Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
Psalms 92:15

Clarke's Commentary

Verse Psalms 92:15. To show that the Lord is upright — Such persons show how faithful God is to his promises, how true to his word, how kind to them who trust in him. He is the Rock, the Fountain, whence all good comes.

There is no unrighteousness in him. — He does nothing evil, nothing unwise, nothing unkind. He is both just and merciful.

ANALYSIS OF THE NINETY-SECOND PSALM

I. A general proposition, Psalms 92:1: "It is good to give thanks to the Lord," c. which is explained Psalms 92:2-3, and applied Psalms 92:4.

II. A particular narration of such works, in which the goodness and faithfulness of God do especially consist, viz., the creation and government of the world, Psalms 92:4-5. And of the last he gives two instances: -

1. One in wicked men; of their stupidity, Psalms 92:6. Then of their sudden extirpation, Psalms 92:7-9.

2. Another in the godly, whose prosperity is great, Psalms 92:10-14, and security certain, Psalms 92:15.

I. He begins with a maxim: 1. "It is good," i.e., just, profitable, pleasant, and commendable, "to give thanks to the Lord." 2. "And to sing praises (with heart and tongue) to thy glorious name, O thou Most High."

And both parts he explains. 1. That we give thanks at all times, morning and evening, in prosperity and in adversity; and in our praises especially to remember his loving-kindness and faithfulness. These must be the matter of our thanksgiving: "It is good to show forth thy loving-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night," Psalms 92:2; and by all manner of means, Psalms 92:3.

And thus the maxim being proposed and explained, he applies it to himself, and shows his own practice, and the reason of it: "For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work; I will triumph in the works of thy hands," Psalms 92:4.

1. "Thou hast made me glad." He was first delighted and affected with God's work.

2. And then he exults and triumphs in it. The heart must be first truly affected with the work of God before a man shall take any true content or delight in it.

II. He had made mention of the works of God; and now he farther opens what they are: First, The creation of the universe; Secondly, His especial providence in ordering the things of this world, particularly about man.

1. First, he begins with the work of creation, upon which he enters, not with less than an admiration: "O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep." As if he said, I cannot be satisfied in the contemplation of them. There is such a depth in them, that I cannot attain to it, nor comprehend it.

2. And he ends it, not without an indignation, that the wise men of the world, who yet in his judgment, for their disregard of it, are but fools, should not consider it. In the creature they look after nothing but profit and pleasure, in which regard they are but fools. For this brutish man knows not how great are his works; this fool understands not how deep are his cogitations.

And that he may illustrate their folly the more, from the work of creation he comes to God's work of governance of the world; and shows, that as they who would be and are reputed wise, are mistaken in the one, so also they are mistaken in the other; for they think the ungodly, and such as flourish in power and wealth, happy, and that the righteous men, sometimes oppressed, are unhappy: and upon these two instances, he insists to the end of the Psalm. First, he instances the ungodly: When the wicked spring up - rise on a sudden, (for such a time there is,) as the grass, that grows insensibly and in a night; and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish - become very conspicuous, exalted in power and pride, and abound in wealth; who would not now take them for happy men? No, saith our prophet, it is not so.

1. This their felicity is the greatest infelicity: It is, "that they may perish," be destroyed.

2. "That they may perish for ever." Remember the rich man in the Gospel.

3. And this their destruction is from God, that sits on the throne, and is immutable in his decrees and ways. They flourish and are exalted: but it is but for a moment: "But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore." And thou wilt execute thy decree upon them.

4. Which the prophet fully opens in the next verse, which the epizeuxis makes more emphatical: "For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; and all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered."

1, Behold, they were green, they flourished: but the change shall be sudden.

2. They were enemies, thy enemies, workers of iniquity; therefore cursed with a curse.

3. "They shall perish, they shall be scattered;" they rose, they flourished as grass, and they shall be scattered as dry grass, which the wind blows from the face of the earth.

