This is the psalm of a happy person who wants to sing. But did they always want to sing like this? Were there times when they were not happy? It is called a psalm for the Sabbath, but what about last Wednesday or Monday? Why are they happy now and why does that make this a Sabbath Psalm?

The cause of happiness is the work of the Lord. Especially, it seems, in bringing about the defeat of the enemies of the psalmist. In a way it is a victory psalm, or a song of thanksgiving for victory.

But victory thanksgivings presuppose struggles. In fact here the outcome of the struggle was not at all clear - at least for those who were defeated - and probably also for the victors.

The outcome has shown clearly that "you, O Lord, are on high for ever". Last Monday the Psalmist may have been down in the dumps. But on the Sabbath he gives thanks that God continues to help the righteous flourish.

But what about next Wednesday? Another struggle is sure to happen. And then we will have to trust the Lord in the same way as before. We will look forward to the same kind of outcome for the same reason - the Most High is on high and he is our Rock.

And after a lifetime of struggle and seeing the work of the Lord, the righteous are living proof that the Lord is a rock, completely faithful, never unreliable or unjust.

So why is this a Sabbath Psalm? Because for one thing the joy in seeing God's work ought to be proclaimed in the assembly. Not everyone will be happy. Some will still be struggling, feeling overwhelmed by their foes, and so the songs of joy of others will help lift them up.

Also if one is going to sing (with a band!) one needs an audience. In fact the psalmist assumes that the thanksgiving is spoken out loud so others can hear.

But the Sabbath is exactly the right day for this kind of victory thanksgiving because it is the day that represents God's salvation, the completion of his final work, when all his people will enter into his rest.

And even though young people may be able to make more noise, it is the old timers who have most to say about the works of the Lord. And words like this can be heard by those who are still sad, or troubled, or overwhelmed. We may not be able to sing this psalm every Sabbath, but it is there as a model for all those times when we too sing praises to the Most High for exalting us again.

Dale