Master's Prayer Network

A — The Sabbath

Comments: The cycle of a day of rest for every seventh day was sanctified and hallowed by the Lord for man from the very beginning following the six days of creation. Genesis 2:3 “And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made.” When the Lord called his nation Israel out of Egypt, He supplied manna and developed a discipline for the people to observe the sabbath even before the law was given at Sinai. The fourth commandment formalized this: Exodus 20 “8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath unto the LORD thy God, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work.”

Jesus made it clear that it is always lawful to do good on the sabbath. Mark 2 “27 The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” The focus in each seven day cycle shifted to the first day of the week for Christians beginning with the resurrection of Christ. John 20:19 “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the middle, and said to them, Peace be to you.” Paul commented on the freedom Christians have because Christ Jesus has fulfilled the law for us. Colossians 2 “14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.” Hebrews 4 “10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. 11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”

B — It Is Good to Give Thanks to the Lord Most High

Comments: The psalmist speaks directly to the Lord Most High, and this is a good principle to apply in our weekly worship as an offering to our Lord. Meditating on the multiple aspects of the sabbath which shows God’s great glory, and our benefits by His grace, we should truly understand that it is indeed a very good thing to give praise for His lovingkindness each morning, and His faithfulness through each night. Hebrews 13 “14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

C — How Great Are Your Works, O Lord

Comments: The works of the Lord’s hand are everywhere present in the natural world, displaying beauty, diversity, and great wonder. Deuteronomy 3:24 “O Lord GOD, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth, that can do according to Thy works, and according to Thy mighty acts?” Ephesians 3 “20 Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 To him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

D — The Brutish Man Does Not Know

Comments: The couplet of both “brutish” and “fool” emphasizes the complete lack of wisdom for the one who does not know the magnificence of the works and thoughts of the Lord. Even though the wicked God-rejecters may flourish for a time, they are on the path that has been determined for them, and they will be destroyed forever. But the one they rejected will remain on high for He is the Lord for evermore. Psalm 94:8 “Consider, ye brutish among the people; and ye fools, when will ye understand?”

E — The Enemies of the Lord Shall Perish

Comments: We need to see those who foolishly refuse God’s grace as those who have set themselves as enemies that He is completely justified to destroy. Psalm 37:20 “For the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs — they shall pass away in smoke.” There is no person righteous in themselves, but the good news is that Jesus said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32). For those who have received grace by faith, God will exalt them in His imputed strength of righteousness. Christians are chosen in God and are to serve in His priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

F — The Righteous Shall Flourish

Comments: The poetic phrases portray lavish richness and vigor in long life for those who love the Lord, as a lasting thought to close this psalm. Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death for ever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.” John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Revelation 2:7 “He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches; To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the middle of the paradise of God.”