It is often said that a positive environment will shape a good person. No wonder, many parents will first research the profile and learning climate of a school before deciding on it as a place of learning for their children. They do this because they know that where you grow determines where you grow. While this view may have its pros and cons, basically we all understand one thing, that humans can indeed be influenced by where they are rooted. Where we are planted, that is where we absorb meaning, strength, and direction in life.

Psalm 92 is a psalm dedicated to the Sabbath & day of rest, a day to remember that human life is rooted in God. After the long struggle described in the previous psalms, this psalm becomes a song of thanksgiving for the restoration of the relationship between God and his people. Its structure is divided into three parts: a call to praise (verse 1–5), a testimony to God's victory over evil (verse 6–11), and a description of the life of the righteous flourishing in fellowship with God (verse 12–1)6. This psalm is not simply a liturgical chant, but a declaration of faith, that God's goodness and steadfast love (חֶסֶד & mdash; hesed) is an ever-flowing source of life for those who will take root in His will.

The psalmist describes the sharp contrast between the righteous and the wicked. The wicked may "sprout like grass" (verse 8). They grow quickly, but shallowly and briefly. Meanwhile, the righteous "sprout like a date palm, will flourish like the cedars of Lebanon" (verse 13). The date palm tree is known for its resilience in the desert. Its roots go deep in search of water, and its fruit is sweet despite growing in arid soil. The cedar, on the other hand, stands strong and unshakable. These two metaphors illustrate the depth of spirituality of a person who lives rooted in God's presence. He may not be immune to storms, but he will remain steadfast because the source of his life is not the fickle world, but the faithful God. What a maturity of faith, isn't it? The ability to have an inner calm that grows from a healthy attachment to a source of meaning that transcends the self.

Friends of the Bible, many people today are rooted in things that are fragile: achievement, recognition, and pseudo-stability. Thus, when those foundations falter, anxiety easily grows. Psalm 92 reiterates that true rest is born out of a right relationship with God. In His presence, we find solid roots, a place where faith becomes a living resource, not just an abstract belief. Such a person will not only endure, but he will also "bear much fruit": bringing love, justice, and hope to the world around him. In the midst of a rapidly changing world, this Psalm reminds us that the Sabbath is not just a day of rest, but a state of soul that dwells in God, a place where life finds its meaning again.