Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 92:2
To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
2. Morning and evening are natural times for prayer (Psa 5:3; Psa 63:6; Psa 55:17, &c.); lovingkindness and faithfulness are the attributes which move God to make and keep His covenant with His people (Psa 89:1, note). The division of the verse into two parallel clauses is rhythmical, not logical (cp. Psa 90:16), but there is an appropriateness in the connexion of lovingkindness with the morning (Psa 30:5; Psa 59:16; Psa 90:14; Lam 3:23), and faithfulness with the night.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
To show forth thy loving-kindness – To celebrate thy mercy; thy goodness; thy love.
In the morning – That is, there is a fitness in doing this in the morning; or, there are special reasons why we should do this at that time.
(a) We have been preserved through the dangers of the night; dangers when we were asleep, unconscious, and defenseless.
(b) Life is then, as it were, a new gift – for we are raised from the image of death – sleep – and we should regard life then as if we had been raised from the dead.
(c) To praise God in the morning will have a good influence on us, in promoting cheerfulness; in making us benignant and kind; in preparing us for the toils and trials of the day.
There is no better preparation for a day, in view of its burdens, cares, toils, and trials, than a thankful, cheerful mind in the morning. He who begins a day with a sour, a morose, a complaining, an irritable spirit – who has been preserved through the night, and sees nothing to be thankful for in the morning – will be a miserable man through the day, and will make all miserable around him. He who sees nothing to be thankful for in the morning will see nothing to hope for in the day; he who has no gratitude for the past, will have no bright anticipations of the future.
And thy faithfulness – Faithfulness in the laws of nature; in thy promises; in thy character: in thy providential dealings with people.
Every night – Margin, in the nights. The reference is to the return of evening; and the meaning is, that it is a good thing, or that it is appropriate to contemplate the faithfulness of God at the close of every day.
(a) The mind is then calm, after the toils of the day are over.
(b) The time – evening – its stillness – its twilight – its approaching darkness – all is favorable for reflection.
(c) There is much in every day to be thankful for, and it is well to recall it at night.
(d) It has a happy effect on the mind when we are about to lie down to rest, to recall the mercies of God; to reflect on what he has done for us; to gather, from his kindness in the past, lessons of confidence and hope for the times to come.
We lie down at night more calmly in proportion as we are disposed at the close of a day to think of the mercies which we have received at the hand of God; and the recalling of those mercies to remembrance with the voice, and with instruments of praise, is always an appropriate mode of closing a day.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 92:2
To show forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night.
Morning and evening songs
The Jews have for a long while used this psalm in their Sabbath worship; and this, not because there is much if any allusion to Sabbatic rest in it, but because it is fitting that on that day above all others our thoughts should be lifted up from all earthly things to God Himself. It is a psalm of praise, and this should be the Christians continual exercise. And we should avoid all slovenliness and formalism in our praise; and as before prayer it is well to pause and consider what we are going to ask for, so in praise we should not rush upon it helter-skelter, but engage in it with prepared hearts. Thus the psalmist would have us offer praise; not mere praise, but varied praise, praise with distinct subjects at appointed seasons. Note, then–
I. Morning worship. To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning. There cannot be more suitable time for praise than this. Every morning is a sort of resurrection. We are full of vigour then. Let us give the Lord the bud of the day, its virgin beauty, its unsullied purity. The morning is the choice time. And so is it with the morning of our life. Nothing can happen to you who are young so blessed as to be converted now, while you are young. And the bright morning-like periods of our life–these, too, should be seasons for showing forth Gods lovingkindness. We have our darker hours, our more sombre seasons, but when the joy days come, let us always consecrate them by praise to the giver of them. Do not, as some do, who, if they are prospering, make a point of not owning to it. We often whine as if our lives were martyrdoms, and every breath a woe, thus slandering the good Lord. There are bright days like the morning, and in them we ought to render praise. And see what is to be the subject of our praise–Gods lovingkindness. Was there ever such a word in any language as this word lovingkindness? It is a duplicate deliciousness. There are within it linked sweetnesses long drawn out. It is a kind of word with which to cast spells which should charm away all fears. And this lovingkindness we are to show forth; we are not to keep it to ourselves. I do not mean by talking of it to every one he meets, casting pearls before swine, as it would be to some men, but by the very way in which he speaks, acts, and looks. A Christian ought to be the most cheerful of men. Let the joy of the Lord be our strength.
II. Evening worship,–to show forth Thy faithfulness every night. The evening is the Sabbath of the day, and should be the Lords. And our subject should be Gods faithfulness, for we have had more experience of it. Notice that the text says every night, the dark, drear, cold nights as well as others. Let the old who are nearing the night of life show forth the Lords faithfulness. And let us all publish it abroad. If there be any one topic on which Christians should speak, it is this, and they should speak of it bravely, continuously, thankfully and positively. Satan makes a dead set upon it in the minds of many tempted ones, and therefore all the more should you bring the strength of your testimony that God doth not forsake His people. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Morning and night set to music
I. A general statement (Psa 92:1). To give thanks unto the Lord–
1. Is in harmony with the original design of creation (Job 38:7). Sin has brought discord with it into the world; but it is supremely a good thing to add to the worlds harmonies, and not to its discords.