His second instance is the godly, whose happy condition he demonstrates, 1. In hypothesi, or in himself, Psalms 92:10-11; and, 2. In thesi; in all others that be true members of the mystical Church of Christ, Psalms 92:12-15.

He instanceth in himself, that his condition is not like the ungodly. He shot not up as the fading grass, but his strength and power should be as a unicorn.

1. "But my horn shalt thou exalt as the horn of a unicorn;" that is, my power, and glory, and felicity shall still mount higher.

2. "And I shall be anointed with fresh oil." Anointed to be king over Israel, by Samuel, with a horn of oil; - by God, with the gracious oil of his Spirit.

3. And that which adds to my flourishing estate: "My eye shall see my desire upon my enemies, and my ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me;" which David lived to see and hear in the ruin of Saul and his house.

And that which the prophet said of himself he now transfers to all just and righteous men, whom he compares to the palm and cedar.

1. "The righteous shall flourish like a palm-tree." So a good Christian; the greater weight he carries, the more he flourishes.

2. "He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon Cedar-wood is not consumed by worms or time; nor the Church by antiquity nor persecution. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it, nor any true member of it.

Of which the reason is, because these palms and cedars - these righteous men, are planted, set by faith, watered by the word and sacraments, rooted by charity in the Church, which is the house of the Lord; and therefore they shall flourish - be green and vigorous, in the courts of our God.

Nay, which is yet more, they shall be full of sap and laden with fruit.

1. "They shall bring forth fruit in their old age." It shall be contrary to them, as with other trees. Those grow fruitless, and bear not when they grow old; these are then most laden with the fruits of grace.

2. "They shall be fat and flourishing." Other trees, when old, are hard and dry; these then are fat in juice, and flourish in good works.

3. And the reason of this vigour, of the continuance of this radical and vital moisture to old age, is, that they bring forth fruit, which is specified in the last verse: "That they might show forth God's faithfulness, praise him for that," as it is in the second verse. Psalms 92:1. "That they might show that the Lord is upright," - just and righteous in himself. 2. "That he is a Rock," - a sure, stable foundation to trust to. 3. "And that there is no unrighteousness in him," - no injustice; though for a time he suffer the wicked to flourish, and the just to be under the cross. For in his good time he will show his justice in rewarding the just, and punishing the unjust.

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

Psalms 92-93 God’s rule in an evil world

According to the title, Psalms 92:0 was for use on the Sabbath. God is pleased when people cease their ordinary work for a day in order to engage in worshipping him and proclaiming his love (92:1-4). As they meditate upon the nature of God, their thinking will be changed. They will see from God’s point of view and will understand things that are misunderstood by the ordinary person. They will see, for instance, that they need not puzzle over why the wicked prosper. God is the supreme ruler and judge, and he is always in control. In the end the wicked will be destroyed and their prosperity lost for ever (5-9).

By contrast, those who remain true to God will prosper. As a wild ox grows powerful, so the righteous will be strengthened. As privileged people are anointed with oil, so the righteous will be blessed (10-11). As magnificent trees flourish, so the righteous will be strong and fruitful. As a house built on a rocky hill is safe, so the righteous will be secure (12-15).
God is the sovereign Lord and he reigns in majesty. He existed before the universe and he rules over it (93:1-2). The opposition of the ungodly world is like a raging flood that tries to overturn his throne, but it is powerless to move him (3-4). His glory is displayed not only in his power but also in his holiness. People should therefore obey and worship him (5).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS

"They are planted in the house of Jehovah; They shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; They shall be full of sap and green: To show that Jehovah is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."

"They are planted in the house of Jehovah" "The psalmist thinks of the righteous as trees planted in the temple courts where they flourish in the presence of God."The Interpreter's Bible, op. cit., p. 501. It is unknown whether trees were actually grown on the grounds of the Jewish tabernacle or temple; but the metaphor is not teaching us about trees, but about the righteous. It is an eternal fact that "the righteous" are always "planted," that is, established, in the service of God and in his consistent and continual worship.

Leupold commented that, "Regarding this verse (Psalms 92:13) as figurative language yields a good meaning."H. C. Leupold, p. 662.

