Psalm 92 was to be sung on Sabbath. It’s the only psalm in the entire canon where Sabbath is mentioned and it sums up the spirit with which Moses taught the Hebrew slaves about the need to observe a day of rest. In Deuteronomy 5, Moses links the observance of Sabbath with God’s deliverance of the Hebrews and his promise of freedom. They were to stop all work and remember a sea that had parted, a pillar of fire, rocks from which water had gushed, sweet food that fallen from heaven. They were to remember who had called them out of slavery. They were to never forget the God who was leading them to a land flowing with milk and honey.

The prophet Isaiah picks up Moses’ teaching. If the people refused to get caught up and busy with their concerns and instead, honoured God by setting apart space and time for Him, then they would know joy beyond their wildest imaginings (Isaiah 58: 13 -14).

And so we receive Psalm 92 as a melodic call to pause in the presence of the Lord whose love and faithfulness are new every morning and to orient ourselves to our true North who is Jesus crucified and risen.

It’s only when we do so that we recognize the truth at the heart of our story: God chose us to be his very own (verse 10). We begin to pay attention to the love and faithfulness with which God lavishes us and we find ourselves free – to be worshippers whose lives are marked by wonder, gratefulness and joy.

So go ahead. Press the pause button.

Lover of our souls, You came to set us free. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear so that we may truly live every day as Sabbath – fully aware of your presence, filled with thankfulness and praise. In Jesus’ name. Amen

By Renee James