Psalms 92:12

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE - in contrast to "the wicked," who 'spring as the grass, and do flourish' for a brief space, soon to be "destroyed forever" (). The psalm, as it refers to the Church primarily, has here an allusion to the tabernacle, the holy place of meeting between God and His assembled people (). The holy candlestick in the sanctuary, the symbol of the Church, had the form of a tree with flowers and fruit, to denote the beauty, the ever-fresh joy, and the fruitfulness of the people of God. Figures of flowers were upon the curtains of the tabernacle; and the interior wall of Solomon's temple was decorated with carved palms and opening blossoms (margin,...

12_The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree. _He now passes to the consideration of another general truth, That though God may exercise his people with many trials, subject them to hardships, and visit them with privations, he will eventually show that he had not forgotten them. We need not be surprised that he insists so explicitly and carefully upon this point, as nothing is more difficult than for the saints of God to entertain expectations of being raised up and delivered when they have been reduced almost to the state of the dead, and it does not appear how they can live. Some think the cedar is mentioned from the fragrancy of its smell, and the palm for the sweetness of its fruit; but this is too subtile a meaning to attach to the words. The sense seems simply, that though the righteous may appear for a time to be withered, or to have been cut down, they will again spring up...

7-15 God sometimes grants prosperity to wicked men in displeasure; yet they flourish but for a moment. Let us seek for ourselves the salvation and grace of the gospel, that being daily anointed by the Holy Spirit, we may behold and share the Redeemer's glory. It is from his grace, by his word and Spirit, that believers receive all the virtue that keeps them alive, and makes them fruitful. Other trees, when old, leave off bearing, but in God's trees the strength of grace does not fail with the strength of nature. The last days of the saints are sometimes their best days, and their last work their best work: perseverance is sure evidence of sincerity. And may every sabbath, while it shows forth the Divine faithfulness, find our souls resting more and more upon the Lord our righteousness...

Verse Psalms 92:12. _THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM-TREE_] Very different from the wicked, Psalms 92:7, who are likened to grass. These shall have a _short duration_; but those shall have a long and useful life. They are compared also to the _cedar of Lebanon_, an incorruptible wood, and extremely long-lived. Mr. _Maundrell_, who visited those trees in 1697, describes them thus: "These noble trees grow among the snow, near the highest part of Lebanon. Some are very old, and of prodigious bulk. I measured one of the largest, and found it _twelve yards six_ inches in girt, and yet sound; and _thirty-seven_ yards in the spread of its boughs. At about _five_ or _six_ yards from the ground, it was divided into _five_ limbs, each of which was equal to a large...

THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM-TREE - That is, the beauty, the erectness, the stateliness, the growth of the palm-tree - all this is an emblem of the condition, the prosperity, the happiness of a righteous man. The wicked shall be cut down; but the righteous shall flourish. This image - the comparison of a righteous man to a flourishing, majestic, green, and beautiful tree - is not uncommon in the Scriptures. See the notes at Psalms 1:3; compare Jeremiah 17:8. On the “palm-tree,” see the notes at Matthew 21:8. “The stem,” says Dr. Thomson (“land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 65)” tall, slender, and erect as Rectitude herself, suggests to the Arab poets many a symbol for their lady-love; and

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is entitled, "a Psalm or Song for the sabbath day," and was therefore, we may conclude, intended for liturgical use in the temple on that weekly festival. Jewish tradition says that it was sung in the morning at the time of the drink offering of the first lamb. It was also, we are told, recited on the second day of the Feast of Tabernacles ('Middoth,' Psalms 2:5). The psalm is altogether one of praise and thanksgiving. It is optimistic, looking forward to the complete destruction of all God's enemies (Psalms 92:7), and the complete triumph and happiness of his faithful ones (Psalms 92:10). Some Jewish commentators viewed it as descriptive of the final sabbath of the world

THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL FLOURISH LIKE THE PALM TREE,.... Not like grass, as the wicked, Psalms 92:7 which is weak and tender, and soon cut down; but like trees, and like palm trees, that are firm and strong, and of a long continuance: the word for righteous being of the singular number, has led some to think that Christ is meant; but though he is eminently the righteous One, being so in himself, and the author of righteousness to others, yet not he, but his church and people, are compared to a palm tree, Song of Solomon 7:7, the reason why the singular number is made use of is, as Aben Ezra thinks, because the righteous are very few, in comparison of the wicked: the sense is, that everyone of the righteous, or everyone that is righteous, through the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, and are crea

Psalms 92:1. _It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:_ It is good in itself; it is good for those who hear it; but it is especially good for our own hearts to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto the name of the Most High. Sometimes, when we are very heavy in spirit, if we would take care not to defraud the Lord of the revenue of praise that is due unto him, we should find that the readiest way to bring comfort to ourselves is to sing praises unto his holy name. Brother and sisters in Christ, it is not very notable work to praise God when all things go well with us; it is far grander work to praise him when everything seems to be against us. It is because the nightingale doth sing by night that he hath such excellence among the birds, and if you and I can praise God in the dark, then we shall find that it is a go

Psalms 92 A Psalm of Praise _ 1. Praise for His works (Psalms 92:1)_ 2. The enemies who perish (Psalms 92:6) 3. The happy lot of the righteous (Psalms 92:10) The inscription tells us it is a Psalm for the Sabbath day. The rest for His people comes when the Lord arises, delivers them, and the enemies perish. This Psalm looks forward to that rest, the coming great Lord's day. The praise is on account of the work Jehovah has done, His redemption work in behalf of His people. “Thou hast made me glad through Thy work--I will triumph in the work of Thy hands.” Then the wicked shall perish, and all the workers of in

XCII. IN PRAISE OF PROVIDENCE. God's counsels are too deep for the stupid man. But in fact the prosperity of the wicked is superficial. PSALMS 92:10_ b_. Read, Thou hast sprinkled me with fresh oil....