Jim Hylton- Psalm 92 Florishing in the Lord- Aug 22, 2021

Psalm 92 – “Flourishing in the Lord” The Thriving in Jesus Class 8/22/2021

Flour·ish·ing - developing rapidly and successfully; thriving,

e.g. "a flourishing career"

In the post-exilic liturgy of the Temple, a Psalm was sung at the time of each morning sacrifice. The Psalm sung each Sabbath was Psalm 92.

Day 1 – Psm 24 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it...”

Day 2 – Psm 48 “Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain.”

Day 3 – Psm 82 “God presides in the great assembly; he renders judgment among the “gods”:

Day 4 – Psm 84 “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!”

Day 5 – Psm 81 “Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!”

Day 6 – Psm 93 “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength...”

Day 7 (Sabbath) – Psm 92 It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High...”

Psalm 92 is itself located between two other uplifting Psalms: Psalm 91 and Psalm 93.

Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High » Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 93:1-2 The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; » The Lord is clothed,

» He has girded Himself with strength.

» Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be

moved.

» Your throne is established from of old; » You are from everlasting.

Psalm 92:1-4 Encourage praise and worship the Lord

1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;

2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night,

3 On an instrument of ten strings, On the lute,

And on the harp,

With harmonious sound.

4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hand

Closer look at Psalm 92:1-4 (1)

1 Why is it good to sing praises?

- The Lord is worthy of our praises.

- It is good for us – in many ways. Books about this.

- Praise can release God's Power. 2 Chron 20:22

- The practice of praise – Frequent in the Psalms, e.g. 68:4.

1 O Most High – Elyon. Used over and over again in Hebrew O/T.

2 Your lovingkindness - The Hebrew word most often translated “lovingkindness” literally means “covenant loyalty.” Unfailing love, mercy, and good favor to covenant people.

2 Your faithfulness – God is true to His own nature, His Word, His covenant and His promises. He will do what He says.

Closer look at Psalm 92:1-4 (2)

3 Instrument of ten strings, lute, harp... Instruments of musical worship in the Temple.

Is corporate worship, i.e. church is good & vital (Heb 10:25)

4 For You, Lord, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands.

Work in creation, towards Israel, and in life of the Psalmist?

The Psalmist has a personal relationship with the Lord. Do we? Has the Lord just done something the Psalmist is grateful for? Note – there are also Psalms of grief and lament.

Ecclesiastes 3:4 A time to laugh... a time to weep.

Psalm 92:5-9 Celebration of the wisdom of God (could be other titles for this section)

5 O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep.

6 A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this.

7 When the wicked spring up like grass,

And when all the workers of iniquity flourish, It is that they may be destroyed forever.

8 But You, Lord, are on high forevermore.

9 For behold, Your enemies, O Lord,

For behold, Your enemies shall perish;

All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

Closer look at Psalm 92:5-9

5 The Lord's works are great – and beyond our understanding (Isaiah 55:8-9).

6 Certainly a wicked or foolish man can't understand the ways in which the Lord may be working. Psalm 94:8-11

7 The wicked spring up and seem to grow fast, but ultimately they will be destroyed (if they do not repent and turn to the Lord).

8 In contrast, the Lord is all powerful and unchanging forever.

9 His enemies will perish and be scattered.

But the Lord's timing is not our timing. II Peter 3:8

Psalm 92:10-11 God's Mercy is Established in the Believer's Life

10 But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; » I have been anointed with fresh oil.

11 My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies; » My ears hear my desire on the wicked

» Who rise up against me.

10 The horn is a symbol of God's power in the Psalmist's life. 11 Anointing is a symbol of God's purpose in the Psalmist's life.

Note: The Psalmist's enemies are not personal enemies. Rather they are the wicked enemies of the Lord.

Psalm 92:12-15 Anticipation of the continued mercy of God

12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Those who are planted in the house of the Lord Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14 They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,

15 To declare that the Lord is upright;

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (Deut

34:8, Rom 9:34)

Psalm 92:12-15 A Closer Look

12 In contrast to the wicked (92:7), the righteous are strong and enduring, like mighty trees, not like grass.

13 To be planted in the house of the Lord means to walk Him in our lives. Means surrender and obedience, seeking Him through prayer and His Word, not perfection.

To flourish in the courts of our God means His blessing. I believe this is first a spiritual blessing.

14 We can still bear fruit in old age, be fresh and flourishing, in contrast to the wicked who have no hope. May mean a long lifespan, but not a guarantee, e.g. Jesus, Paul, etc.

Other references on flourishing (Psm 1:3, 52:8; Jer 17:5-8)

15 To declare that the Lord is upright, and our rock. We should still be witnesses and still be serving Him.

The Overall Teaching of Psalm 92

God is merciful and faithful in salvation (Psm 92:2).

God is great in His works (Psm 92:4-5).

God is just in His dealing with the wicked (Psm 92:6-7). God is faithful in prospering His children (Psm 92:12-15).

We should: trust, praise, and serve Him all our lives.

If we are still on this earth, then God still has a purpose for our life.

The Overall Teaching of Psalm 92

God is merciful and faithful in salvation (Psm 92:2).

God is great in His works (Psm 92:4-5).

God is just in His dealing with the wicked (Psm 92:6-7). God is faithful in prospering His children (Psm 92:12-15).

We should: trust, praise, and serve Him all our lives.

If we are still on this earth, then God still has a purpose for our life.

Today's Scripture References

Psalm 68:4, in reference to singing praises to the Lord (92:1). Psalm 40:5, in reference to God's wonderful works (92:4-5). Psalm 94:8-11, in reference to senseless fools (92:5).

II Peter 3:8, in reference to the brevity of the wicked (92:6). Psalm 52:8-9, ref. planted in the House of the Lord (92.13). Psalm 91:14-16, in reference to flourishing (92:12-13).

Psalm 1:3, in reference to bearing fruit (92:14).

Deut 32:4, in reference to no unrighteousness in the Lord (92:15). Romans 9:14, ref. no unrighteousness in the Lord (92:15).

II Chronicles 20:22 22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.

Psalm 68:4 Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds,

By His name Yah,

And rejoice before Him.

Hebrews 10:25 ... not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Psalm 94:8 Understand, you senseless among the people; And you fools, when will you be wise?

II Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not [a]fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice,

A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not!