Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19971207.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Ninety-Two - The Wholesomeness Of Rejoicing In God's Sovereignty Over Godless Oppressors
(Psalm 92:1-15)
  1. Introduction
    1. When an afflicted party is goaded through an oppressor's efforts, the wear can eat at the afflicted one to the point that his hurt turns inward, destroying his mental and emotional and eventually physical health.
    2. God wants the oppressed to overcome such destruction, and offers an antidote to the wear of oppressors.
  2. The Wholesomeness Of Rejoicing In God's Sovereignty Over Godless Oppressors, Ps. 92:1-15.
    1. The psalmist declared that it was wholesome [(tov), the same word used to describe the goodness of God's creative order in Genesis 1:31] to thank Jahweh, and to sing praises to His Name. Incidentally, Marge Kacir has supplied me with a medical article entitled, "The Healing Power of the Gratitude Attitude," (Advance for Occupational Therapists, Nov. 24, 1997) that confirms the physical benefits of gratitude!!
    2. He noted that it was good to declare God's loyal love and faithfulness throughout the day, Ps. 92:2.
    3. He stated that it was good to do so with music, Ps. 92:3. Incidentally, the ABC evening news last week reported on new treatments for children with cancer by giving them music lessons. Research has found that the body produces immune system advancing enzymes when people are exposed to music!!
    4. The Psalmist declared that God has made him glad through his works, that he could triumph in His hands' works and the great extent to which His thoughts go as revealed by those deeds, Ps. 92:4-5.
    5. The specific THEME the psalmist meant to note was God's sovereignty over afflicting oppressors, 6-8:
      1. Fools and spiritually insensitive people do not know about this truth, explaining why apparently it is the spiritually insensitive and foolish parties that afflict the psalmist, Ps. 92:6 with 92:7.
      2. The truth the psalmist promoted was the fact that though the spiritually insensitive, foolish oppressor springs up and flourishes, he will fall under divine judgment as God will be eternally exalted, Ps. 92:7-8.
    6. So encouraged was the psalmist by this truth, he applied it to himself as though it had already happened:
      1. He noted that God's enemies, the spiritually insensitive and foolish oppressors will perish like a military force that is scattered under the press of a conquering foe, Ps. 92:9.
      2. As a result, the psalmist will be strengthened (horn of the strong wild ox) and honored (quality oil anointed on the head) that offset affliction by evil, unjust oppressors, Ps. 92:10 .
      3. The psalmist reports that he can see and hear of the defeat of his adversaries in this hope,, Ps. 92:11.
      4. On the other hand, the upright will flourish in place of the INITIAL flourishing of the wicked, growing like a palm tree (very tall) or like a cedar of Lebanon (luxurious and large), Ps. 92:12-13 versus 92:7.
      5. In fact, this flourishing, just opposite the flourishing of the foes (v. 7) will last into old age, 92:14.
      6. Even in old age they will still proclaim God's praise, that He is upright, a Rock Cliff for protection from invading forces Who can be fully expected to deal out justice, Ps. 92:15.
Lesson: When goaded and oppressed by an unjust party, INSTEAD of letting it EAT at the inner man into producing DESTRUCTIVE mental and even physical results, GOD wants us so to TRUST His JUSTICE and sovereign verdict and judgment that is COMING tha t we actually REJOICE in His FUTURE triumph over such oppressors. In this way, we actually produce wholesome affects on the spirit and body in place of deteriorations from the oppressor's efforts.

Application: When we are unjustly oppressed, the oppression arises from a party that is so spiritually insensitive and foolish regarding their accountability to GOD that they act and think totally fearless of reprisal. Letting the oppressor's acti ons EAT at us only serves to fulfill the oppressor's interests. Thus, to COUNTER this, God wants us (a) to RESPECT our accountability to HIM unlike the oppressor (b) so that we TRUST His coming help, (c) and confidently rejoice in it so as (d) to shield ourselves from what the oppressor is trying to destroy IN us! In other words, God wants us to conquer the oppressor's efforts to destroy the inner man by relyin g on HIM before He takes action to deal overtly with the oppressor! In this way we become victorious in Him!