2. Is the highest expression of human service.
(1) It is good for a man when he learns to give, to feel that he has so much of blessing as that he can afford to give out of the fulness that is in him: good for him to forget himself, and to think of some one whom he feels a yearning desire to bless.
(2) It is good to give thanks. A grand thing when man has that delicacy of feeling that enables him to appreciate a blessing, to recognize its source, its value, and in return acknowledge his own indebtedness.
(3) Further, it is good to give thanks unto the Lord. Anything that brings man into contact with God, everything that reciprocates the relationship between man and God, is ennobling. God gives. In thanks I give something back.
3. Imparts joy to the heart of the Lord Himself. All that we know of the heart of God teaches us that He yearns for this response.
II. Details.
1. The morning song. To show forth Gods lovingkindness in the morning is a grand exercise, when the energies of life are refreshed once more; when the morning dew rests upon mind and heart; when everything is vigorous; and when the days toils have not taken the spring and vivacity out of your spirit.
2. The evening song. To show forth . . . Thy faithfulness every night. The faithfulness represents the strong side, the robust aspect, of Divine goodness. It expresses the fidelity of God; His strong adherence to His promise. This represents the more fatherly aspect of His goodness: the power that sustained you in the struggle of the day. (D. Davies.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 2. To show forth thy loving-kindness] chasdecha, thy abundant mercy, in the morning – that has preserved me throughout the night, and brought me to the beginning of a new day: and thy faithfulness in the night, that has so amply fulfilled the promise of preservation during the course of the day. This verse contains a general plan for morning and evening prayer.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To adore and celebrate thy goodness and truth continually, and especially at those two solemn times of morning and evening, which on every day, and especially upon the sabbath day, were devoted to the worship and service of God.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
2. in the morning, . . . everynightdiligently and constantly (Ps42:8).
loving kindnessliterally,”mercy.”
faithfulnessinfulfilling promises (Ps 89:14).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,…. God has shown forth his lovingkindness in Christ, and Christ has shown it in a ministerial way; and saints should show it forth also with their lips, to warm the hearts of one another, and encourage distressed minds; this should be a part, and a considerable one, of their thanksgiving and praise; as it will appear to be, when the objects of it are considered, not angels, but men, and these the worst and vilest; the instances of it in election, redemption, calling, adoption, and eternal life; and the freeness, earliness, and immovableness of it; and this is to be done in the “morning”, not of the sabbath day only, but every other day, giving praise and thanks for the mercies of the night. Jarchi interprets it of the time of salvation:
and thy faithfulness every night: or “in the nights” b; not the night and goings out of the sabbath only, so Arama; but every other night, observing and declaring the faithfulness and truth of God in his counsels and covenant, in his word and promises, and in the preservation of his people, and the continuance of favours to them; particularly praising his name, and giving thanks unto him openly for the mercies of the day past: morning and night being mentioned may have some respect to the morning and evening sacrifices; and may signify that our sacrifices of praise should be offered up to God continually,
Heb 13:15.
b “in noetibus”, Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, &c.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(2) Lovingkindness . . . faithfulness.The two most prominent features in the display of the covenant relation of God towards His people. The connection of lovingkindness or grace with the morning, and faithfulness or truth with the evening, is only a result of the Hebrew poetic style; and yet there is a fitness in the association. Love breaks through the clouds of doubt as the morning light rises on the night; and thoughts of Gods unerring and impartial justice best suit the eveningthe trial time of the day.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Morning night Daily, special, and constant. An allusion to the daily morning and evening sacrifice, when the people went up to the temple to worship, or at these hours (about 9 A.M. and 3 P.M.) observed the time in prayer at home.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Psa 92:2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
Ver. 2. To show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning ] Every morning, that God may have the firstfruits of the day, but especially on the sabbath morning, when we awake and rise, ad quietem et ad delicias animi et corporis, as Kimchi here hath it. The Jews bless God at the sabbath’s coming in and going out.
And thy faithfulness in the night
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
every = in the.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
show: Psa 71:15, Psa 89:1, Psa 89:2, Psa 145:2, Isa 63:7, Lam 3:22, Lam 3:23, Joh 1:17
every night: Heb. in the nights, Psa 42:8, Psa 77:2, Job 35:10, Act 16:25
Reciprocal: Psa 36:5 – faithfulness Psa 104:16 – General Psa 107:8 – praise Psa 135:3 – for it is Psa 145:6 – I will declare thy greatness Psa 149:5 – sing Isa 58:13 – call Eze 46:13 – every morning Dan 4:2 – I thought it good 1Th 5:24 – Faithful
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
92:2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the {b} morning, and thy faithfulness every night,
(b) For God’s mercy and fidelity in his promises toward his, bind them to praise him continually both day and night.