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Psalms 92:1
Verse
Context
Sermons
John MacArthur
Ed Miller
Joshua DanielKeith Simons
Walter Beuttler
Hans R. Waldvogel
David WilkersonSummary
Commentary
- Keil-Delitzsch
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The Sabbath is the day that God has hallowed, and that is to be consecrated to God by our turning away from the business pursuits of the working days (Isa 58:13.) and applying ourselves to the praise and adoration of God, which is the most proper, blessed Sabbath employment. It is good, i.e., not merely good in the eyes of God, but also good for man, beneficial to the heart, pleasant and blessed. Loving-kindness is designedly connected with the dawn of the morning, for it is morning light itself, which breaks through the night (Psa 30:6; Psa 59:17), and faithfulness with the nights, for in the perils of the loneliness of the night it is the best companion, and nights of affliction are the "foil of its verification." עשׂור beside נבל (נבל) is equivalent to נבל עשׂור in Psa 33:2; Psa 144:9 : the ten-stringed harp or lyre. הגּיון is the music of stringed instruments (vid., on Psa 9:17), and that, since הגה in itself is not a suitable word for the rustling (strepitus) of the strings, the impromptu or phantasia playing (in Amo 6:5, scornfully, פּרט), which suits both Psa 9:17 (where it is appended to the forte of the interlude) and the construction with Beth instrumenti.
John Gill Bible Commentary
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,.... For all mercies, temporal and spiritual; for Christ, and salvation by him; for the Gospel, and for Gospel opportunities and ordinances; for, such days and seasons this psalm was composed for. It is "good" so to do, for it is the will of God that we should in and for every thing give thanks; it is due unto him, and is our reasonable service; it is well pleasing unto God through Christ; it is pleasant work for the saints themselves, and is profitable unto them; to be thankful for what they have is the way to have more. Kimchi connects this with the title; the sabbath day is good to give thanks unto the Lord; it is a very fit opportunity for such service; when a man is at leisure from worldly business, and his heart is engaged in spiritual exercises, and especially when it is warmed with the love of God: and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High; a name and epithet of God, suitable to his majesty and glory, to his supereminence over all his creatures, and the place where he dwells, and to whom the highest praises are due; these two phrases, giving thanks, and singing praise, are much the same; only with this difference, the former may be done in prayer, and without the modulation of the voice, as well as with it; the latter only with it; hence these two are mentioned as distinct things in Eph 5:19. (a) Zohar in Gen. fol. 43. 2. Vajikra Rabba, s. 10. fol. 153. 4. See the Targum in Cant. i. 1.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
This psalm was appointed to be sung, at least it usually was sung, in the house of the sanctuary on the sabbath day, that day of rest, which was an instituted memorial of the work of creation, of God's rest from that work, and the continuance of it in his providence; for the Father worketh hitherto. Note, 1. The sabbath day must be a day, not only of holy rest, but of holy work, and the rest is in order to the work. 2. The proper work of the sabbath is praising God; every sabbath day must be a thanksgiving-day; and the other services of the day must be in order to this, and therefore must by no means thrust this into a corner. One of the Jewish writers refers it to the kingdom of the Messiah, and calls it, A psalm or song for the age to come, which shall be all sabbath. Believers, through Christ, enjoy that sabbatism which remains for the people of God (Heb 4:9), the beginning of the everlasting sabbath. In these verses, I. We are called upon and encouraged to praise God (Psa 92:1-3): It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord. Praising God is good work: it is good in itself and good for us. It is our duty, the rent, the tribute, we are to pay to our great Lord; we are unjust if we withhold it. It is our privilege that we are admitted to praise God, and have hope to be accepted in it. It is good, for it is pleasant and profitable, work that is its own wages; it is the work of angels, the work of heaven. It is good to give thanks for the mercies we have received, for that is the way of fetching in further mercy: it is fit to sing to his name who is Most High, exalted above all blessing and praise. Now observe here, 1. How we must praise God. We must do it by showing forth his lovingkindness and his faithfulness. Being convinced of his glorious attributes and perfections, we must show them forth, as those that are greatly affected with them ourselves and desire to affect others with them likewise. We must show forth, not only his greatness and majesty, his holiness and justice, which magnify him and strike an awe upon us, but his lovingkindness and his faithfulness; for his goodness is his glory (Exo 33:18, Exo 33:19), and by these he proclaims his name. His mercy and truth are the great supports of our faith and hope, and the great encouragements of our love and obedience; these therefore we must show forth as our pleas in prayer and the matter of our joy. This was then done, not only by singing, but by music joined with it, upon an instrument of ten strings (Psa 92:3); but then it was to be with a solemn sound, not that which was gay, and apt to dissipate