8
But thou, O Jehovah, art on high for evermore.
Exploring the Meaning of Psalms 92
വഴി Julian Duckworth
Psalm 92 is simply headed 'A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath Day.' It's an apt description. Its phrases are lyrical, and Verse 3 mentions music. Some verses use the evocative dual phrasing that's common in the Psalms, like 'To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night' (verse 2) and 'The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon (verse 1).
The mood is one of praise and affirmation of the Lord. The imagery lends itself to expressing spiritual ideas and truths. 'But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil' (verse 1).
The psalm opens and closes with clear messages that serve as bookends to an uplifting song. It begins, 'It is good to give thanks to the Lord' and it ends, 'He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him'.
The arrangement of the text of the Word very often shows meaningful patterns, in that what is first said — here, thankfulness — and what is last said — here, my rock — are not just literary; they also show something of the perfection of Divine revelation. (See Divine Love and Wisdom 195-198.)
In verse 2, the spiritual state called 'morning' is one of anticipation and beginning, since the day beckons our involvement in its scope of use. This comes from the Lord's lovingkindness. Equally, the spiritual state called 'night' represents the state of completion and reflection. Here, the Lord's faithfulness is right for this. (See Arcana Caelestia 5097.)
Musical instruments, plucked harmoniously, have the spiritual meaning of truths which resonate together, and with us, so that they affect us. This resonance is in the idea of vibrating strings and also the harmony of sounds played simultaneously. An instrument of ten strings — a harp, a lyre — represents the calling up of 'remains' or our early, good, spiritual states. The number 'ten' signifies these remains. (See Divine Providence 312.)
The next few verses - 5-9 - make a contrast between the greatness, depth and permanence of the Lord and the thoughtless impulses of the fool. Wickedness springs up like grass and flourishes so that it may be destroyed for ever. Spiritually, this describes the godless view of life, without meaning, futile and pointless, compared to a view of life based on the Lord who governs everything and whose providence is without exception. (See Arcana Caelestia 1755.)
The song continues on beyond the destruction of godless thoughts, that the Lord has raised up the horn like a wild ox and 'I have been anointed' with fresh oil. The oil of anointing is poured from a horn, signifying both power and blessing on the one anointed. Here, he describes his whole wish for his own enemies within to be scattered. In the Word, and especially in the psalms, 'enemies' are spiritual states in ourselves which work contrary to the Lord. (See Arcana Caelestia 7370.)
The last four verses express the flourishing of one who is dependent on and trustful in the Lord. The image of the tree is much used, because the tree grows, stands firm, regularly bearing fruits. These are those who are 'planted' in the house of the Lord. But the essential thought is not of our own flourishing, but of the Lord who is our rock. (See Apocalypse Revealed 89.)
