Psalm 92—Gratefully Flourishing Like a Cedar

From the depths of pain, gratitude is a perspective-altering discipline. Gratefulness is also entirely appropriate. I learned early in my journey of grief that the very memories which caused the most pain could also give rise to sincere gratitude. When you’re a recipient you learn to embrace a posture of gratitude. Paul says we are to “…give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

“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.” Psalm 92:1-3

The psalmist conveys how it is good for us to give thanks and to sing praise to the good name of our God, the Most High. Our gratitude and praise have a reason. We are compelled to declare his faithfulness and steadfast love; and it is even better when accompanied by beautiful instruments.

“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!” Psalm 92:4-5

The Lord’s works are good, and his thoughts are deep. William Cowper said it well in a hymn he wrote, “God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform…” The psalmist proclaims and sings of the great works of God and stands in awe of his thoughts. Isaiah 55:9 reveals, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

“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.” Psalm 92:6-8

Such deep thoughts of God, by contrast, mock the low thoughts of the foolish. In ignorance, they do not see their own mortality. The stupid man is oblivious and has no realization that wicked evildoers, while flourishing now, are doomed in eternity. The psalmist declares the enemies of God will perish and be scattered, and we will see it. It’s a faith-filled declaration.

“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.” Psalm 92:12-13

Faith knows that while the wicked flourish now, the righteous flourish eternally. The psalmist compares the righteous to a palm tree growing like a cedar—one of the most resilient trees. It is a symbol of strength and longevity. When facing difficulties in the present, it is important to realize God’s people are planted in his house flourishing in the courts of the Lord. Like cedars.

Knowing, by faith, that we are eternally flourishing gives courage for faithful living now. As healthy cedars, we bear fruit because our sap and greenery are eternal. Unfazed by temporally flourishing wickedness.

Faith-filled followers declare, in the context of brokenness, the Lord is upright, he is our rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

“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 92:14-15