the spirits, but that which was grave, and apt to fix them. 2. When we must praise God - in the morning and every night, not only on sabbath days, but every day; it is that which the duty of every day requires. We must praise God, not only in public assemblies, but in secret, and in our families, showing forth, to ourselves and those about us, his lovingkindness and faithfulness. We must begin and end every day with praising God, must give him thanks every morning, when we are fresh and before the business of the day comes in upon us, and every night, when we are again composed and retired, and are recollecting ourselves; we must give him thanks every morning for the mercies of the night and every night for the mercies of the day; going out and coming in we must bless God. II. We have an example set before us in the psalmist himself, both to move us to and to direct us in this work (Psa 92:4): Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work. Note, 1. Those can best recommend to others the duty of praise who have themselves experienced the pleasantness of it. "God's works are to be praised, for they have many a time rejoiced my heart; and therefore, whatever others may think of them, I must think well and speak well of them." 2. If God has given us the joy of his works, there is all the reason in the world why we should give him the honour of them. Has he made our hearts glad? Let us then make his praises glorious. Has God made us glad through the works of his providence for us, and of his grace in us, and both through the great work of redemption? (1.) Let us thence fetch encouragement for our faith and hope; so the psalmist does: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. From a joyful remembrance of what God has done for us we may raise a joyful prospect of what he will do, and triumph in the assurance of it, triumph over all opposition, Th2 2:13, Th2 2:14. (2.) Let us thence fetch matter for holy adorings and admirings of God (Psa 92:5): O Lord! how great are thy works - great beyond conception, beyond expression, the products of great power and wisdom, of great consequence and importance! men's works are nothing to them. We cannot comprehend the greatness of God's works, and therefore must reverently and awfully wonder at them, and even stand amazed at the magnificence of them. "Men's works are little and trifling, for their thoughts are shallow; but, Lord, thy works are great and such as cannot be measured; for thy thoughts are very deep and such as cannot be fathomed." God's counsels as much exceed the contrivances of our wisdom as his works do the efforts of our power. His thoughts are above our thoughts, as his ways are above our ways, Isa 55:9. O the depth of God's designs! Rom 11:33. The greatness of God's works should lead us to consider the depth of his thoughts, that counsel of his own will according to which he does all things - what a compass his thoughts fetch and to what a length they reach! III. We are admonished not to neglect the works of God, by the character of those who do so, Psa 92:6. Those are fools, they are brutish, who do not know, who do not understand, how great God's works are, who will not acquaint themselves with them, nor give him the glory of them; they regard not the work of the Lord nor consider the operation of his hands (Psa 28:5); particularly, they understand not the meaning of their own prosperity (which is spoken of Psa 92:7); they take it as a pledge of their happiness, whereas it is a preparative for their ruin. If there are so many who know not the designs of Providence, nor care to know them, those who through grace are acquainted with them, and love to be so, have the more reason to be thankful.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Ps 92 Thanksgiving and praise open this psalm. The Lord—the Most High—is faithful and just in discerning between the godly and the wicked. The godly will enjoy a glorious, vigorous future, while the wicked will perish. The wise see and understand the Lord’s works as they reveal his justice (92:6-7, 11, 15). The wicked, like grass, are quickly destroyed (92:7-10). 92:title on the Sabbath Day: Jewish tradition assigned one psalm to each day of the week: Sunday (Ps 24), Monday (Ps 48), Tuesday (Ps 82), Wednesday (Ps 94), Thursday (Ps 81), Friday (Ps 93), and the Sabbath (Ps 92). This is the only psalm that indicates this use in its title. 92:1-3 The psalmist offers praise and thanksgiving for God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.
Psalms 92:1
How Great Are Your Works!
1It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, 2to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Keys to Spiritual Growth - Part 4
By John MacArthur2.5K54:55PSA 86:12PSA 92:1
This sermon emphasizes the importance of spiritual growth by focusing on glorifying God through praise, fruitfulness, trust, and thanksgiving. It highlights the transformation that occurs when our lives are aligned with God's attributes and works, leading to maturity in Christ.
(The Royal Psalms) Part 1
By Ed Miller94956:06PSA 92:1PSA 93:1PSA 93:3PSA 94:1PSA 95:1PSA 96:1LUK 19:41In this sermon, the speaker discusses the importance of understanding the kingship of Christ as the foundation for our faith. He emphasizes that every person must begin with the basic truth that the Lord reigns and has absolute authority. Despite the troubles and opposition we may face, God's throne cannot be contradicted. The speaker encourages listeners to trust in God's sovereignty and to sing songs of rest, victory, and service as they grasp the three glories revealed in the Psalms.
