Wisdom Books Psalms

God's Love and Faithfulness

Discover Jesus as: King of Glory Psalms 92-93 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 438 of 730
Downloads

Lesson

Watch on YouTube

Audio Only

Teaching Notes

INTRO

Today, we are looking at Psalm 92. Yesterday, Psalm 91 was all about God sending His angels to protect those who were in trouble. Every day, we are looking at pages from the journals of at least seven different authors, so we encounter a multitude of emotions and concerns. Psalm 92 was written anonymously, and it has no instructions for the choir director. The only description given is that it was written for the Sabbath. Some psalms were sung throughout the week; others were sung during the Sabbath period from sundown Friday evening until sundown Saturday evening. This psalm was special because it was written to be a part of the Sabbath worship.

During the week, a lamb would have been sacrificed both during the morning and the evening. On the Sabbath, the sacrifices would have doubled.1 The Sabbath was a sign between God and the people (Exodus 20:8–11; 31:12–17; Nehemiah 9:13–15). The Sabbath reminded them that God had delivered them from Egypt (Deuteronomy 5:12–15), and worship on the Sabbath brought joy!

TEACHING

Psalm 92:1-5: Wiersbe describes these verses as “A Worshiping People.”2 The people were giving thanks and praises in worship. Constable points out that it is appropriate to give praise publicly.3 They were to praise God in faithfulness, both in the morning and at night, with a harp and a lyre (vv. 1–3). They were praising God throughout the day. The people rejoiced in the Lord for what He had done for them—they shouted with joy (v. 4)! The psalmist described God as magnificent and profound (v. 5). The focus was on how good God is. Sometimes, I wonder where our joy is!

Psalm 92:6–11: Wiersbe describes these verses as “An Overcoming People.”4 The psalmist described those who had “a shallow nature” and did not know God—they would be eternally destroyed (vv. 6–7).5 But God would be exalted forever (v. 8). Because of who God is, His enemies would perish (v. 9). God lifted up the psalmist’s horn. The horn symbolized strength

and majesty, so the psalmist was stating his strength came from God (v. 10a). The psalmist had even been anointed with oil (v. 10b). According to MacArthur, anointing with oil was “based on the practice of making an animal’s horns gleam by rubbing oil on them.”6 Some say verse 10 is a Messianic reference. Nelson’s Commentaryexplains this was “not just a general statement of God’s interest in the poet, but a prediction of the coming One—the Lord’s Anointed.”7 God gives His people power to overcome their foes (1 Samuel 2:1, 10; Psalm 75:4–5, 10; 89:17, 24; Luke 1:69).

Consider the anointings that took place in the Old Testament. God’s anointing came to kings and priests to set people apart for a specific purpose. God used this anointing to call people to specific tasks. In Exodus 29:7, the anointing of Aaron as priest took place. In Exodus 40:15, the Levitical priests were anointed to serve God. Other anointing examples include Samuel in 1 Samuel 10:1 and David in 1 Samuel 16:12–13. The Spirit of the Lord left Saul, even though he had been God’s anointed one (1 Samuel 16:14). In 1 Kings 1:39, God anointed Solomon.

The New Testament also includes times of anointing: Luke 4:18–19; 2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 2:20, 27. In the New Testament, we are all anointed because we are in Christ. Jared Laskey wrote, “The anointing does not point to the believer; the anointing points to God who empowers the believer.”9 Therefore, we become “a conduit for His power.”10 When we keep our eyes on Christ, we can walk out our anointing.

Psalm 92:12–15: Wiersbe describes these verses as “A Flourishing People.”11 When we overcome what life throws at us, we thrive in Christ.

CLOSING

When we find joy and strength in the Lord, we will grow and flourish.

  1. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2004), p. 259.

  2. Wiersbe, p. 259.

  3. Thomas Constable, Dr. Constable’s Expository Bible Notes: Psalms, p. 331; available at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/psalms.pdf.

  4. Wiersbe, p. 259.

  5. Earl Radmacher, Ronald B. Allen, and H. Wayne House, eds., Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), p. 711.

  6. John MacArthur, John MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 659.

  7. Nelson’s Commentary, p. 710.

  8. MacArthur, p. 659.

  9. Jared Laskey, “5 Ways to Grow in the Anointing of the Holy Spirit,” Charisma News; available at https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/59255-5-ways-to-grow-in-the-anointing-of-the- holy-spirit.

  10. Laskey.

  11. Wiersbe, p. 260.

Questions

  1. What does it look like for you to give thanks to the Lord and to give praises to His name like the psalmist did in Psalm 92?
  2. This Psalm was written for the Sabbath day. Are you intentional about setting aside time on the Sabbath to praise and worship God? How important do you think it is to observe the Sabbath today?
  3. Psalm 92:4 says, “I will shout for joy because of the works of Your hands.” Meditate on this phrase. Do you find yourself doing this or do you tend to take God’s creation for granted? Do you think the work of God’s hands consists only of what is physically seen?
  4. Compare God’s majesty (Psalm 93:1) to the people we call majesty or royalty here on earth. What are some similarities? Differences? What is one way that God sees us? (1 Peter 2:9)
  5. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Psalms 92—93 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Psalm 92:1–2

“It is good to praise Yahweh, to sing praise to Your name, Most High, to declare Your faithful love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night.”

As you wake up today, declare the Lord’s faithful love over your life. Declare the praises of God. Before you head to bed tonight, declare the Lord’s faithfulness in your life. No matter what you may be facing, the burdens you carry, or the battle you are in, declare God’s faithfulness. He is faithful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God is faithful in your life—something powerful happens as you proclaim this truth out loud!

Give a voice to the truth resounding in your head. Shout the word “Joy” out loud. Look at someone near you and say, “Joy!” Perhaps you aren’t feeling joyful, so just begin by whispering, “Joy.” Then say it in a louder whisper, “Joy.” Then say it with a regular voice, “Joy.” Now a little bit louder, “Joy.” Now shout, “Joy!” Are you smiling yet? Smiling itself doesn’t mean you have joy. However, smiling sure does make your situation feel less burdensome for the moment as you remember God’s great love and faithfulness for you! Release this joyful sound to the Lord in praise! The Lord loves you, and He is working for you! Joy!

“It is good to praise Yahweh, to sing praise to Your name, Most High, to declare Your faithful love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night.”

— Psalm 92:1–2

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Psalm 92:4 — “For You have made me rejoice, Lord, by what You have done; I will shout for joy because of the works of Your hands.”
  • Psalm 100:4 — “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name.”
  • James 1:12 — “A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.”