Psalms 92

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.

92:4-7 Fools perish because they do not understand the Lord’s marvelous works and eternal plans.92:4-5 The Lord acts and the psalmist responds in praise (92:4). God’s actions spring from his thoughts (92:5).

92:5-6 The Lord’s thoughts do not make sense to the simpleton or the fool, the immoral person who desires no wisdom (Prov 1:22; 10:23).

92:7 Even when the ungodly seem to grow luxuriantly (73:3-5), they have no future (92:9; see 1:6; 90:5-6; Isa 40:6-8).

92:8-10 The glory of the Lord provides the reason for the poet’s renewed strength and glory, and for the imminent defeat of the enemy.92:8 The transcendent Lord stays above the world of human experience. From this exalted place, he rules and judges (7:7), celebrates his victories (68:18; see Ps 47), comes to rescue the needy (102:19), brings an end to the wicked (92:7-8), and receives praise (148:1).

92:10 as strong as a wild ox: The Lord allows the psalmist to share his exaltation (92:8), thus ensuring victory.

92:11-15 The psalmist understands the Lord’s mighty acts. He shares in the glory of the wise of heart.

92:12 Carvings of palm trees (1 Kgs 6:29, 32, 35; 7:36) adorned the Temple, and builders made rich use of cedars (1 Kgs 5:6). The trees represent the godly, who are planted in the very courts of the Temple.

92:13 The Temple area consisted of the Lord’s own house and the courts that surrounded it.

92:15 There is no evil in him! The Lord is consistently just; he rightly judges everyone (see Zeph 3:5).