Psalm 92 will be the text for this next week’s message at my home church. I’m not preaching. But it is my custom to try to read ahead and today, I was struck by the superscription.
“A Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath day.”
“A Psalm, a Song” —that phrase appears two other times in the psalms (See psalm 30 and 67). But the phrase “for the Sabbath Day” is a lonely phrase appearing only here. It sent me “a hunting,” back to the psalm. “I wonder what the psalm suggests for appropriate activities on a Sabbath day. That might be helpful to my soul.” Here’s what I found.
Sabbath Day Activities
- Give thanks to Yahweh (vs. 1a). [It’s always good to cultivate a heart of thanks.]
- Sing praises to the Most High (vs. 1b). [Our King is always worthy of praise.]
- Declare His lovingkindness in the morning (vs. 2a). [We start every day/week with Him.]
- Declare His faithfulness in the night (vs. 2b). [Reminding the heart of His faithfulness.]
- Use skill and beauty to do these things (vs. 3). [Excellence in all we do for Him.]
- Sing joyously (vs. 4). [Who has more reasons for joy than us?]
- Remember His works (vs. 5). [Our souls leak and we need to remember.]
- Remember the consequences of wicked choices (vs. 6-7a, 9). [Galvanize your soul with truth.]
- Remember their end (vs. 7b). [cf. Ps. 73:17]
- Remember Yahweh is still sovereign (vs. 8). [Reduce the panic in your spirit.]
- Remember God’s blessings upon your life (vs. 10). [Returning to thanks cultivates a generous spirit.]
- Remember God’s people will flourish (vs. 11-14) [Move through your day with confidence.]
And verse 15, the final verse, tells us the purpose or the result of what filling up our Sabbaths with these thoughts and activities.
To declare that the Lord is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
That’s a good purpose to live for. And what a wonderful result of a day given over to rest for the glory of God and the refreshment of our soul.
A Benediction
“May your next Sabbath be filled with thanks and praise and joy and memories of His goodness, and sober reflection on where you would be without Him, and may your refreshment in Him declare to the world that the Lord is just and good and a sure Rock upon whom to stand.”
Read Psalm 92
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