Psalm 91: My Refuge
The psalmist assures us that God is our refuge, protecting us from all manner of evil. He testifies that God will “give his angels charge” over us, “lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” At the end of the psalm, the speaker shifts, and God Himself reaffirms the promise: “I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”
Psalm 92: Flourishing
The psalmist distinguishes two kinds of flourishing. “The wicked spring as the grass,” flourishing only temporarily. But “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree. … They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.”
Psalm 93: Mightier Than Many Waters
The psalmist rejoices that God is clothed with majesty and strength. He sees floods lifting up their voice but declares, “The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.”
Psalm 94: He That Planted the Ear
The psalmist asks God how long the wicked will triumph. To those who believe God isn’t aware of their evil actions, he asks, “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?” He expresses gratitude for God’s chastening and declares, “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”
Psalm 95: Harden Not Your Hearts
The psalmist begins by praising God. “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” But midway through, he suddenly shifts to an admonitory tone. “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness.” The psalm ends with a warning from God that those who won’t hear Him will not enter His rest.
Book of Mormon connections:
- Jacob paraphrases parts of this psalm near the beginning and near the ending of his book. (See Jacob 1:7-8; 6:5-6.)
- Alma builds a sermon on the second half of this psalm. (See Alma 12; 13.)
Psalm 96: Let the Earth Be Glad
The psalmist calls upon the entire earth to sing a new song to God. He specifically says, “Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people,” and “Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth.”
Book of Mormon connection:
- Nephi says that the Lord invites everyone to partake of his goodness, “and he remembereth the heathen” (2 Nephi 26:33).
Psalm 97: Zion Heard
The psalmist marvels at the Lord’s supremacy over nature. “His lightnings enlightened the world,” he says, and “the hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord.” He says, “The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.” And “Zion heard, and was glad.”
Psalm 98: Let the Floods Clap Their Hands
This time, in addition to the people rejoicing, nature itself rejoices and praises God. “Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; … Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together.”
Psalm 99: He Is Holy
The psalmist urges us to praise God’s name, “for it is holy,” to worship at His footstool, “for he is holy,” and to worship at His holy hill, “for the Lord our God is holy.”
Psalm 100: Jubilate Deo
The psalmist calls upon everyone to make a joyful noise to God, to serve Him with singing and gladness, and to be thankful and bless His name.
Today I will find joy in serving God, worshipping Him, and expressing gratitude to Him.
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