The Lord Render to Every Man
By Joshua Daniel6851:05:551SA 26:23PSA 92:1
This sermon emphasizes the importance of faithfulness in the Christian walk, using examples from the Bible to illustrate the need for trust in God's plans and the avoidance of jealousy and vengeance. It highlights the blessings that come from afflictions permitted by God, the significance of passing on faith to future generations, and the requirement for stewards of God's mysteries to be found faithful.
(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 20 Psalm 92
By Keith Simons4725:08KJV BibleWorshipRighteousnessPSA 92:1Keith Simons teaches on Psalm 92, emphasizing its significance as a song for the Sabbath, a day dedicated to rest and worship. He explains that giving thanks and singing praises to God is not only right but beneficial, as it reflects God's loving kindness and faithfulness. Simons contrasts the fleeting success of the wicked with the enduring flourishing of the righteous, who are rooted in their relationship with God. He highlights the importance of worship through music and meditation, encouraging believers to recognize God's greatness in creation and His ultimate authority over evil. The sermon concludes with a reminder of God's unwavering righteousness and the blessings that come from being planted in His presence.
Waiting in Holy Solemnity
By Walter Beuttler0PSA 92:1Walter Beuttler shares personal experiences of how the Lord communicates with him through songs and signals, preparing him for moments of prayer and intercession. He emphasizes the importance of being alert to God's call and the need to be ready for prayer at all times. Beuttler reflects on the significance of engaging in holy solemnity, worshipful silence, and seeking God diligently, even when the candle of spiritual fervor seems to have dimmed. He encourages believers to respond to God's knocking on the door of their hearts, inviting them to experience communion and a rekindling of their spiritual flame.
Psalm 92:1 (New Year's Talk) (An Abundant Supply in Jesus; Reckon Yourself "Dead indeed.")
By Hans R. Waldvogel0Abundant Supply in ChristNew Creation in ChristPSA 92:1Hans R. Waldvogel emphasizes the importance of giving thanks to the Lord as we enter the New Year, highlighting that God supplies all our needs through Christ. He contrasts the desire for worldly distractions with the spiritual abundance available in Jesus, urging believers to reckon themselves 'dead indeed' to sin and alive in Christ. Waldvogel encourages the congregation to embrace their identity as new creations, filled with the power and holiness of Jesus, and to start the year by praising God and seeking His glory.
Jonah Gave Thanks and Was Delivered
By David Wilkerson0ThanksgivingDeliverancePSA 50:14PSA 92:1JON 2:3JON 2:9David Wilkerson emphasizes Jonah's journey from despair to deliverance, illustrating how Jonah, trapped in the belly of a whale, turned to God in thanksgiving despite his dire circumstances. In his darkest moment, Jonah remembered the Lord and offered thanks, which led to his miraculous release. Wilkerson highlights that true deliverance comes when we express gratitude to God, even when we feel abandoned. Jonah's act of thanksgiving was the key that unlocked his freedom, demonstrating the power of faith and gratitude in times of trouble. Ultimately, the sermon encourages believers to give thanks in all situations, trusting in God's promises and deliverance.
Saturday Evening
By John Newton0PSA 23:1PSA 92:1PSA 121:7ISA 26:3REV 21:4John Newton preaches about the blessings of the Sabbath day, emphasizing the need to seek God's blessing as we approach it, recognizing His mercies throughout the week despite our ingratitude, and praying for pardoning grace through Jesus Christ. He encourages resting in God's presence at night, seeking His glory in the morning, and experiencing the joy of the Gospel that conquers sin and brings comfort to believers, ultimately leading to an everlasting feast in the church above.
Seven Times in the Day," Says the Prophet
By St. Benedict of Nursia0PSA 92:1PSA 119:62PSA 119:1641TH 5:16St. Benedict of Nursia emphasizes the importance of praising God throughout the day by performing the Offices of service at specific times, fulfilling the sacred number of seven mentioned in Psalms. He encourages offering praise to our Creator for His justice by observing the Morning Office, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. Additionally, he highlights the significance of rising in the middle of the night to glorify God, as mentioned by the Prophet.
Why Praise God?
