The Majesty of God
Opening Prayer
Lord, “my main purpose in life is to glorify You and to enjoy You forever” (adapted from the Westminster Shorter Catechism). Help me, Lord, to realize this in my life.
Read PSALM 92
1 It is good to praise the Lord
and make music to your name, O Most High,
2 proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
3 to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
5 How great are your works, Lord,
how profound your thoughts!
6 Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
7 that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
8 But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
9 For surely your enemies, Lord,
surely your enemies will perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox;
fine oils have been poured on me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries;
my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;
13 planted in the house of the Lord,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green,
15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright;
he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“We must follow the Lord with praise on our lips for who he is, with thanks in our hearts for what he does, and obedience in our steps for what he asks us to do” (Roy Lessin).
Think Further
According to its title, “A song. For the Sabbath day,” this psalm of thanksgiving was meant to be sung in corporate worship. Scholars have recognized that verse 8, asserting that God is exalted, constitutes the center of the psalm. God’s exaltedness is shown in the defeat of his enemies (9). The psalmist shares in God’s exaltedness and he also experiences the defeat of his enemies (10,11). New Testament believers also share in God’s splendor and victory. In him, we are conquerors (Rom. 8:37,38; cf. Psa. 91). This should lead to worship.
Like Psalm 1, this psalm depicts two kinds of people: the righteous person, with whom the psalmist identifies, who will praise and exalt God in song and speech; and, in contrast, the “senseless” or spiritually dull person, who does not perceive the greatness of God (6,7). Whereas the righteous flourish in God’s presence forever, the evildoers only flourish for a while before they will be forever destroyed (cf. 7,12–14). What distinguishes between the discerning righteous and the undiscerning evildoer has less to do with intelligence and more with attitude.
The New Testament continues the idea of two kinds of people. The wise person acts on Jesus’ words, but the foolish person does not put them into practice (Matt. 7:24–27). The believing person comes to the life-giving Light, but the unbelieving person prefers the darkness (John 3:18–21). The person controlled by the Spirit belongs to Christ and experiences life and peace, but the person controlled by a sinful nature does not belong to Christ and will experience death (Rom 8:5–9). Let us be wise about whose side we are on.
Apply
Most liturgies (Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran) contain the people’s response, “It is right to give him thanks and praise.” Reflect on how you can develop this in your daily life.
Closing prayer
Faithful God, I don’t give You thanks often enough. Thank You for Your gifts. Thank You for Your blessings. Open my eyes, ears, mind and heart to see Your gifts poured out for me.
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