Continuing through the Exodus psalms, Psalm 92 is a psalm rich with parallelism. Most verses are prime examples of synonymous parallelism, with the same idea repeated in each half of the verse except with different vocabulary.
If you are reading through different translations you may notice that v3 has either two (NIV) or three (ESV) instruments. This goes back to a difference between the Hebrew and Greek versions of this psalm. The Hebrew says something like "upon the ten[-stringed instrument], and upon the lyre, and upon the melody with the harp." The Greek version however combines the first two, saying "on the ten-stringed lyre, with melody on the harp." The changes suggested in light of the Greek (see BHS) match a little more the style of the psalm, of having two matching stichs per verse and a matching number of words.
The Greek has also not repeated the opening phrase of v9, as that also breaks the pattern. There are very few translations brave enough (the NJB one notable exception) to delete "Yhwh" and the opening phrase to match the Greek:
Look how your enemies perish,
How all evil-doers are scattered. (NJB)
Most other translations follow the Hebrew by repeating the opening phrase and Yhwh: "Look how your enemies perish Yhwh, look how your enemies perish." One potential explanation could be that the repeated phrase is supposed to match the terse v8,
8 you are exalted forever, Yhwh.
9a [but] look how your enemies perish, Yhwh.
If that were the intent I would expect an alternative for "Yhwh" such as "God" or the other alternate names for God in Psalm 91. I guess my default is to read it as is - which in this case would mean keeping the MT - but I'd need to think some more about exactly what to do.
The alternative of course is read v8 as belonging to 7c, which means suggesting vv7-8 are divided at the wrong point, with 7a-b belonging together, and 7c-8 making a good pair.
7a as the wicked bud like grass
7b and all doers of evil flourish
7c they shall be destroyed without end
8 but you are exalted forever, Yhwh.
There is a contrast between the two things that go on forever: the destruction of the wicked, yet the exaltation of Yhwh. I think this is a pretty good solution, but would also mean removing 9aa as dittography.
As far as reading this as an Exodus psalm, there are a few potential points of connection:
"Declaring in the morning your steadfast love
and your faithfulness in the night." (v2)
The Israelites were reminded of God's faithfulness and steadfast love in the morning and throughout the day by the smoke to lead them, and at night by the fire. He led them through the wilderness with a constant reminder of his presence. Furthermore, when they cried out for food, he answered that prayer with manna in the morning and quail in the evening. Despite their grumbling Yhwh remained their faithful provider.
"For look - your enemies will be destroyed,
All doers of evil shall be scattered." (v9, cf LXX)
At the beginning of the exodus, there were two instances where God scattered the enemies of his people. The first was in ch14, as the armies of Pharaoh were washed away in the Reed Sea. But the second time, which perhaps bears more similarities, was in chapter 17, as the Amalekites attacked Israel, seemingly out of nowhere, and were defeated in front of their eyes and ears (Ps 92:11).
"The righteous like a palm shall flourish,
like a cedar in Lebanon shall they grow." (v13)
The psalm looks forward to a day when Israel will no longer be wandering the wilderness, but will be planted in a home, have time to mature and grow. The exodus was not just a "way out of" as the name suggests, but was importantly a "way to"--to get to the promised land and receive their inheritance.
"Declaring that Yhwh is upright, my rock,
and there is no iniquity in him." (v16)
While we are in the early chapters of Exodus (the teens), I can't help but think of the water provided for the people in chapter 17 as they grumbled at Horeb. Moses struck the rock, and Yhwh was again the bounteous provider for his unworthy people. They grumbled, and asked "Is Yhwh among us or not?", but Yhwh was faithful, patient, long-suffering, and gracious.
For this reason, and coming back to the heading of the psalm, it is worth remembering that this is "A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day." (91:0) The reason Israel could have a Sabbath (Ex 20:9-11) is because Yhwh works. Throughout the psalm Yhwh is the one who is faithful and the provider, and indeed in v4-5 Yhwh is explicitly praised for "your deeds," for "what your hands have done," because "How great are your works, Yhwh!" We are reminded throughout the scriptures that people who do not entrust their own work to Yhwh can never rest. Their concern is for the work of their own hands, forgetting that the work that lasts, that is praiseworthy into eternity, is the work done by Yhwh.
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