Worship Guide

(Psa 92:1 KJV)  A Psalm or Song for the sabbath day. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

(Proverbs 14 also read)

If you were looking for some guidance on how to worship the Lord this chapter is a gold mine.  It starts off by telling you that it is for the Sabbath day.  Not being Jewish, not celebrating the Sabbath like I should, I automatically translate that in my mind to the Lord’s day.  I think the principles are the same.

Right here we see that singing is a part of worship.  Also, we see giving thanks and giving praise.  If you follow down through the rest of the chapter, you find it mentions different musical instruments and so forth.  This could be taken as individual worship or as group worship.  I would go with group worship, primarily because it’s kind of hard to play three different musical instruments at the same time.  At the end it talks about “they” instead of “I”.

So, if you’re feeling dry, without inspiration, or as a missionary said in a book “the heavens were as brass,” try this formula, start out with thanks and praise, find someway to sing His praises, work your way through.  I can almost guarantee that God will meet with you and make His presence known.

The Balance of Holy Living

(Psa 92:12 KJV)  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

(Proverbs 24 also read)

Once again we see that the writer of Psalms is confused.  He lives in the illusion that we can live “righteous” (6662) lives.  I guess he has not read Paul lately.  

This is one of the mysteries that occupy my mind at this stage in my walk.  As I read through the Bible I see time and time again that we are called to holiness.  We are expected to live upright lives.  We are to be straight.  We are to follow.  There are so many terms that are used but they all point to the fact that God sees how we live our lives.

At the same time we are also reminded that we can’t do it on our own.  We need God’s hand upon our lives.  That is also clear in the Old Testament.

So?  Put it all together.  God extends His grace.  We are given the gift of salvation.  Yet in some way that is expected to generate behavior and attitudes in us that reflect the character of God.  What a joyful paradox to delve into. 

No Beauty for the Beast

(Psa 92:5 KJV)  O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.
(Psa 92:6 KJV)  A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.

(Proverbs 16 also read)

I was drawn to a discussion between Jordan Peterson and Bill Maher.  They are both on my prayer map in the section that I label “Seekers” because I have heard both of them express thoughts that indicated they were interested in truth.  What a difference between the two men.  What stood out to me is the condition of Maher.  He is so filled with hatred for the God of the Bible that it could not help but overflow.  When I read this verse I thought of that discussion.

We need to understand that when we see the wonders of creation reflecting the glory of God other people see an accident ruled by the law of the jungle.  I could use the word “senseless” (1198) in polite company but the KJV term of “brutish” is actually closer to the truth.  Do you remember the commercial that had a bull wondering through a china store?  That is the picture of some of these people.  The second term of “fool” (3684) in the KJV and “stupid” in the NASB is just a further indictment.  

So?  Do you see the hand of God in the sunrise?  There are many people who admire it but think of it like modern art where an “artist” takes a brush and splatters paint on a canvas.  Pray that they would be given eyes that will see. 

Strange Choices

(Psa 92:9 KJV)  For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

We have a hard time with the concept that there is evil all around us.  We don’t like to think about how our neighbor, who is not a Christian, is a partner with evil.  If that is true of you, it might also be hard to grasp that God has “enemies” (341).

It is hard to fathom on a human level that people would be enemies of God.  It is not God’s choice.  Jesus died for everyone, or in hopes that everyone would respond.  He died knowing that everyone would not accept Him.  He continues open to them.

It is their choice to be enemies of God.  If you think of it in political terms then consider that no vote is a vote no.  By refusing to make a choice you make a choice.  I am sure there are many ways to phrase it but if you do not move to become a friend of God, you are His enemy.

So?  I made my choice.  So have you.  I hope you are as satisfied with yours as I am with mine. 

Productivity

(Psa 92:14 KJV)  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;

(Proverbs 2 also read)

As we get older we often start to feel like life is over.  We seem to be running out of energy and time.  It can be frustrating but we need to know it is not a Biblical attitude.  Here we are told that, even though we are “old” (7872) we still have some “fruit” (5107) to “bring forth" (yield NASB) (5107).  In consideration of our modern crisis in obesity the NASB uses “full of sap” for the “fat” of the KJV.  Either way it means you still have some juice flowing.

It is also interesting to notice the condition of this productivity.  It is found in the previous two verses.  Verse twelve points out God is talking about the righteous and verse thirteen says you need to be planted in the house of the Lord.

So?  If our lives are rooted in the kingdom we always have prospects.  That applies for now as well as forever.  Rejoice.