Psalm 92; The LORD Forever Exalted
Recommended Procedure. Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading.
Idea for the Bible teacher or discussion leader: Have a discussion about what could or should be included in the service of a church or worship center.
Getting Ready
Today, we are studying Psalm 92 which occurs in the fourth collection of the Psalms (#90-106).
Go to today's Bible reading and read Psalm 92 ten times. Try reading it and/ or listening to it in different versions. This will help you understand the overall context of the Psalm and how it might be divided.
bible.com describes Psalms 90-106 as having a chiastic structure. In summary, this means the format is a letter X; the first and last part of the Psalm are mirrored, and there is a central point. We need to keep this in mind as a key to interpreting this Psalm.
Looking at Psalm 92's structure, what things are mirrored and what is the central point?
Now, let's dig a little deeper.
Observing significant things in a passage.
Words. If a word is repeated over and over, it's probably important. It can indicate a theme, who the audience is, an important person or position, or help us determine the context of a passage. What word or words are repeated and how many times? What questions do you have about them?
Types of Psalms Review the different types from the introduction. Which one closely matches the kind of Psalm here? How might this influence our interpretation?
Audience. To whom was this Psalm addressed?
If you were to give this Psalm a title, what might it be? Don't worry, just a title expressing the theme is sufficient. No right or wrong answers here.
Now that you have a temporary title, what might be the subtitles, the sub themes?
Reread verses 1-3 which I have termed The Psalmist Exalts God. How can we praise God according to these verses? Based on this answer, who might be the composer of this psalm?
Psalm 92:1-3
It is good to praise the LORD
and mae music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiminmg your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
The poetic form in these verses is symmetric, i.e. the subject of the couplet is referring to the same thing in the second verse as the first. Which phrases are those?
Why is it good to praise the Lord and make music to the Lord in the morning and at night? How might we apply these verses in our own life?
Why might it be good to sing to the Lord most high, proclaiming the Lord's faithfulness in the morning at his goodness at night to the music of the lyre and harp? Of what value are the instruments?
Psalm 92:4 continues the thoughts of verses 1-3
For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.What deeds of the LORD can we be glad about and sing for joy?
Psalm 92:4
How great are your works, Lord,
Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.But you, Lord, are forever exalted.
Senseless and foolish people in this context are the same. What are some things they pursue but don't understand? What should they understand?
In the chiastic style of this song, the "LORD is forever exalted" is the hinge point, the center point of the x. Read the whole Psalm again. You will notice things are repeated in a similar form, but David, the Psalmist, is more specific in the second half of the Psalm.
Senseless people in verses 6-7 refer to what in verse 9?
God personally doing good deeds and great works for the composer, verses 4-5 refer to what in verses 10-11?
Worshipping God in verses 1-3 refer to what in verses 12-15?
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Structure of Psalm 92:
A1: Repeated words: LORD, you, my, righteous, evil-doers
Audience: Since this song is for Sabbaths, we assume this was a Jewish audience
Type of Psalm: Worship
A2: A title might be God is Worthy of Worship
Subtitles could be:
The Psalmist exalts God
God blesses the righteous
God destroys the wicked
A3: Making music to the LORD. The composer used a ten-stringed lyre and the harp. David. the son of Jesse and future king of Israer played the lyre and harp, so maybe he was the composer. Comparing the style of known Davidic psalms with unknown Psalms may give us the answer.
A4: Verse 1: praising the LORD is equated with making music to him.
Verse 2: love in the morning and faithfulness at night. Love and faithfulness are equated.
Verse 3: a ten stringed instrument and a lyre are both expressions of a harp
Your own answers to why we should praise the Lord in the morning and at night.
My answer: Proclaiming the Lord's praises in the morning sets the tone for the day, and at night, reflecting on the goodness of God, and sharing it with others encourages faith and gives us peace to help us sleep. This is much better than worry and complaining.
My answer: Perhaps they set the mood. Maybe God even likes to hear these instruments.
A6: God's salvation is an obvious choice, but we can also be glad about his creation or answered prayers. What has he done in your life recently?
A7: Senseless, foolish people don't understand that there is an end to this life, to all their nonsense and evil deeds, and only those who have a personal relationship with God will not be destroyed. And, in a probable reference to hell, the text says they will be destroyed forever.
Only those who are worshippers of the true God of heaven will flourish and have eternal life. Only those who are followers of God realize that a vibrant relationship with him bring purpose and value to their life, and his blessings. God is worthy of our time and attention. To him be all praise forever.
Which life are you choosing?
A8: verse 9 The LORD is exalted by the destruction of the wicked. It proves his justice.
verses 7-8: The LORD is exalted in his personal care over those who are righteous, particularly David, the psalmist. God's great deeds are lifting up David's horn. Horn refers to his leadership and his military might (like a wild ox). The LORD blesses the righteous. This could refer to David's victory over his enemies, which could refer to Saul, but because of verses 12-15, it probably refers to his treacherous son, Absalom. "Fine oils poured on me" likely refer to David's anointing, his return to the throne.
verses 12-15: The LORD is exalted in praise for David. Even as he gets older, even after he's made some serious mistakes, the LORD has forgiven him, and made his kingdom flourish once again. He can do the same for you, my friend.
Summary:
Application:
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