The theme of this psalm is particularly challenging when we are confronted by difficult and painful circumstances. “It is good to give thanks to the Lord” (92:1). Elsewhere, the psalmist says, “I will bless the Lord at all times”(34:1).

It is a good thing to be thankful, but there are times when it seems too much to expect. Isaac Casaubon (1559-1614) was both the leading classical scholar of his day in France and a prominent Protestant. He and wife took a boat to get to church. As they went, his wife would sing psalms. One day as she sang Psalm 92, the leaky old boat sank! They made it to shore safely and went to the church. As they entered the service, the congregation was singing Psalm 86:13, “For great is your mercy toward me and you have delivered my soul from the brink of death.”

When your “boat” sinks—you fall ill, lose a job, etc.—you will have a choice: complain and blame God, or trust Him and discover reasons to give thanks. Psalm 92 encourages us to live in an attitude of gratitude and offers several solid reasons for doing so.

The grace of gratitude (vv. 1-3). Giving thanks is not merely an action, but rather is an attitude of heart. This grace is an implant in the heart, born of receiving God’s gifts, including salvation itself. It is “good” not because it makes us feel good to give thanks, but because it is the spiritual service of a grace-filled soul that has nothing but praise for the God who saved even me (v. 1). He is “the Lord”—Yahweh, the covenant God, whose eye has been upon us from all eternity. We sing praises to His name, because His name represents His redeeming love toward us who believe (Acts 2:21; 4:12; Rom. 10:13). His name is “the Lord our righteousness” (Jer. 33:16). The evidence of this grace in our hearts is found in sincere, spontaneous and single-minded testimony in praise, morning and evening (vv. 2-3). Mention of the instruments used in the temple emphasizes the public expression of thanks and ties in with the title of the psalm—“A song for the Sabbath day.” Giving thanks to the Lord is every believer’s great privilege. It is who we are, deep down. Moaning and complaining against God and man is not evidence of a saving relationship with the Lord.

The ground of gratitude (vv. 4-14). Godly gratitude is not a feeling that hangs on nothing. It rests on observable realities. The psalmist sets out three solid grounds for gratitude.

1. God’s great works (in creation and providence) have impacted the psalmist’s thinking along two lines (vv. 4-6). They have made him glad so that he will triumph in them, and seeing how great they are causes him to realize something of how deep the mind of God must be. “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps. 19:1), not the wonders of Mother Nature or materialistic evolutionism. Even the worst effects of human sin cannot obliterate the glory of God in His creation.

2. God’s overthrowing of the wicked displays the contours of divine justice (vv. 7-9). Sinners flourish for a while—like grass—but this is temporary and only prepares for ultimate punishment. Look at history. Read about evil people. Where are they now? Does anyone really think they were good after all? We spend too much time fretting about how so many scoundrels seem to be getting away with things. The psalmist has a higher view of God’s justice. “Your enemies will perish,” he is assured. And indeed they do, all the time. We should remember Revelation 6:15-17, which exposes the fantasy of the godless that somehow they will escape the wages of their sin.

3. God’s blessing of His people assures them of His gracious purposes for them (vv. 10-14). In this present life, in spite of their troubles, the Lord exalts believers (v. 10a), refreshes them with the anointing of His Spirit (v. 10b), and does not let their enemies go scot-free (v. 11).

As to the prospects of those who love the Lord, they will flourish and grow in godliness (v. 12), they will be planted and flourish in the church and its ordinances (v. 13), and they will bear fruit and be fresh and flourishing in their old age (v. 14). Here is a heartwarming picture of the life of the church, both militant and triumphant. “Even to your old age, I am He,” says our heavenly Father, “and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isa. 46:4). In our Savior Jesus Christ we have every reason to give thanks!

The goal of gratitude (v. 15). It is to point away from ourselves to the Giver of our life. Our testimony is not so much our story as it is His story. He is “upright”—the God who reveals Himself as the holy God. He is “my rock”—“the rock that is higher than I” (Ps. 61:2). He is to be relied upon—“no unrighteousness in Him.” This Sabbath song points to that coming eternal Sabbath rest that remains for the people of God in and through Jesus Christ (Heb. 4:9).