This past Sunday, we began a new series called “I Quit” and I challenged our church and anyone who would listen, to quit going to church and be planted! Psalm 92 is ostensibly dedicated to the Shabbat day or Jewish Sabbath. According to the Midrash, Psalm 92 was said by Adam. Adam was created on Friday, and he said this psalm on the onset of the Shabbat. It is not a psalm that speaks about the Shabbat, but one that was said on the Shabbat; this was Adam's first day of existence and he marveled at the work of the Creator. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon wrote:
The Jews have for a long while used this Psalm in the synagogue-worship on their Sabbath, and very suitable it is for the Sabbath-day; not so much in appearance, for there is little or no allusion to any Sabbatic rest in it, but because on that day above all others, our thoughts should be lifted up from all earthly things to God himself.” (Charles Spurgeon)
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep!
The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O Lord, are on high forever. For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants.
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him. Psalm 92:1–15
There is no doubt that if you are reading this now … you want to grow. You want to experience life the way God designed it, created it, purposed it for you! Here is the key … rest, renewal, refocusing or our lives. We all tend to just keep going. We may be tired, stressed, overworked, overcommitted, or just warn out! In the Old Testament, the Jewish people would practice a time of putting away all their effort, work, busyness and make blessing God their focus. Taking all of life and lift it up to the praise of His glory! Then we can rest in the reality, be reminded of the truth … that He is God, our God and there is none other. Rest is essential to growth … but resting in God is essential for righteousness!
Take some time and read, reflect, and rejoice in the words of Psalm 92 … and be planted in Him!
-Pastor Jerry