Psalm 92:1-15 - Worshippers Are Overcomers

The title of Psalm 92 tells us that it is both a Psalm and a song of the Sabbath. Time and time again, throughout the Old Testament God makes it very clear that His people are to remember the Sabbath day. The Jewish Sabbath from the Hebrew word “shavat”, which means “to rest”. It was to be observed throughout the year on the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday. Believers today begin their week with worship and rest because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus on the first day of the week! They went from work to rest but today we go from rest to work in Christ (Ephesians 1-2).   A part of Israel's covenant relationship with the Lord was their honoring of the weekly Sabbath. It was a special sign between Israel and the Lord (Ex. 20:8-11; 31:12-17; Neh. 9:13-15) and reminded them that God had delivered them from Egypt (Deut. 5:12-15). But the Sabbath also reminded them of God the Creator (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11).   Seven times in Genesis 1 we are told that what God made was "good." The psalmist added an eighth "good thing".  It is "good to give thanks [praise] unto the Lord." Believers today can praise the Lord for His generous creation gifts, His salvation through the blood of the Lamb, and His gracious covenant with us because of what Jesus did on the cross. Worship ought to be the natural outflow of a heart that loves the Lord and appreciates who He is and what he has done for His people.   Whether we use voices alone or voices accompanied by instruments, we can express our praises to God and focus on His wonderful attributes. We can worship all day long, from morning to evening. We can begin the day assured of His love and end the day looking back on His faithfulness. We can look around and marvel at His works, including His providential care and leading in our own lives, and we can look into His Word and probe the depths of His great thoughts (Rom. 11:33-36). Whether we are stirred by the creation around us or the Scriptures before us, we have every reason to worship and praise God, for He is reigning above us!   In verses 6-11, the psalmist shifts our attention to the enemies of the Lord who make life difficult for God's people. The Authorized Version calls them "brutish," which means "beastly, lacking values and discernment, savage, living only to satisfy the appetite." Other translations use "stupid, senseless, rude, uncultivated." The fool in Psalm 14 would qualify (Psalms 49:10-12, 20; 94:8-11). These people are like grass; they have no deep roots, and their beautiful green growth quickly passes away in the hot arid sun in the Middle East (Ps. 90:5-6).   God's faithful people, however, are like palm trees and cedars (v. 12). The "horn" is a symbol of power (v. 10), and God gives His people power to overcome their foes (Psalms 75:4-5, 10; 89:17, 24). Oil was used to anoint special people such as kings, priests, and prophets, but here the anonymous psalmist rejoiced because the Lord had anointed him with fresh oil. Today, we have the fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit to fill us with His presence!   God wants His people to be overcomers (Romans 12:21; 1 John 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7).  If we first will take the time every day to be true worshippers of God, remembering and rejoicing in Who He is, and what He has done and is doing, then we can experience the power of the Spirit to overcome the flesh, the world, and the devil!   God bless!