"Fruit in old age… to show that Jehovah is upright" The longevity and fruitfulness of God's true worshippers is promised here, and there is a special quality of such fruitfulness in that it does not cease with the decease of the righteous. "Their works follow with them" (Revelation 14:13); and one reason why the "crown of righteousness" cannot be awarded to saints immediately when they die, but must wait, as Paul said, until "That Day," is that the eternal achievement of any faithful soul cannot be fully known until it is concluded; and that conclusion occurs not at death, but at the Judgment.

And how about this present life? Is it really true that prosperity and longevity are provided for the people of God, as distinguished from the rest of mankind? The answer is a bold and unequivocal affirmative. Where is the world's greatest prosperity? Where are the longest life-spans? Are such things to be found where the gospel of Christ is unknown? The answer is NO! Nothing any more clearly illustrates this than the example of Russia, once a nominally "Christian nation." They renounced God and his holy religion in 1917; and after 73 years, the whole nation was starving to death, and who was feeding them? The United States of America was selling them 200 million metric tons of wheat every year for the last dozen years of that godless regime.

"To show that Jehovah is upright" The facts just cited not merely show that Jehovah is upright, but that he is truthful. He blesses those who serve him and lays a heavy hand of judgment upon those who do not serve him.

"The happy and flourishing old age of the righteous are a strong indication of God's faithfulness and truth, showing, as it does, that God keeps his promises, and never forsakes those who put their trust in him."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 283. In cases of individuals, this great truth may not always be visible; but when the larger view, as evidenced in the nations of the world mentioned above, the astounding truth of what is written here shines like a beacon in the night.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

To shew that the Lord is upright - That is, This will be a proof that God is faithful to his promises; that he is the true friend of his people. The fact that they live long - that they are happy and useful even in old age, will be a demonstration that God is the friend of virtue, and that he deals with people according to their character.

He is my rock - He is my defense; that which constitutes my security. See the notes at Psalms 18:2. This is language of strong confidence in view of all that is said in the psalm.

And there is no unrighteousness in him - This is said in the most absolute form - implying the most entire confidence. God is altogether to be trusted. There is no evil or wrong in his character or in his dealings. In all respects he is worthy of confidence: “worthy” to be loved, trusted, adored, obeyed, by the inhabitants of all worlds. What a sublime thought is this! What a consolatory truth! What would the universe be if God, a Being of infinite POWER, were not a Being of perfect RIGHTEOUSNESS, and could not be trusted by the creatures which he has made!

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

15.That they may show that Jehovah is upright. It is evident from this verse that the great object of the Psalmist is, to allay that disquietude of mind which we are apt to feel under the disorder which reigns apparently in the affairs of this world; and to make us cherish the expectation, (under all that may seem severe and trying in our lot, and though the wicked are in wealth and power, flourish, and abound in places and distinctions,) that God will bring light and order eventually out of confusion. That they may show, it is said particularly, that the Lord is upright; for through the influence of our corruption we are apt to conclude, when things do not proceed as we would wish in the world, that God is chargeable not only with neglect but with unrighteousness, in abandoning his people, and tolerating the commission of sin. When God displays his justice in proceeding to execute vengeance upon the wicked, it will be seen at once, that any prosperity which they enjoyed was but the forerunner of a worse destruction in reserve for them. The Psalmist, in calling God his rock, shows a second time that he reckoned himself amongst the number of those in whom God would illustrate his justice by extending towards them his protection.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Psalms 92:1-15 is a psalm for the Sabbath day.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night ( Psalms 92:1-2 ),

It's just a good thing to praise the Lord in song, to just show forth the lovingkindness of God. Every morning, start the day with a song. Every evening, end the day with a song. For the faithfulness of God. Lord, You've watched over me. You've kept me all through the day.

