August 11th 2021 – Psalm 92
"A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
5 How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!
6 The stupid man cannot know;
the fool cannot understand this:
7 that though the wicked sprout like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they are doomed to destruction for ever;
8 but you, O Lord, are on high for ever.
9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord,
for behold, your enemies shall perish;
all evildoers shall be scattered.
10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;
my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 They are planted in the house of the Lord;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
15 to declare that the Lord is upright;
he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."
Psalm 92
It will be noticed that this Psalm is entitled 'A song for the Sabbath Day'. This has been held by the Jewish Church from time immemorial, although there is no special mention of 'Sabbath' in the Psalm. In this connection it is significant to see the writer's emphasis - the things, so to speak, that the Sabbath is for and about - praise (1-4); meditation on the mystery and greatness of God's ways (5-9); and the assurance that comes, of blessing, renewal and refreshing (10-15). This is as good a division of the Psalm as any that could be suggested. The first thing the Lord's Day is for and about is praise and thanksgiving. It is not only right (and our bounden duty) to give thanks to God, but it is also good - good for God, in the sense that He treasures our worship and praise - it means much to Him (cf Psalm149:4) but also good for us, for it does things to us. Indeed, there is a sense in which praise is the starting point of a process, which ends with the wonderful statements in 10 ('anointed with fresh oil'), 12 ('flourishing like the palm tree'), 14 ('fruitful in old age'). One readily thinks of the words in 2 Chronicles 20:22, 'When they began to sing and to praise, the Lord sent ambushments against the enemy'. The words 'morning' and 'night' in 2 imply the times of offering sacrifice (cf Exodus 29:39, 41; Numbers 28:4) and remind us that the Sabbath is the Lord's Day, not His morning only! In 4 the source of true worship is underlined - what the Lord has done for our souls: 'to God be the glory, great things He hath done'. God's people are made glad by His works and His ways. What follows gives the reason for praise - the greatness and depths of the Divine works and purposes. This will be our consideration in the next Note.
August 10th 2021 – Psalm 91
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”3 For he will deliver you from the snare of…
August 9th 2021 – Psalm 91
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”3 For he will deliver you from the snare of…
August 8th 2021 – Psalm 91
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”3 For he will deliver you from the snare of…
August 7th 2021 – Psalm 90
“A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3 You return man to…
August 6th 2021 – Psalm 90
“A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3 You return man to…
August 5th 2021 – Psalm 90
“A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3 You return man to…
August 4th 2021 – Psalm 90
“A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.3 You return man to…
August 3rd 2021 – Psalm 89
“A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, for ever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up for ever; in the…
August 2nd 2021 – Psalm 89
“A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, for ever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up for ever; in the…