Psalm 92 - "It Is Good"

5AM..."Read Psalm 92 except don't just peruse it but read it, study it." 

7AM..."Read Psalm 92 except don't just peruse it but read it, study it." 

Alrighty then...I guess I need to get up and read Psalm 92. When the Lord tells me to do something, I normally do it. If He speaks with an urgency, I make sure to listen right then. But when He suggests something I sometimes put it off. When the second suggestion comes, I do it. So I started reading Psalm 92 and reread it. I took at look at what Matthew Henry said about it and then I prayed for the Lord to reveal what He wanted me to get from this passage.

At the beginning of this Psalm it says it is a song for the Sabbath Day. That's interesting as today is the day we take for our Sabbath. Psalm 92 is His encouragement for me. He is encouraging me through these words. Last Friday was preparation for Resurrection Sunday and today is a funeral so Sabbath hasn't happened. When circumstances such as these occur, we try to take another day for our Sabbath. These words encourage me to praise Him from sunup to sundown. They encourage me to find reasons to praise Him. I shared with one the other day that when we praise the Lord the enemy will flee because he doesn't like it. After coming back from Israel it has been challenging to get my energy back. He blessed me with energy while there but once back I feel so drained. Between my lack of energy and Doc's physical ailments I guess I haven't felt like praising Him. Thank You Jesus for the reminder!!! 

This Psalm reminds me of a song by Paul Wilbur called "It Is Good" that is based upon Psalm 92...

It Is Good To Praise The Lord
And Make Music To Your Name
O God Most High
To Proclaim Your Love And Faithfulness
All The Day And Through The Night

Lai Lai Lai
Lai Lai Lai Lai Lai... 

May I Dwell In Your Courts O Lord
Then To Flourish Like The Trees Of Lebanon
Planted In The House Of Adonai
There To Live Forever more

Matthew Henry writes about Psalm 92...

"Let us seek for ourselves the salvation and grace of the gospel, that being daily anointed by the Holy Spirit, we may behold and share the Redeemer's glory. It is from his grace, by his word and Spirit, that believers receive all the virtue that keeps them alive, and makes them fruitful. Other trees, when old, leave off bearing, but in God's trees the strength of grace does not fail with the strength of nature. The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work: perseverance is sure evidence of sincerity. And may every sabbath, while it shows forth the Divine faithfulness, find our souls resting more and more upon the Lord our righteousness."

Dear Jesus, 

This morning I have been reminded of a few things from this Psalm. One is that no matter what is happening in my life I need to praise You. Another is that no matter what my physical body goes through You still use me. Or as Matthew Henry wrote, "...in God's trees the strength of grace does not fail with the strength of nature." Woo hoo! Thank You Jesus for those words of encouragement! Lord, please enable us to have our Sabbath each and every week. Open our eyes to how that can be accomplished even with the demands of ministry. Father, I praise You for the way You speak to me. I know it is only because I seek more of You and less of myself that I hear from You. Fill me to overflowing. Come down upon me in such a mighty way with Your power as I go throughout this day. Put Your words on my lips, guide my steps to where You desire me to go, and most of all love on me so I can in turn love on others. Thank You Jesus for being The One I Want To Praise. Amen.