Psalm 92

1It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh, to sing praises to your name, Most High, 2to proclaim your loving kindness in the morning, and your faithfulness every night, 3with the ten-stringed lute, with the harp, and with the melody of the lyre. 4For you, Yahweh, have made me glad through your work. I will triumph in the works of your hands. 5How great are your works, Yahweh! Your thoughts are very deep. 6A senseless man doesn’t know, neither does a fool understand this: 7though the wicked spring up as the grass, and all the evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever. 8But you, Yahweh, are on high forever more. 9For behold, your enemies, Yahweh, for behold, your enemies shall perish. All the evildoers will be scattered. 10But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox. I am anointed with fresh oil. 11My eye has also seen my enemies. My ears have heard of the wicked enemies who rise up against me. 12The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13They are planted in Yahweh’s house. They will flourish in our God’s courts. 14They will still produce fruit in old age. They will be full of sap and green, 15to show that Yahweh is upright. He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

It is a groundless opinion of some of the Jewish writers (who are usually free of their conjectures) that this psalm was penned and sung by Adam in innocency, on the first sabbath. It is inconsistent with the psalm itself, which speaks of the workers of iniquity, when as yet sin had not entered. It is probable that it was penned by David, and, being calculated for the sabbath day, I. Praise, the business of the sabbath, is here recommended (Psa 92:1-3). II. God's works, which gave occasion for the sabbath, are here celebrated as great and unsearchable in general (Psa 92:4-6). In particular, with reference to the works both of providence and redemption, the psalmist sings unto God both of mercy and judgment, the ruin of sinners and the joy of saints, three times counterchanged. 1. The wicked shall perish (Psa 92:7), but God is eternal (Psa 92:8). 2. God's enemies shall be cut off, but David shall be exalted (Psa 92:9, Psa 92:10). 3. David's enemies shall be confounded (Psa 92:11), but all the righteous shall be fruitful and flourishing (Psa 92:12-15). In singing this psalm we must take pleasure in giving to God the glory due to his name, and triumph in his works.

A psalm or song for the sabbath day.

Cross-references: Ps 92:1 · Ps 92:4 · Ps 92:7 · Ps 92:8 · Ps 92:9 · Ps 92:10 · Ps 92:11 · Ps 92:12

Introduction