Upon an instrument of ten strings, upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man does not know; neither doth a fool understand this. But when the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever ( Psalms 92:3-7 ):

My father for years was a sales engineer for the southern county's gas company when we were growing up in Ventura. And life in the home of a salesman during the Depression years was feast or famine. If Dad had a lot of sales, good commissions, we had... we feasted. When the sales weren't so good, then it was tight around the house. But fortunately, my dad was a super salesman and the Lord really blessed him in his sales. And he was a super salesman for the gas company, but also for the Lord. He was a super witness for Jesus Christ. Always witnessing wherever he'd go to sell a refrigerator, stove, or whatever; he'd always leave a witness for the Lord.

He was coming towards the end of the month and he hadn't had any sales that month. He'd been up in Ojai trying to close a deal and it didn't close. And he was riding home in the car and not knowing really what to do. Because, where are we going to get the money for the month's bills? and so forth. Because there will be no commission, just the salary this month, and he couldn't live on the salary. And my father was a very emotional type person. He was capable of great highs and great lows. And he was very low at this point, very depressed. And he was looking out in the field and he saw the cows out there just eating the grass. And he said, "They look so contented like they didn't have a worry in the world." They must have been Carnation cows. But he said to the Lord, "Lord, it isn't fair. Here I am, your child, I'm your servant. And I'm so worried and so upset because I don't know how I'm going to be paying my bills, and look at those dumb cows out there. So peaceful, so contented eating the grass and the whole field is full of green grass. They've got all that they could ever want and yet here I am; I don't know how I'm going to pay my bills. Lord, it isn't fair that I should have to worry when I'm Your child and those cows can have it so good. They don't have a worry in the world." And the Lord spoke to him and said, "Yes, but they don't have any future. And you have a future with Me."

The psalmist here declares, "The brutish man doesn't know, nor does a fool consider or understand this. But when the wicked spring forth as the grass, when those workers of iniquity flourish, they're going to be destroyed forever." Don't be envious of them. Foolish to be envious of them, because they're going to get wiped out. And so it is great folly to envy the wicked. So many times we, I think, are guilty of that. We look at the wicked and we think, "Lord, they seem to have everything they want, and here I am trying to serve You and I've got all these problems and all." We don't take into consideration the end results, what the future holds. "But they shall be destroyed forever."

But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. For, lo, your enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of unicorn: and be anointed with fresh oil ( Psalms 92:8-10 ).

The enemies of the Lord, they're going to perish. The workers of iniquity, they'll be scattered. But Lord, You'll exalt me.

My eye shall see my desire upon my enemies, and my ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon ( Psalms 92:11-12 ).

When my dad got back to the office in Ventura, there were some people there looking at a stove. He went up to them and he said, you know, began to point out the features they said, "We want it." He signed them up for the stove. Pretty soon some people came in, bought a refrigerator, and before the day was over, he had enough sales to provide great commissions for that month, and God just really took care of us in a very beautiful way. My father won the award several years running of the most outstanding salesman in the United States for the Servel Corporation. Won many awards for that. In fact, he had a very interesting experience. He was out in the Miners Oak area, had just signed up a customer for a new stove, refrigerator, furnace, and then started witnessing to the guy. And the guy was real antagonistic to the Christian witness and got so mad he began to curse my dad. He said, "Let me have the contract back," and he ripped up the contract. And he said, "I don't know how the gas company can afford to hire fools, men that talk to people about Jesus Christ and all," and just really berated him.

And so my dad came home and was discouraged coming home, because you don't like... it's hard to suffer reproach for Christ. When my dad got home, there was a letter there. He opened it up and it was, "Congratulations, you've won first place in the United States again for Servel for the fifth year in a row, and this year we're going to send you to San Diego to the World's Fair in San Diego, and all expenses." And there is a check in there and everything else. In fact, there was a picture and it was a hundred-dollar bill. "Let me be the first to congratulate you for what you've done." All these prizes.

