"The righteous will flourish like a palm,
they will grow like a Cedar of Lebanon,
Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God."
It is good to give thanks to the Lord because of who He is and what He has done…
He will triumph over the wicked and He causes the righteous to flourish. Palm trees are known for their long life… to flourish like a palm tree means to flourish and live long. The Cedars of Lebanon can grow to 120 feet high and up to 30 around. This made them solid, strong, and immoveable. The writer of this psalm saw believers as upright, strong, and unmoved by the winds of circumstance. Placing our faith firmly in God gives this strength and vitality.
1 It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name—
O Most High,
2 To proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
3 To the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
4 For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord… I sing for joy at the works of your hands.
5 How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts!
6 The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand—
7 That though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed.
8 But you, O Lord, are exalted forever.
9 For surely your enemies, O Lord, surely your enemies will perish…
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me.
11 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes.
12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon—
13 Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…
15 Proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”
“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing
praises to our God” “Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones—praise is
becoming to the upright.” “It is good ethically, for it is the Lord’s right, it is good emotionally for it is pleasant to the heart… it is good practically, for it leads others to render the same.” - C. H. Spurgeon
“Is the Lord God your Most High?” Is He the highest,
most important, most central Being in this life. He is the one who spoke the universe into
existence. It all belongs to Him. He is over every created thing. To not thank and praise Him as your Lord Most
High, we are guilty of ingratitude! He alone rightly deserves all praise.
If you think daily about the Lord’s loyal love and His
faithfulness towards you, you will have abundant reasons to praise Him. It is good to give thanks and praise to the
Lord musically, with instruments and voice.
"God’s great works
include creation, salvation, and providence" His work of redemption is implied by His lovingkindness, His
covenant love towards His people. His work of providence is seen in how He destroys evil, while His people
flourish. It is good to give thanks and praise to the Lord because He will
triumph over the wicked.
“A senseless man has no knowledge, nor does a stupid man
understand this: that when the wicked sprouted up like grass and all who did
iniquity flourished, it was only that they might be destroyed forevermore”
(92:6-7). “For, behold, Your enemies, O Lord, for, behold, Your enemies will
perish; all who do iniquity will be scattered” (92:9).
"It is good to give
thanks and praise to the Lord because He causes the righteous to flourish" The theme of these final verses is God will cause the
righteous to flourish, not for a short time—but for all time. God grants the
righteous strength and refreshing renewal.
If you know the Lord as your Shepherd, then you have experienced His
strength and renewal when you have been weary and oppressed. God grants the righteous stability, growth,
and spiritual fruitfulness.
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