Jump Start # 236

Psalms 92:1-2 “It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare your lovingkindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night.”

  Giving thanks and singing praises to God, sounds like a church service. But I don’t think that is the intention here. The subtitle of this chapter says, “a Song for the Sabbath Day.” This Psalm would have been sung primarily in the home as the family reflected and worshipped God. It is a great personal admonition. Here the entire day is covered. In the morning, the righteous declares God’s lovingkindness. God has given us yet another day. Another day to serve Him. Another day to bless others. Another day. Not all get another day. All of our days are numbered and there is a time when they run out. Realizing that makes a person view each day as a gift and a blessing from the Lord. It is “lovingkindness.”

  At the end of the day, “by night,” this person declares God’s faithfulness. The day is done. He has been about with others, and with his family. Promises, plans and dreams have been shared. Encouragement offered. Truths reminded and repeated. And through all of this, God’s faithfulness. God kept His promises to Israel. God kept His promises concerning His son, Jesus. God keeps His promises toward us. God is good. God can be counted upon and depended upon.

  Beginning the day and ending the day with songs and prayers to God. This passage is one of the reasons we started our “Jump Starts” every morning. Mornings can be crazy for many of us. Some wake up tired, running behind and the day goes down hill from there. But what a difference, a few moments with God makes. Reading one of His passages or singing a hymn on the way to work just seems to make the sun shine, even on a dark, cold morning.

  Then ending the day with God, what a great thought that is. A person has been places and done many things and he ends it by thanking God. God has been good to him, once again.

  The person of this Psalm has surrounded himself with God, from the morning until the night. His thoughts are about God. Sprinkled throughout this person’s day would be prayers for the food he ate and a burning desire to walk with the Lord.

  The more of God we put in us the less room we have to fill ourselves with ourself or with the things Satan offers. Morning, noon and night with God. Isn’t that what Heaven will be like? We like this concept, the problem is something always happens and it messes us up. I know this well. At 3:00 this morning I was in the emergency room with one of my kids, allergic reaction to something. All his fine. I didn’t spring out of bed bright and early like I usually do. It was more like a groan and a grunt. But you catch yourself, take a breath and then realize God is still there. It helps, it energizes and it puts your focus where it needs to be.

  Morning, noon, and evening with God. Give it a try. Some days will be easy. Others not so. The giving of thanks to the Lord does as much good for us as it does for God. We need it. We need to be reminded. There is so much to be thankful for.

Roger