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\u201cIt is good to praise the Lord, and to make music to your name, O Most High\u2026The righteous will flourish like a palm tree\u2026\u201d (Psalm 92:1,12).

Have you ever wondered when and where the Psalms were written? Each one had its own beginning; a setting in which it was composed. We don't know the beginning or setting of Psalm 92; nor its first pray-er; nor what circumstances caused it to be sung.

We do know how it was used by the people of Israel as they worshipped together. The Jewish rabbis encouraged their people to use this psalm as a song of thanksgiving and as a Sabbath psalm.

Why would the rabbis connect this psalm to thanksgiving and Sabbath? It does not seem fit at first glance. But consider the following things.

First, in the Exodus 20 version of the 10 Commandments we discover a link between Sabbath and creation. We are told to rest because God rested from creation. We are also told that it is \u2018a Sabbath to the Lord.\u2019 Our attention is to be Godward: to remember and believe that God is the creator.

Now, when the Bible depicts God as creator, it is more than just the initial act of creation. God\u2019s creative activity includes his continued care over His creation. Both the Heidelberg Catechism and Our World Belongs to God draw out this connection.

Psalm 92 is a call to praise God, thanksgiving is part of praise, because of His continued care over his creation; especially over His people. This care leads to victory over His enemies and to flourishing for His people. More on this in a moment.

Second, Sabbath, as I have said, is time to remember who is God. As Christians, we believe that the Triune God of the Bible, is, well, is God. But it is not always easy to remember or believe this. It is rarely easy to believe that He is effectively caring for his creation. There is still much chaos and evil in the world. That is why God commands us to rest: to remember that He is God and He will be God forever.

Third, this psalmist caught a glimpse of what is to come. At times in this life we may see the enemies of God scattered and powerless. At times, we may see God's people flourishing. But those are only glimpses. Just as often we see the opposite, the righteous floundering and the unrighteous flourishing. Not until Jesus' work of redemption is complete; not until He returns in glory will we see this fully.

Until that time, we are to keep Sabbath. Sabbath is time to look forward, to anticipate, and to pray for that day. Let us give thanks for Sabbath. Next week is Advent. This year, at Immanuel, we are going to consider some of the results of Jesus birth. But also, some things that we are still waiting for, some of the flourishing of God\u2019s people that still awaits us.

Before I finish today, a question: when is the last time you took time for Sabbath Keeping as described here? Our Christian faith doesn't just happen. It takes some effort on our part. Part of that effort is to be quiet, to rest. To consider what is true. When is the last time you made adjustments to your living because you gave God time to correct your way of life?