Well, there was a football game going that night and my dad said, "Come on, son, let's go to the football game." So we headed for the football game and we were playing that night against a team and the stadium was just packed. We got there a little late. And way up towards the top there were a couple of seats, so Dad and I made our way up there and we sat down. But as we were getting in, Dad looked, and right behind us was the guy that that afternoon had just cursed him and said, "I don't know how the gas company can afford to hire fools," and all. Dad had the letter still in his pocket, and so he just handed the letter back to the guy. And the guy let out a few oh's, and says, "Come on back tomorrow, Mr. Smith, I really do need that refrigerator and stove."

Oh, "my eye shall see my desire upon my enemies, my ears shall hear my desire the wicked that rise up against me. The righteous shall flourish."

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age ( Psalms 92:13-14 );

So some encouragement here. The next part I don't know though.

they shall be fat ( Psalms 92:14 )

Just fulfilling the Word, how can you help it, you know?

fat and flourishing; To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him ( Psalms 92:14-15 ). "

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Psalms 92

In this psalm, the unknown writer praised God for the goodness of His acts and the righteousness of His character.

"Psalms 90-92 are united by the development of concepts and the repetition of vocabulary. These psalms lead the worshiper from a meditation on the transiency of life (Psalms 90), a call for wisdom (Psalms 91), to a climactic celebration of divine deliverance and protection (Psalms 92)." [Note: Ibid., p. 602.]

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

2. Praise for God’s righteousness 92:8-15

Dr. Constable's Expository Notes

Palm trees produced tasty fruit, so they symbolized fruitfulness. Cedars were not subject to decay, so they stood for long life in the ancient Near Eastern mentality (cf. Psalms 92:7). Both types of trees were also beautiful and desirable. The writer likened the godly to these trees planted in the temple environs. They represent people who delight in drawing near to God (cf. Psalms 1:3; Psalms 52:8). Such people praise God for His consistent righteousness. Because of His unwavering righteousness, He is a sure foundation-similar to a large rock-on whom people can build their lives (cf. Matthew 7:24-27). [Note: See Richard D. Patterson, "Psalms 92:12-15: The Flourishing of the Righteous," Bibliotheca Sacra 166:663 (July-September 2009):271-88.]

Reflection on God’s good acts and His righteous character gives His people optimism as they face life. As believers, we can see things in their proper perspective and go through life rejoicing.

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

To show that the Lord is upright,.... Or righteous, that is, faithful; as he is in his counsels, covenant, and promises, which he makes good by causing his people to grow and flourish, and become fruitful; by carrying on the work of grace upon their souls, and by preserving them to the end safe to his kingdom and glory; by all which it appears that he does not and will not suffer his faithfulness to fail: the Targum is,

"that the inhabitants of the earth may show, c.''

he is my Rock the psalmist sets his seal to the truth of God's faithfulness, firmness, and constancy, calling him a Rock for his strength and stability, and claiming his interest in him; declaring he found him to be so by experience,

even the Rock whose work is perfect; who always completes what he undertakes, and finishes what he begins, and will not forsake the work of his own hands:

just and right is he; the Rock of ages, that remains firm, steadfast, and unalterable in all generations:

and there is no unrighteousness in him; as not in his sovereign acts of grace, so neither in his providential dispensations, either towards good men or bad men; not in suffering the wicked to prosper, as in

Psalms 92:7, and the righteous to be afflicted; nor in punishing bad men here, or hereafter; nor in justifying sinners by the righteousness of his Son, and giving them the crown of righteousness at the last day: all his proceedings are in the most just and equitable manner; see Romans 9:14.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever:   8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore.   9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.   10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.   11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me.   12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.   13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God.   14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;   15 To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

      The psalmist had said (Psalms 92:4; Psalms 92:4) that from the works of God he would take occasion to triumph; and here he does so.

