Sunday, February 3, 2013
pm
Study in Psalms
It Is Good To Give Thanks to the Lord
Psalm 92
It is described as a
psalm for the Sabbath.
Jewish tradition attributes it to a part of the morning drink offering
each Sabbath and possibly sung during other feasts as well.
In this psalm we find one who considers it an honor to worship
God.
a.
Good to give thanks and to sing praises
– every day we are faced with choices.
Often times it is between good and bad.
How tragic it is that mankind often chooses the bad because it is
a path of least resistance and selfish gratification.
But to give thanks to the Lord is a GOOD thing!
To sing praises to God is a GOOD thing!
Believers fully understand this.
And it is a source of blessings from Him!
We need gratitude (thanksgiving) – Psa. 107:1, “O give thanks to the Lord for HE is good!
For His mercy endures forever.”
Throughout that psalm, the psalmist requests, “O that men would
give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and for His wonderful works to
the children of men.” (Psa. 107:8, 15, 21, 31, etc.)
b.
Morning and evening
– there is no better way to begin the day than with a brief moment of
prayer (and perhaps Bible reading) with thanksgiving and a request for
His presence throughout our days.
There is no better way to END the day than with a prayer of thanksgiving
for His blessings throughout the day.
The point is that we need to live with God on our minds daily –
that can help us to be what we ought
to be. For many we
have adopted a tradition of giving thanks before each meal of the day –
that is a good habit as it continually reminds us throughout the day how
He has blessed us.
It is worthy of note, that with this being a psalm for the Sabbath, that
Israel each Sabbath and each day began with a sacrifice and concluded
with a sacrifice (Ex. 29:38-42).
c.
With instruments – we find instruments of music in the Old Law.
We know that David was one who introduced instruments into the
house of worship. Whether or
not they were authorized is debated.
Some might appeal to their continued mention as a source of authority
(cf. 2 Chron. 7:6, 29:25, etc.).
Others would argue that God tolerated them like He did many
things under the Old Law, but it was never His intent. (cf. Amos 6:5)
Regardless of the authority, in the New Testament we only have authority
to sing (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16, 1 Cor. 14:15, etc.).
I find it remarkable that if God wanted us to use instruments of
music in worship that it is not mentioned even once in NT worship.
d.
Why?
For You have made me glad through
Your work - that which God accomplished was cause for rejoicing.
What exactly are the works the psalmist has in mind?
His creation (consider Ex. 20:11 – the Sabbath was the day of
rest after creation), His providential care and preservation OR His
redemption, the thought is the same – what He has done ought to make us
glad!
a.
How great are Your works – Compared to the works of mankind, whatever they might be
that which God does is greater.
When the Lord finally appeared to Job after his continued
complaints, He challenged him with a number of questions that Job could
not answer.
b.
The thoughts of God are
“deep” –
greater than our ways and thoughts. Isa. 28:29, the Lord of Hosts, “who
is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.”
Isa. 55:8-9 – His ways and thoughts are greater than ours.
Rom. 11:33-34 – the depth and riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge.
His ways ware past finding out.
c.
A senseless man or a fool doesn’t know them
– in reality he rejects them and refuses to learn.
The fool says in his heart, “there is no God.” (Psa. 14:1)
They see great and marvelous things (such as creation) and yet REFUSE to
consider God as its creator.
They also act senseless. The
same word is found in Prov. 12:1, “Whoever
loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is
stupid.”
NOT the word of insult, but the definition of one who is in a
stupor or foolish. He fails
to adequately reason and understand.
I often see this in mankind redefining who God really is,
such as in Romans 1:20-23 which speaks of them professing to be
wise, they change the glory of God into manmade images – in other words,
their sense of ought concerning worship is adapted to what they want.
Just this past week, I heard a country song that is now on the charts
entitled, “IF I could have a beer with Jesus.”
While it deals with one just sitting and listening to Jesus and
admitting his worthlessness, just the idea of God would be found in a
bar drinking is repulsive and irreverent.
d.
The wicked will be
destroyed and God exalted
(7-9).
The ungodly seek to establish their way and seem to succeed, especially
in this world. After all we
are told that the world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (1 Jn.
5:19)
But know that God is still in control.
He is “on high forevermore” meaning He is greater than any of
man’s devising. (Psa. 83:19 speaks of God being “Most High over all the
earth.”)
Their success will NOT overcome God.
Vs. 7 says what flourishes with man will be destroyed
forevermore.
They will perish and they will be scattered.
a.
The psalmist delivered (10-11). In
contrast to the defeat of the wicked in the previous section, we find
here victory for the godly.
His horn (strength) is exalted like a strong animal (wild ox, unicorn,
etc.). The anointing with
oil is a sign of refreshing or comfort.
While the enemies of God are overcome, His followers are exalted
and comforted.
Vs. 11 - He has witnessed it –
NOTE: “My desire” in both phrases not in the original and can change the
meaning substantially.
Perhaps the point is not HIS DESIRE but that he sees God’s will executed
against his enemies. Let God
be the judge. NCV, “When
I looked, I saw my enemies; I heard the cries of those who are against
me.”
b.
The righteous will grow
and flourish
(12). Contrast this with the
wicked springing forth as grass (vs. 7).
While it seems that the wicked are thriving and winning, in the
end the victory of the righteous will be greater in every way.
Think of grass vs. trees – which lives longer and is stronger?
c.
Planted in the house of God and flourishing in His courts
(13). Certainly the place we
want to be planted (rooted or anchored) is in God’s house.
Descriptive of the one whose trust is fully in God.
This is the godly man that has put God first.
Every decision he makes, everything he does is influenced by his
relationship with God.
Truly, “all things work together
for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His
purpose…” (Rom. 8:28)
“In
the courts of God” – what happens in this life may not seem like
we are winning (though often it is a misinformed observation).
In fact the enemy may win and thrive at our expense, but in the
ULTIMATE end, the ways of the ungodly will totally perish and that which
we have done will FLOURISH in heaven.
This is the comfort we have.
(2 Cor. 5:1)
d.
Bering fruit even in old
age, be fresh and flourishing (14) As the “grass withers
and its flower falls away” (1 Pet. 1:24), the trees will continue to
blossom and produce fruit.
The works of mankind are temporal!
The fruit of God is everlasting – Gal. 5:22-23, “against such there is no law.”
Rom. 6:22 says, “But now having
been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your
fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”
e.
To declare that the Lord
is upright
– He is my Rock and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
IN the end, the righteousness of God will be declared.
As
I examine this psalm I cannot help but think of how we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ where we shall give an account for
the life we have lived. (2
Cor. 5:10) Whether good or
bad, “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.” (Phil. 2:10)
God is faithful and righteous to carry this out.
Are we faithful?