget! God's in control!
Write it big and write it clear.
For God's words, you must hear:
"But God is the judge, he putteth
down one, and setteth up another."
Ps. 75:7/LEP
Actions: Hold out l. hand palm up; with rt. index finger pretend to write on hand. (Line 1,3,5) and shake finger and point upward on lines two and three. Cup hands round ears. (Line 5) Point up, point down, point up again. Suggestion: Have kids write the verse out the verse extra big, extra dark, and with a different font.
God's In Charge! A Psalm Rhyme Dedicated to Mrs. H.
Penny H., affectionately referred to by me, as Mrs. H. was my long-time neighbor in the beautiful Piedmont NC town of Pilot Mountain. Now Mrs. H. was an older lady who oft repeated to me, when we'd be talking, that "God is in charge, he's in control!" So often did she repeat those words that when I read Psalm 75:7 immediately I thought of Penny. Penny who lived in Pilot with its towering knob peak in view from her back door. Penny who last wrote to me how she was reading the Bible book of Jeremiah along with me. At that time, she was ninety-nine years old! How could I ever forget her frequent admonition "God's in charge!" over and over. She didn't quite make it to one hundred, but in her last letter she was reading her Bible with passion. What a sweet memory of a special friend.
Regarding Psalm 75:7 I ask you the reader could there be a more relevant verse for us in 2025 than this verse? Keeping that thought in mind, do listen to and sing along with the words of the beloved spiritual: "He's Got the Whole World In his Hands" from Wee Sings Sing Alongs. Hear it here: Bing Videos
Hone In On "Horns" in Scripture
One can't help but notice that the word "horn" is often used in Scripture and in Psalm 75 designating the thought of "strength" or "power." In these verses we're not speaking of "instruments!" In fact, in Ps.75, in verse four we find "horn" used in reference to fools or the wicked. Lifting one's horn as a horned animal signals the idea of someone boasting proudly and loudly that they are more powerful and stronger than others.
In my King James Study Bible (Thomas Nelson 1988, p.456) there is a note from Hannah's Song about the horn that says: "The horn (I Samuel 2:10) was an ancient symbol of great strength. ... Her psalm (vv.1-10) praises God for giving her victory in the issues of life." Challenge: Can you find the horn verses in Hannah's Psalm?
Watch this horns video: "What Do Horns Mean in the Bible? /The Horn of My Salvation/Strength from Streaming Truth: Find it at: What Do Horns Mean in the Bible? | The Horn of My Salvation | Strength
Here's a second video showing some horned animals in it. See it here: "The Ten Mentioned Animals in the Bible/ The Creatures of the Bible from Kolmprint Art. The 10 Most Mentioned Animals in the Bible | The Creatures of the Bible
Psalm 75 Stat Mat
Asaph wrote a dozen Psalms in all; eleven are in Book III, but the first Psalm-- Psalm50 is in Book II. Just ten verses Psalm 75 has one "Selah Verse." Notice the Asaph Levite figure in the center of the mat with his white Levitical hat. Click on photo at bottom of lesson to enlarge!
Below the figure see his name spelled out phonetically with its two syllables. Over the first "A" is a "line hat" showing that this "A" is long. The second part "saph" is a short "a" with its "smile hat" followed by "ph" which is a "f" sound. It is pronounced "AY-saf." For more info: click below to view www.ask-oracle-com/baby-name-/asaph. Challenge kids to write and syllabize their own name! Asaph - Jewish Boy Name Meaning and Pronunciation
Below the Asaph bottle top figure is meaning of his name which means "collector" or "gatherer" in Hebrew. Just underneath the name is Psalm 75's key verse "But God is the judge...." Psalm 75:7. Look at the seven orange juice bottle caps with the words taken from the Bible Colouring Book 17 "The Lord Our God." Purchase this British color book (great for kids/adults) and others like it from The Trinitarian Bible Society 927 Alpine Commerce Park, Suite 100, Grand Rapids, MI 49544. Its web site is Trinitarian Bible Society
To the right of the syllabized name are words from its first verse: "Give thanks" which is written 2 Xs.
"Warning Words for the Wicked/Wisdom for the Righteous!"
Here's another rhyme explaining some of the Psalm 75 verses. Notice God warned the wicked what would happen if they disobeyed and displayed arrogance. (I Sam. 2:3) In the end the righteous or the wise would instead have their horn lifted up, not cut off!
A Word to the Wicked
A word to the wicked--
God said, "Lift not up
your head proudly!"
God said, "Lift not up
thy neck high!"
God said, "My full cup
you'll drink up!"
At the end again God
said: "A word to the wicked-
Your strength will go! *
A word to the Righteous,
'Your strength will grow! *
* Read the final verse, and converse about its meaning!
There's 12 Asaph Psalms in All
There's twelve Asaph Psalms in all,
Twelve Psalms to recall,
Twelve Psalms to rehearse,
So, let's all say an Asaph verse:
"Sing aloud unto God, our strength,
make a joyful noise unto the God of
Jacob." (You might use verse two
instead.) From Psalm 81:1-2/LEP
Or use Psalm 75:9: "But I will declare
for ever; I will sing praise to the God
of Jacob." ("Offer up praise!") Or use
the key verse Ps.75:7.
Psalm 75 Chat Mat: Do click here to enlarge!
At the top left view the meaning of "horn" used in Ps.75. On the right see a bottle top opened in a horn-like position and the words "horns" on it. Discuss this term and share horn videos and info above. At the mid-left point see the word "Up"'; share the up places. Open Bibles to Psalm 75 and high light all of them.
Especially notice the boastful arrogant "person" with its mouth open; see the arrow pointing to the neck. Check how the boastful person stiffens or stretches out his neck as he arrogantly touts his own way--v.5 says "Lift not up your horn on high, speak not with a stiff neck (speak not in insolent pride.) Make the tiny face/neck from a bottle cap, add hat, eyes, open O mouth, and a plastic straw neck part that stretches out.
Below it is a post card of Pilot Mountain Knob near to where Mrs. H. in our story and I lived. Many was the time I hiked up round that knob. Learn the little action/verse rhyme as well!
To the right is a simple but fun-to-make Middle Psalm bookmark made from a coloring page from Bible coloring book mentioned above, a tissue-box design panel, and an orange piece of paper. Help kids find the key verse, mark it, and place the marker inside their Bible. As you do so discuss some Psalm math --how much is 75+75? 75X2? For the youngest count to 75 by ones, fives. Try 150 as well.
Notice the red music hands with copies of the Wee Sing lyrics/page from a Wee Sing book to use as they sing the song "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands!" Find copies of the song book here: Wee Sing Bible Songs book (reissue): Beall, Pamela Conn, Nipp, Susan Hagen: 9780843177695: Amazon.com: Books
