Psalms 92

Praise for the LORD'S Goodness.

1

A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day.

1 It is ¹good to give thanks to the LORD And to ²sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

2 To ³declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your ⁴faithfulness by night,

3 With the ⁵ten-stringed lute and with the ⁶harp, With resounding music upon the ⁷lyre.

4 For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You ⁸have done, I will ⁹sing for joy at the ¹⁰works of Your hands.

5 How ¹¹great are Your works, O LORD! Your ¹²thoughts are very ¹³deep.

6 A ¹⁴senseless man has no knowledge, Nor does a ¹⁵stupid man understand this:

7 That when the wicked ¹⁶sprouted up like grass And all ¹⁷who did iniquity flourished, It was only that they might be ¹⁸destroyed forevermore *.

8 But You, O LORD, are ¹⁹on high forever.

9 For, behold, Your enemies, O LORD, For, behold, ²⁰Your enemies will perish; All who do iniquity will be ²¹scattered.

10 But You have exalted my ²²horn like that of the wild ox; I have been ²³anointed with fresh oil.

11 And my eye has ²⁴looked exultantly upon my foes, My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.

12 The ²⁵righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a ²⁶cedar in Lebanon.

13 ²⁷Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish ²⁸in the courts of our God.

14 They will still ²⁹yield fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and very green,

15 To declare that ³⁰the LORD is upright; He is my ³¹rock, and there is ³²no unrighteousness in Him.

Psalms 92 Commentary

Chapter 92

Praise is the business of the sabbath. (1-6) The wicked shall perish, but God's people shall be exalted. (7-15)

Verses 1-6 It is a privilege that we are admitted to praise the Lord, and hope to be accepted in the morning, and every night; not only on sabbath days, but every day; not only in public, but in private, and in our families. Let us give thanks every morning for the mercies of the night, and every night for the mercies of the day; going out, and coming in, let us bless God. As He makes us glad, through the works of his providence for us, and of his grace in us, and both through the great work of redemption, let us hence be encouraged. As there are many who know not the designs of Providence, nor care to know them, those who through grace do so, have the more reason to be thankful. And if distant views of the great Deliverer so animated believers of old, how should we abound in love and praise!

Verses 7-15 God sometimes grants prosperity to wicked men in displeasure; yet they flourish but for a moment. Let us seek for ourselves the salvation and grace of the gospel, that being daily anointed by the Holy Spirit, we may behold and share the Redeemer's glory. It is from his grace, by his word and Spirit, that believers receive all the virtue that keeps them alive, and makes them fruitful. Other trees, when old, leave off bearing, but in God's trees the strength of grace does not fail with the strength of nature. The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work: perseverance is sure evidence of sincerity. And may every sabbath, while it shows forth the Divine faithfulness, find our souls resting more and more upon the Lord our righteousness.

Cross References

• 1. Psalms 147:1
• 2. Psalms 135:3
• 3. Psalms 59:16
• 4. Psalms 89:1
• 5. 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; Nehemiah 12:27; Psalms 33:2
• 6. 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; Nehemiah 12:27; Psalms 33:2
• 7. 1 Samuel 10:5; 1 Chronicles 13:8; Nehemiah 12:27; Psalms 33:2
• 8. Psalms 40:5; Psalms 90:16
• 9. Psalms 106:47
• 10. Psalms 8:6; Psalms 111:7; Psalms 143:5
• 11. Psalms 40:5; Psalms 111:2; Revelation 15:3
• 12. Psalms 33:11; Psalms 40:5; Psalms 139:17
• 13. Psalms 36:6; Romans 11:33
• 14. Psalms 49:10; Psalms 73:22; Psalms 94:8
• 15. Psalms 49:10; Psalms 73:22; Psalms 94:8
• 16. Job 12:6; Psalms 90:5
• 17. Psalms 94:4
• 18. Psalms 37:38
• 19. Psalms 83:18; Psalms 93:4; Psalms 113:5
• 20. Psalms 37:20
• 21. Psalms 68:1; Psalms 89:10
• 22. Psalms 75:10; Psalms 89:17; Psalms 112:9
• 23. Psalms 23:5; Psalms 45:7
• 24. Psalms 54:7; Psalms 91:8
• 25. Numbers 24:6; Psalms 1:3; Psalms 52:8; Psalms 72:7; Jeremiah 17:8; Hosea 14:5, 6
• 26. Psalms 104:16; Ezekiel 31:3
• 27. Psalms 80:15; Isaiah 60:21
• 28. Psalms 100:4; Psalms 116:19
• 29. Proverbs 11:30; Isaiah 37:31; John 15:2; James 3:18
• 30. Job 34:10; Psalms 25:8
• 31. Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 94:22
• 32. Romans 9:14

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "nights"
• [b]. Lit "Upon"
• [c]. Lit "Upon"
• [d]. Lit "Upon"
• [e]. Lit "by means of"
• [f]. Lit "Your working"
• [g]. Or "purposes"
• [h]. Or "become moist"
• [i]. Or "those who lie in wait for me"
• [j]. Lit "sprout"
• [k]. Or "thrive in"
• [l]. Lit "fat and"
• [m]. Or "show forth"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 92

\\<>\\. Many of the Jewish writers {a} think that this psalm was written by the first man Adam, and so the Targum, ``a hymn or song which the first man said for the sabbath day.'' But had it been a composure of his, one would think it should have been placed at the head of this collection of psalms, and before that of Moses, Psalm 90, besides there were no musical instruments then for this psalm to be sung on, as in Ps 92:3, for they say it was made by him quickly after his creation, and his ejection from paradise; for Jubal was the father of them that handle the harp and organ; nor were there any number of enemies and wicked men to rise up against him, as in Ps 92:7,9,11. Nor was it written by Moses, as others have thought; but rather by David, to whom the Arabic version ascribes it; the musical instruments, the number of enemies, and the mention of the house and courts of the Lord, best agree with his times. It was made for the sabbath day, and to be used upon it; and directs to the work and worship of it; praising of God and celebrating his works, attending his house and ordinances; even for the seventh day sabbath, which God instituted and appointed the Jews to observe; and which in David's time was religiously kept; though some understand this of the time of rest which David had from his enemies round about him, and apply it to all such times of rest from tyranny and persecution, which the church of God in any period enjoys; and which is a proper season for praise and thanksgiving. Some Jewish writers refer it to the world to come, which will be all sabbath, even to the days of the Messiah, as Jarchi and others; so Theodorot; see Heb 4:9.