Psalms92
New American Standard
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord And to sing praises to Your name, Most High;
2 To declare Your goodness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night,
3 With the ten-stringed lute and with the harp, With resounding music on the lyre.
4 For You, Lord, have made me joyful by what You have done, I will sing for joy over the works of Your hands.
5 How great are Your works, Lord! Your thoughts are very deep.
6 A stupid person has no knowledge, Nor does a foolish person understand this:
7 When the wicked sprouted up like grass And all who did injustice flourished, It was only that they might be destroyed forevermore.
8 But You, Lord, are on high forever.
9 For, behold, Your enemies, Lord, For, behold, Your enemies will perish; All who do injustice will be scattered.
10 But You have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil.
11 And my eye has looked at my enemies, My ears hear of the evildoers who rise up against me.
12 The righteous person will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Planted in the house of the Lord, They will flourish in the courtyards of our God.
14 They will still yield fruit in advanced age; They will be full of sap and very green,
15 To declare that the Lord is just; He is my rock, and there is no malice in Him.
Study
Psalms 92Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 92. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Praise is the business of the sabbath. (1–6). The wicked shall perish, but God's people shall be exalted. (7–15).
vv1-6
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!
vv7-15
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.
Key Words
מִזְמוֹר: properly, instrumental music; by implication, a poem set to notes
שִׁיר: a song; abstractly, singing
טוֹב: good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)
יָדָה: physically, to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands); intensively, to bemoan (by wringing the hands)
זָמַר: play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music
שֵׁם: an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
עֶלְיוֹן: an elevation, i.e. (adj.) lofty (compar.); as title, the Supreme
נָגַד: properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); specifically, to expose, predict, explain, praise
חֵסֵד: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
בֹּקֶר: properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning
Cross References
Psalms 92The Psalmist elsewhere confesses to being similarly brutish and ignorant before understanding the wicked's end.
Supported by JFB
Contrasts the fleeting existence of the wicked with the eternal, unchanging nature of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The metaphor of the unicorn's horn symbolizes God-given strength and high exultation.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Anointing with fresh or new oil represents joy, spiritual refreshment, and divine favor.
Supported by JFB
Parallels the declaration of God as the upright Rock in whom there is no unrighteousness.
Parallels the praise of God's wonderful works and unsearchable, deep thoughts.
Supported by JFB
The natural or brutish man cannot understand the deep spiritual wisdom and plans of God.
Illustrates the wicked flourishing like green vegetation only to be suddenly destroyed.