      I. He triumphs over God's enemies (Psalms 92:7; Psalms 92:9; Psalms 92:11), triumphs in the foresight of their destruction, not as it would be the misery of his fellow-creatures, but as it would redound to the honour of God's justice and holiness. He is confident of the ruin of sinners, 1. Though they are flourishing (Psalms 92:7; Psalms 92:7): When the wicked spring as the grass in spring (so numerous, so thickly sown, so green, and growing so fast), and all the workers of iniquity do flourish in pomp, and power, and all the instances of outward prosperity, are easy and many, and succeed in their enterprises, one would think that all this was in order to their being happy, that it was a certain evidence of God's favour and an earnest of something as good or better in reserve: but it is quite otherwise; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever. The very prosperity of fools shall slay them,Proverbs 1:32. The sheep that are designed for the slaughter are put into the fattest pasture. 2. Though they are daring, Psalms 92:9; Psalms 92:9. They are thy enemies, and impudently avow themselves to be so. They are contrary to God, and they fight against God. They are in rebellion against his crown and dignity, and therefore it is easy to foresee that they shall perish; for who ever hardened his heart against God and prospered? Note, All the impenitent workers of iniquity shall be deemed and taken as God's enemies, and as such they shall perish and be scattered. Christ reckons those his enemies that will not have him to reign over them; and they shall be brought forth and slain before him. The workers of iniquity are now associated, and closely linked together, in a combination against God and religion; but they shall be scattered, and disabled to help one another against the just judgment of God. In the world to come they shall be separated from the congregation of the righteous; so the Chaldee, Psalms 1:5. 3. Though they had a particular malice against the psalmist, and, upon that account, he might be tempted to fear them, yet he triumphs over them (Psalms 92:11; Psalms 92:11): "My eye shall see my desire on my enemies that rise up against me; I shall see them not only disabled from doing me any further mischief, but reckoned with for the mischief they have done me, and brought either to repentance or ruin:" and this was his desire concerning them. In the Hebrew it is no more than thus, My eye shall look on my enemies, and my ear shall hear of the wicked. He does not say what he shall see or what he shall hear, but he shall see and hear that in which God will be glorified and in which he will therefore be satisfied. This perhaps has reference to Christ, to his victory over Satan, death, and hell, the destruction of those that persecuted and crucified him, and opposed his gospel, and to the final ruin of the impenitent at the last day. Those that rise up against Christ will fall before him and be made his footstool.

