The Sabbath Psalm

1. Introduction
   1. Sabbath traditions
   2. Intro to the Sabbath for those who aren’t familiar with it
2. Psalm 92 – Only psalm explicitly related to the Sabbath (a love song – חֶסֶד: faithfulness, lovingkindness,)
   1. This psalm highlights the number 7:
   2. YHWH occurs 7 times
   3. 7 things that the ___ are called:
      1. righteous
      2. wicked
   4. central verse–7 verses on either side highlighting the central verse
   5. five stanzas of three verses–middle stanza divided into three parts, making the number seven
3. The theme of the Sabbath
   1. First stanza (vv. 1-3): Joy, praise, thanksgiving– That’s what the Sabbath is all about
   2. cf Isa 58:13 delight: only found twice in the Hebrew Bible–There are degrees of delight–14 different words and the word used here is at the top–This word is the highest form of delight–regal, royal delight–doing your pleasure: business pleasure–God doesn’t want us to merely experience business pleasure–business pursuits; He wants the Sabbath to be a regal delight
4. Motivations for Sabbath joy:
   1. Second stanza (vv. 4-6): For: because, the reason the Sabbath is such a wonderful day
   2. First motivation for Sabbath: The works of God: (Hebrew word only used for creation) God creates in poetry–Hebrew parallelism
      1. Genesis 1: Without form and void: tohu and bohu, unformed and unfilled
      2. First day: let there be light–fourth day, the lights
      3. Second day: divides water and air–fifth day: fills the water and air
      4. third day: land–sixth day: fills the land
      5. seventh day: God bends the creation into a week
   3. Second motivation for Sabbath joy: Third stanza (vv. 7-9):
      1. V. 7 is in past tense, as in NASB: Second motivation for Sabbath:
      2. echoing earlier scriptures (the Exodus and conquest of Canaan)
      3. The psalmist is recalling how God redeemed Israel in the past (v. 7) and in the future (v. 9)–i.e., the work of Redemption–God is our Redeemer–
      4. The Sabbath is the sign of righteousness by faith–it’s a date with Him
   4. vv 10-12: Third motivation:
      1. present experience, growth, power, sanctification:
      2. echo of Ex 31:13 (God sanctifies us)–
      3. Horn, anointing: pouring oil: that’s what physicians would do. Fill ram’s horn with oil mixed with herbs, especially the balm in Gilead
      4. Cedars of Lebanon: impervious to insects , because of what they contain
   5. Last stanza (vv. 13-15): Fourth motivation:
      1. the Future; planted: Literally, transplanted
      2. God takes His people to the sanctuary in Heaven v. 15: The Sabbath is ultimately a picture of God

Credit

Based on Richard Davidson, “Sabbath: Day of Exquisite Delight.”