It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name O Most High; to declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night, on an instrument of ten strings, on the flute, and on the harp, with harmonious sound. For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph with the works of Your hand. O LORD, how great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. Psalm 92: 1-5, NKJV.
Dear God, as we contemplate Your works, please draw near to us, that we might rejoice in Your love! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This Psalm is considered a “Song for the Sabbath Day,” because it reflects on God’s act of creation. In the beginning, God rested, after he had finished creating the world. He ended His week of creation by blessing the Sabbath day, and setting it aside as holy time. Because of His great love, he chose to spend this time with His creatures.
How different our world might be if we spent more time contemplating God’s love for His creatures, through His work of creation. It is interesting to note, that no leaf, snowflake, or individual, in God’s creation, is exactly alike. Even identical twins have their distinctive characteristics. There is nobody exactly like you or me! Just think about that, and rejoice in the knowledge! He thoughtfully, created each of us. We are not the result of mass production!
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine” (Isaiah 43: 1). That is God’s claim upon us – we are His by creation! But we become doubly His, when we accept Him by faith, as our Savior from sin. We become His a second time; by redemption! We become creatures of His new creation! “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5: 17)! When the Sabbath, is spent in reflection of God’s creative, and re-creative work, we are doubly blessed!
In the center of the psalm, the psalmist contemplates the end of the wicked. Evil will exist only for a time; but righteousness will reign forever! Praise God! The Sabbath is a weekly reminder of the everlasting peace that will reign throughout eternity, when the government of this world, rests upon the shoulder of the Prince of Peace!
The last portion of the psalm speaks of the prosperity of those who are made righteous by accepting Christ’s robe of righteousness! Like the Sabbath, that is eternal, they are compared to the palm tree, and the cedar of Lebanon. Their roots go deep, and therefore, they “flourish in the courts of our God” (12, 13, NRSV). Even “in old age they still produce fruit” (14). They are living, fruitful, testimonies that God is “righteous and upright;” He is our “Rock” (15).
There are so many blessings promised to those, who through obedience, enjoy the weekly rest that God has provided; and get ready to enjoy the blessings that he has prepared for them that love Him. I invite you today, to “taste and see” for yourself, “that the LORD is good; [and] blessed is the man [woman, boy, and girl], who trust in Him” (Psalm 34: 8)!
Have a very Happy Sabbath, and God bless you!