      II. He triumphs in God, and his glory and grace. 1. In the glory of God (Psalms 92:8; Psalms 92:8): "But thou, O Lord! art most high for evermore. The workers of iniquity who fight against us may be high for a time, and think to carry all before them with a high hand, but thou art high, most high, for evermore. Their height will be humbled and brought down, but thine is everlasting." Let us not therefore fear the pride and power of evil men, nor be discouraged by their impotent menaces, for the moth shall eat them up as a garment, but God's righteousness shall be for ever,Isaiah 51:7; Isaiah 51:8. 2. In the grace of God, his favour and the fruits of it, (1.) To himself (Psalms 92:10; Psalms 92:10): "Thou, O Lord! that art thyself most high, shalt exalt my horn." The great God is the fountain of honour, and he, being high for evermore, himself will exalt his people for ever, for he is the praise of all his saints,Psalms 148:14. The wicked are forbidden to lift up the horn (Psalms 75:4; Psalms 75:5), but those that serve God and the interest of his kingdom with their honour or power, and commit it to him to keep it, to raise it, to use it, and to dispose of it, as he pleases, may hope that he will exalt their horn as the horn of a unicorn, to the greatest height, either in this world or the other: My horn shalt thou exalt, when thy enemies perish; for then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun, when the wicked shall be doomed to shame and everlasting contempt. He adds, I shall be anointed with fresh oil, which denotes a fresh confirmation in his office to which he had been anointed, or abundance of plenty, so that he should have fresh oil as often as he pleased, or renewed comforts to revive him when his spirits drooped. Grace is the anointing of the Spirit; when this is given to help in the time of need, and is received, as there is occasion, from the fulness that is in Christ Jesus, we are then anointed with fresh oil. Some read it, When I grow old thou shalt anoint me with fresh oil. My old age shalt thou exalt with rich mercy; so the LXX. Compare Psalms 92:14; Psalms 92:14, They shall bring forth fruit in old age. The comforts of God's Spirit, and the joys of his salvation, shall be a refreshing oil to the hoary heads that are found in the way of righteousness. (2.) To all the saints. They are here represented as trees of righteousness,Isaiah 61:3; Psalms 1:3. Observe, [1.] The good place they are fixed in; they are planted in the house of the Lord,Psalms 92:13; Psalms 92:13. The trees of righteousness do not grow of themselves; they are planted, not in common soil, but in paradise, in the house of the Lord. Trees are not usually planted in a house; but God's trees are said to be planted in his house because it is from his grace, by his word and Spirit, that they receive all the sap and virtue that keep them alive and make them fruitful. They fix themselves to holy ordinances, take root in them, abide by them, put themselves under the divine protection, and bring forth all their fruits to God's honour and glory. [2.] The good plight they shall be kept in. It is here promised, First, That they shall grow, Psalms 92:12; Psalms 92:12. Where God gives true grace he will give more grace. God's trees shall grow higher, like the cedars, the tall cedars in Lebanon; they shall grow nearer heaven, and with a holy ambition shall aspire towards the upper world; they shall grow stronger, like the cedars, and fitter for use. He that has clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. Secondly, That they shall flourish, both in the credit of their profession and in the comfort and joy of their own souls. They shall be cheerful themselves and respected by all about them. They shall flourish like the palm-tree, which has a stately body (Song of Solomon 7:7), and large boughs, Leviticus 23:40; Judges 4:5. Dates, the fruit of it, are very pleasant, but it is especially alluded to here as being ever green. The wicked flourish as the grass (Psalms 92:7; Psalms 92:7), which is soon withered, but the righteous as the palm-tree, which is long-lived and which the winter does not change. It has been said of the palm-tree, Sub pondere crescit--The more it is pressed down the more it grows; so the righteous flourish under their burdens; the more they are afflicted the more they multiply. Being planted in the house of the Lord (there their root is), they flourish in the courts of our God--there their branches spread. Their life is hid with Christ in God. But their light also shines before men. It is desirable that those who have a place should have a name in God's house, and within his walls, Isaiah 56:5. Let good Christians aim to excel, that they may be eminent and may flourish, and so may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, as flourishing trees adorn the courts of a house. And let those who flourish in God's courts give him the glory of it; it is by virtue of this promise, They shall be fat and flourishing. Their flourishing without is from a fatness within, from the root and fatness of the good olive,Romans 11:17. Without a living principle of grace in the heart the profession will not be long flourishing; but where that is the leaf also shall not wither,Psalms 1:3. The trees of the Lord are full of sap,Psalms 104:16. See Hosea 14:5; Hosea 14:6. Thirdly, That they shall be fruitful. Were there nothing but leaves upon them, they would not be trees of any value; but they shall still bring forth fruit. The products of sanctification, all the instances of a lively devotion and a useful conversation, good works, by which God is glorified and others are edified, these are the fruits of righteousness, in which it is the privilege, as well as the duty, of the righteous to abound; and their abounding in them is the matter of a promise as well as of a command. It is promised that they shall bring forth fruit in old age. Other trees, when they are 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 is their best work. This indeed shows that they are upright; perseverance is the surest evidence of sincerity. But it is here said to show that the Lord is upright (Psalms 92:15; Psalms 92:15), that he is true to his promises and faithful to every word that he has spoken, and that he is constant to the work which he has begun. As it is by the promises that believers first partake of a divine nature, so it is by the promises that that divine nature is preserved and kept up; and therefore the power it exerts is an evidence that the Lord is upright, and so he will show himself with an upright man,Psalms 18:25. This the psalmist triumphs in: "He is my rock and there is no unrighteousness in him. I have chosen him for my rock on which to build, in the clefts of which to take shelter, on the top of which to set my feet. I have found him a rock, strong and stedfast, and his word as firm as a rock. I have found" (and let every one speak as he finds) "that there is no unrighteousness in him." He is as able, and will be as kind, as his word makes him to be. All that ever trusted in God found him faithful and all-sufficient, and none were ever made ashamed of their hope in him.