Psalm 92 - They will flourish

Psalm 92 - They will flourish

Read: Psalm 92 vs 1-15

We don’t know who wrote Psalm 92 but we do know what it was written for. It was written to be sung on ‘the Sabbath day.’ The word ‘Sabbath’ is a Hebrew word (the original language of the Old Testament). It means to ‘stop’ and to take a rest. In the book of Exodus the LORD God revealed to Moses what His plans were for His people and how they should live in His world. In Exodus 20:8 God instructed His people to ‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.’

When the commandments are repeated in Deuteronomy 5 a reason is given as to why ‘stopping’ is an important rhythm in the life of faith. In Egypt God’s people were slaves, life was all work with no opportunity for rest. As they journeyed towards the Promised Land God wanted them to live as free people and to enjoy a weekly time when they would realise that the greatest reality in life was not what they were doing but what God was doing. 

Psalm 92 gives words to free people people to sing as they stop, rest and look to God. ‘It is good to sing praise to the LORD’ (vs 1), this song proclaims His love in the morning and His faithfulness at night (vs 2). As this Psalmist pauses from all their busyness they are filled with gladness as they think about what God is doing, and what He has done (vs 4). Senseless and foolish people do not understand that it is God alone who is exalted (vs 8).

The Psalm ends with a picture of what it means for people to flourish and to grow. True flourishing comes not from what we do, or achieve, but from where we are planted. Planted in God’’s presence (vs 13) leads to a life not of frantic activity but a life that bears fruit throughout every season (vs 14). There is a time to stop, a time to rest, a time to allow roots to go down deep into the nourishing soil of who God is. Amidst the busyness and pressures of life these moments are His gift to us.

Prayer: Father forgive me for times when in my busyness I fail to hear Your voice. Help me today to find my rest in Your presence. May the fruit of Your Spirit grow in my life that I may become more like Jesus. Amen.