Chapter Overview
Summary
Psalm 92 (MT) / Psalm 91 (LXX) is 'a psalm, a song, for the Sabbath day' — the Psalter's only explicitly-designated Sabbath psalm. The psalm contrasts the prospering-briefly wicked (vv. 7, 'though the wicked sprout like grass') with the righteous-planted-in-God's-house (v. 13, 'they are planted in the house of the LORD'). The palm-tree / cedar of Lebanon imagery (v. 12) — 'the righteous flourish like the palm tree, grow like a cedar of Lebanon' — is a classic biblical-righteousness image.
Notable Variants
92:13 'righteous flourish like palm tree / cedar of Lebanon' as righteous-flourishing imagery; 92:15 'still bearing fruit in old age' as late-life fruitfulness; Sabbath-day liturgical designation.
Structural Notes
MT Ps 92 = LXX Ps 91. 16 verses (MT/LXX), 15 verses (English). Sabbath-day psalm.
A psalm — a song composed for the Sabbath day.
Superscription 'a Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day' tracks MT. The ONLY EXPLICITLY SABBATH-DESIGNATED PSALM. Jewish liturgical tradition uses this psalm in the Friday-evening and Sabbath-morning services. Its emphasis on divine-works and righteous-flourishing suits the creation-rest theology of the Sabbath.
It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praise to your name, O Most High,
'It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High' tracks MT.
to declare your faithful love in the morning and your faithfulness through the nights,
'To declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night' tracks MT. MORNING-CHESED / NIGHT-EMUNAH — the daily-liturgical rhythm.
with the ten-stringed instrument and the lute, with the murmuring melody of the lyre.
'To the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre' tracks MT.
For you have made me glad by your work, O LORD; at the works of your hands I shout for joy.
'For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy' tracks MT.
How great are your works, O LORD! How profoundly deep are your thoughts!
'How great are your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep!' tracks MT. DEEP-THOUGHTS. Romans 11:33 ('Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!') extends.
A senseless person does not know this; a fool cannot understand it.
'The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this' tracks MT.
When the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish — it is only to be destroyed forever.
'That though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever' tracks MT. WICKED-SPROUT-LIKE-GRASS — brief-florescence. Psalm 1's chaff contrast.
But you, O LORD, are exalted forever.
'But you, O LORD, are on high forever' tracks MT.
For look — your enemies, O LORD, for look — your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered.
'For behold, your enemies, O LORD, for behold, your enemies shall perish' tracks MT.
But you have raised my horn like that of the wild ox; I am drenched with fresh oil.
'But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil' tracks MT. FRESH-OIL ANOINTING — late-life renewal. The 'my horn exalted' language recurs at 1 Sam 2:10 (Hannah), Luke 1:69 (Zechariah's 'horn of salvation').
My eye has looked on those who watch me; my ears have heard the fate of the evildoers rising against me.
'My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants' tracks MT.
The righteous will flourish like a palm tree; like a cedar in Lebanon, they will grow tall.
'The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon' tracks MT. PALM-TREE / CEDAR imagery. The palm (tamar) — tall, upright, fruit-bearing — and the cedar of Lebanon — long-lived, massive — together symbolize righteous-flourishing. Matthew 21:8 (palm branches at the triumphal entry) and Revelation 7:9 ('palm branches in their hands') develop.
Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
'They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God' tracks MT. PLANTED-IN-GOD'S-HOUSE — the righteous-as-temple-trees, the sanctuary-as-garden theology.
They will still bear fruit in old age; they will be full of sap and green,
'They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green' tracks MT. OLD-AGE-FRUITFULNESS — a theological claim contrasting the grass-withering wicked. The psalmic-theology of late-life productivity.
to declare that the LORD is upright — my rock, in whom there is no injustice.
'To declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him' tracks MT. Closing theological-declaration — divine-righteousness as cosmic-reliability.