Who’s Up for Giving Thanks? Psalm 92

A text – Psalm 92:1-4, 12-15

92:1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
92:2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night,
92:3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.
92:4 For you, O LORD, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
92:12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
92:13 They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God.
92:14 In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap,
92:15 showing that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

A reflection:

On Friday this week, as on Wednesday and on Monday, we have been shown texts about planting. God is the ultimate grower of things, and humans benefit from giving thanks to God for that planting work. We will derive benefits from giving thanks for God’s steadfast love in the morning and for giving thanks for God’s faithfulness at nighttime, even using music.

See the descriptions of the righteous that God has helped to flourish like palm trees and like cedars. We are planted in the very house of God, in God’s courts. Even in our old age we flourish – always green and producing sap. It’s a very hopeful picture of being grateful for a long and fruitful life.

Sometimes we feel old and even unproductive, or we feel that it is very difficult to produce what we once did. We can become weary and give in to closing our eyes in fatigue or even despair. But the psalmist wants us to get energy by giving thanks. That’s her prescription for weariness: give thanks to the Lord for God’s steadfast love in the morning and God’s faithfulness in the nighttime.

What do you think? Shall we try it? I’m a little weary these days. But I’m going to take time this evening to thank God for being faithful to me tonight before I sleep, and I’m going to put a little note on my bedside table to thank God tomorrow morning for steadfastly loving me. I’m going to hope that this thankfulness to God will give me energy to help reduce my weariness. Who’s in it with me?

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for your steadfast love, Lord, and for your faithfulness. Help us to remember to live each day with moments of gratitude to you for being our heavenly father day in and day out. Nourish us like plants so that we may bear fruit for you and your Kingdom. Amen.