By Mary Wilder Tileston0PSA 92:1PSA 100:4PHP 4:61TH 5:18HEB 13:15Mary Wilder Tileston emphasizes the importance of giving thanks to the Lord and singing praises to His name, highlighting the need to show forth His lovingkindness in the morning and His faithfulness every night. She encourages tuning our hearts to praise, revealing countless reasons to thank God, as thanksgiving is seen as a sacrifice well pleasing to Him, surpassing the act of prayer. Tileston stresses that thanksgiving is not only a duty to God but also to ourselves, as it fosters trust in the present and hope for the future based on what God has done.
Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude
By Peter Hammond0PSA 92:1PSA 107:8PRO 11:24LUK 17:7ROM 1:18PHP 4:6COL 1:12COL 3:151TH 5:16HEB 13:15Peter Hammond preaches on the importance of being joyful, prayerful, and thankful, as exemplified by individuals like Nicolae Moldoveanu, Fanny Crosby, Helen Keller, and persecuted Christians. He emphasizes the need to express gratitude to God for His blessings, highlighting that ingratitude is a root sin that leads to futile thinking and darkened hearts. Through various examples, he illustrates how a lack of gratitude is ungodly, immature, and a sign of pride, entitlement, and unteachability.
- Keil-Delitzsch
- John Gill
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch Old Testament Commentary
The Sabbath is the day that God has hallowed, and that is to be consecrated to God by our turning away from the business pursuits of the working days (Isa 58:13.) and applying ourselves to the praise and adoration of God, which is the most proper, blessed Sabbath employment. It is good, i.e., not merely good in the eyes of God, but also good for man, beneficial to the heart, pleasant and blessed. Loving-kindness is designedly connected with the dawn of the morning, for it is morning light itself, which breaks through the night (Psa 30:6; Psa 59:17), and faithfulness with the nights, for in the perils of the loneliness of the night it is the best companion, and nights of affliction are the "foil of its verification." עשׂור beside נבל (נבל) is equivalent to נבל עשׂור in Psa 33:2; Psa 144:9 : the ten-stringed harp or lyre. הגּיון is the music of stringed instruments (vid., on Psa 9:17), and that, since הגה in itself is not a suitable word for the rustling (strepitus) of the strings, the impromptu or phantasia playing (in Amo 6:5, scornfully, פּרט), which suits both Psa 9:17 (where it is appended to the forte of the interlude) and the construction with Beth instrumenti.
John Gill Bible Commentary
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,.... For all mercies, temporal and spiritual; for Christ, and salvation by him; for the Gospel, and for Gospel opportunities and ordinances; for, such days and seasons this psalm was composed for. It is "good" so to do, for it is the will of God that we should in and for every thing give thanks; it is due unto him, and is our reasonable service; it is well pleasing unto God through Christ; it is pleasant work for the saints themselves, and is profitable unto them; to be thankful for what they have is the way to have more. Kimchi connects this with the title; the sabbath day is good to give thanks unto the Lord; it is a very fit opportunity for such service; when a man is at leisure from worldly business, and his heart is engaged in spiritual exercises, and especially when it is warmed with the love of God: and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High; a name and epithet of God, suitable to his majesty and glory, to his supereminence over all his creatures, and the place where he dwells, and to whom the highest praises are due; these two phrases, giving thanks, and singing praise, are much the same; only with this difference, the former may be done in prayer, and without the modulation of the voice, as well as with it; the latter only with it; hence these two are mentioned as distinct things in Eph 5:19. (a) Zohar in Gen. fol. 43. 2. Vajikra Rabba, s. 10. fol. 153. 4. See the Targum in Cant. i. 1.
