Verse 89. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Other things come, and go, and change, moons wax and wane, tides ebb and
flow, everything earthly is changeable; but ?Thy word is settled ? settled
in heaven,? with the eternal settlements. No truth of it can fail, no
promise of it can be broken. What a joy this is to our hearts to-night!
There is something sure, after all: ?For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled
in heaven.?
90. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the
earth, and it abideth.
That is, God has spoken to nature, and that word has established the earth,
and made it to stand securely.
91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy
servants.
It was God?s word that made the sun, and the moon, and the stars; and it is
God?s word that bids creation still exist. And that is the almighty word
upon which you and I are resting, if we are truly trusting in the living
God.
?His very word of grace is strong
As that which built the skies;
The voice that rolls the stars along
Speaks all the promises.?
92. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine
affliction.
Let us remember how God?s word has kept some of us alive when we had nothing
else to live upon. Hope would have quite failed, and we should have been
driven to despair, if it had not been for the precious, priceless word of
God.
93. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Nothing sharpens the memory like having been quickened. If we have been at
death?s door, and the word of God has brought us renewed life, we shall
never forget it.
94-96. I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have
waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. I have
seen an end of all perfection:
No matter who it is that boasts of being perfect, ?I have seen an end of all
perfection.?
96. But thy commandment ?
There lies the perfection ?
96. Is exceeding broad.
Covering the whole life, covering the thoughts, the intents, the desires of
the inner and secret nature.
97, 98. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through
thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies for they are ever with
me.
If we have God?s law always with us, we shall be wiser than the most crafty
of our enemies; for, after all, there is nothing that puzzles and baffles
cunning men like simple honesty. Do that which is right, and you will cut
through the nets in which men would entangle you. They cannot trip you up if
your feet are settled in God?s ways.
99, 100. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies
are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy
precepts.
There is more wisdom in obeying God than in all the ethics of heathen
philosophers. It matters not whence they take their precepts and maxims,
there is no wisdom like yielding one?s heart to God.
101-104. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy
word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How
sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
The man who cannot hate does not love; but he who loves that which is right,
is by no means indifferent to the wrong and to the false; he hates it, and
the more intensely he loves God, and loves right, the more intensely does be
hate every false way. Especially does he hate it in himself. Oh, to be
delivered altogether from every trace of falsehood!
105. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
It shows me the way; it cheers me in the way; it reveals to me the
difficulties of the way.
106, 107. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy
righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according
unto thy word.
Are any of you afflicted to-night? I commend this prayer to your use. One
would have expected that David would have prayed, ?I am afflicted very much:
comfort me, O Lord.? Or, ?Relieve me, O Lord.? Instead of praying so, he
cries, ?Quicken me, O Lord,? and he did well. Let us imitate him, for if we
get more spiritual light and life, we shall, by that means, get more
comfort, and the trouble from which we are Suffering will soon cease to vex
our spirit.
108-112. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD,
and teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not
forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from
thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they
are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy
statutes alway, even unto the end.
Oh, that every one of us might be able to make this declaration of the
psalmist our own! God grant it, for Christ?s sake! Amen.
In Celebration of Life in Him,
Dr. Jim DeBruhl, gembeaux@bellsouth.net