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary
This psalm was appointed to be sung, at least it usually was sung, in the house of the sanctuary on the sabbath day, that day of rest, which was an instituted memorial of the work of creation, of God's rest from that work, and the continuance of it in his providence; for the Father worketh hitherto. Note, 1. The sabbath day must be a day, not only of holy rest, but of holy work, and the rest is in order to the work. 2. The proper work of the sabbath is praising God; every sabbath day must be a thanksgiving-day; and the other services of the day must be in order to this, and therefore must by no means thrust this into a corner. One of the Jewish writers refers it to the kingdom of the Messiah, and calls it, A psalm or song for the age to come, which shall be all sabbath. Believers, through Christ, enjoy that sabbatism which remains for the people of God (Heb 4:9), the beginning of the everlasting sabbath. In these verses, I. We are called upon and encouraged to praise God (Psa 92:1-3): It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord. Praising God is good work: it is good in itself and good for us. It is our duty, the rent, the tribute, we are to pay to our great Lord; we are unjust if we withhold it. It is our privilege that we are admitted to praise God, and have hope to be accepted in it. It is good, for it is pleasant and profitable, work that is its own wages; it is the work of angels, the work of heaven. It is good to give thanks for the mercies we have received, for that is the way of fetching in further mercy: it is fit to sing to his name who is Most High, exalted above all blessing and praise. Now observe here, 1. How we must praise God. We must do it by showing forth his lovingkindness and his faithfulness. Being convinced of his glorious attributes and perfections, we must show them forth, as those that are greatly affected with them ourselves and desire to affect others with them likewise. We must show forth, not only his greatness and majesty, his holiness and justice, which magnify him and strike an awe upon us, but his lovingkindness and his faithfulness; for his goodness is his glory (Exo 33:18, Exo 33:19), and by these he proclaims his name. His mercy and truth are the great supports of our faith and hope, and the great encouragements of our love and obedience; these therefore we must show forth as our pleas in prayer and the matter of our joy. This was then done, not only by singing, but by music joined with it, upon an instrument of ten strings (Psa 92:3); but then it was to be with a solemn sound, not that which was gay, and apt to dissipate the spirits, but that which was grave, and apt to fix them. 2. When we must praise God - in the morning and every night, not only on sabbath days, but every day; it is that which the duty of every day requires. We must praise God, not only in public assemblies, but in secret, and in our families, showing forth, to ourselves and those about us, his lovingkindness and faithfulness. We must begin and end every day with praising God, must give him thanks every morning, when we are fresh and before the business of the day comes in upon us, and every night, when we are again composed and retired, and are recollecting ourselves; we must give him thanks every morning for the mercies of the night and every night for the mercies of the day; going out and coming in we must bless God. II. We have an example set before us in the psalmist himself, both to move us to and to direct us in this work (Psa 92:4): Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work. Note, 1. Those can best recommend to others the duty of praise who have themselves experienced the pleasantness of it. "God's works are to be praised, for they have many a time rejoiced my heart; and therefore, whatever others may think of them, I must think well and speak well of them." 2. If God has given us the joy of his works, there is all the reason in the world why we should give him the honour of them. Has he made our hearts glad? Let us then make his praises glorious. Has God made us glad through the works of his providence for us, and of his grace in us, and both through the great work of redemption? (1.) Let us thence fetch encouragement for our faith and hope; so the psalmist does: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. From a joyful remembrance of what God has done for us we may raise a joyful prospect of what he will do, and triumph in the assurance of it, triumph over all opposition, Th2 2:13, Th2 2:14. (2.) Let us thence fetch matter for holy adorings and admirings of God (Psa 92:5): O Lord! how great are thy works - great beyond conception, beyond expression, the products of great power and wisdom, of great consequence and importance! men's works are nothing to them. We cannot comprehend the greatness of God's works, and therefore must reverently and awfully wonder at them, and even stand amazed at the magnificence of them. "Men's works are little and trifling, for their thoughts are shallow; but, Lord, thy works are great and such as cannot be measured; for thy thoughts are very deep and such as cannot be fathomed." God's counsels as much exceed the contrivances of our wisdom as his works do the efforts of our power. His thoughts are above our thoughts, as his ways are above our ways, Isa 55:9. O the depth of God's designs! Rom 11:33. The greatness of God's works should lead us to consider the depth of his thoughts, that counsel of his own will according to which he does all things - what a compass his thoughts fetch and to what a length they reach! III. We are admonished not to neglect the works of God, by the character of those who do so, Psa 92:6. Those are fools, they are brutish, who do not know, who do not understand, how great God's works are, who will not acquaint themselves with them, nor give him the glory of them; they regard not the work of the Lord nor consider the operation of his hands (Psa 28:5); particularly, they understand not the meaning of their own prosperity (which is spoken of Psa 92:7); they take it as a pledge of their happiness, whereas it is a preparative for their ruin. If there are so many who know not the designs of Providence, nor care to know them, those who through grace are acquainted with them, and love to be so, have the more reason to be thankful.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Ps 92 Thanksgiving and praise open this psalm. The Lord—the Most High—is faithful and just in discerning between the godly and the wicked. The godly will enjoy a glorious, vigorous future, while the wicked will perish. The wise see and understand the Lord’s works as they reveal his justice (92:6-7, 11, 15). The wicked, like grass, are quickly destroyed (92:7-10). 92:title on the Sabbath Day: Jewish tradition assigned one psalm to each day of the week: Sunday (Ps 24), Monday (Ps 48), Tuesday (Ps 82), Wednesday (Ps 94), Thursday (Ps 81), Friday (Ps 93), and the Sabbath (Ps 92). This is the only psalm that indicates this use in its title. 92:1-3 The psalmist offers praise and thanksgiving for God’s unfailing love and faithfulness.