Psalm 119:89-96 | Thy Word is Settled

Summary: There is security for those who live according to God’s eternal, settled Word

Introduction:

Have you ever dealt with vertigo? I really feel for those who live with this symptom

We live in a world that is always changing.

“If you tell the truth you won’t have to remember a lie.” One step further, “if we live by the truth we won’t have live based upon lies”

There was a time people went from town to town selling Bibles. Well, I trust you have a copy. Let me help you appreciate it more and hold it a little tighter.

You should hold to the inspiration and the infallibility of God’s Word. But do not forget the profitability of the Word of God.

The psalmist believed what the Apostle Paul wrote hundreds of years later in 2 Timothy 3:16 “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Review

In the previous three stanzas of Psalm 119, the psalmist is overwhelmed by a fierce storm of affliction.

Psalm 119 KJV 1900

1 ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lord. 2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, And that seek him with the whole heart. 3 They also do no iniquity: They walk in his ways. 4 Thou hast commanded us To keep thy precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed To keep thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, When I have respect unto all thy commandments. 7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, When I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. 8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. 9 BETH. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. 10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. 11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, That I might not sin against thee. 12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: Teach me thy statutes. 13 With my lips have I declared All the judgments of thy mouth. 14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate in thy precepts, And have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. 17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, And keep thy word. 18 Open thou mine eyes, That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. 19 I am a stranger in the earth: Hide not thy commandments from me. 20 My soul breaketh for the longing That it hath unto thy judgments at all times. 21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, Which do err from thy commandments. 22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; For I have kept thy testimonies. 23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: But thy servant did meditate in thy statutes. 24 Thy testimonies also are my delight And my counsellers. 25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: Quicken thou me according to thy word. 26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: Teach me thy statutes. 27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: So shall I talk of thy wondrous works. 28 My soul melteth for heaviness: Strengthen thou me according unto thy word. 29 Remove from me the way of lying: And grant me thy law graciously. 30 I have chosen the way of truth: Thy judgments have I laid before me. 31 I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. 32 I will run the way of thy commandments, When thou shalt enlarge my heart. 33 HE. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; And I shall keep it unto the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; Yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; For therein do I delight. 36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, And not to covetousness. 37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; And quicken thou me in thy way. 38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, Who is devoted to thy fear. 39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: For thy judgments are good. 40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: Quicken me in thy righteousness. 41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Even thy salvation, according to thy word. 42 So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: For I trust in thy word. 43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; For I have hoped in thy judgments. 44 So shall I keep thy law continually For ever and ever. 45 And I will walk at liberty: For I seek thy precepts. 46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, Which I have loved. 48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; And I will meditate in thy statutes. 49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant, Upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: For thy word hath quickened me. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: Yet have I not declined from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; And have comforted myself. 53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked That forsake thy law. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, And have kept thy law. 56 This I had, Because I kept thy precepts. 57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: Be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not To keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: But I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, And of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: Teach me thy statutes. 65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: For I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: But now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: But I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; But I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver. 73 JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; Because I have hoped in thy word. 75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, And that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: For thy law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: But I will meditate in thy precepts. 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, And those that have known thy testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; That I be not ashamed. 81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: But I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, Saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes. 84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, Which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. 89 LAMED. 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. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: For with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: But I will consider thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection: But thy commandment is exceeding broad. 97 MEM. O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: For thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, That I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: For thou hast taught me. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: Therefore I hate every false way. 105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path. 106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, That I will keep thy righteous judgments. 107 I am afflicted very much: Quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. 108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, And teach me thy judgments. 109 My soul is continually in my hand: Yet do I not forget thy law. 110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: Yet I erred not from thy precepts. 111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: For they are the rejoicing of my heart. 112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes Alway, even unto the end. 113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: But thy law do I love. 114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. 115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: For I will keep the commandments of my God. 116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: And let me not be ashamed of my hope. 117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: And I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. 118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: For their deceit is falsehood. 119 Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: Therefore I love thy testimonies. 120 My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; And I am afraid of thy judgments. 121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice: Leave me not to mine oppressors. 122 Be surety for thy servant for good: Let not the proud oppress me. 123 Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for the word of thy righteousness. 124 Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, And teach me thy statutes. 125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, That I may know thy testimonies. 126 It is time for thee, Lord, to work: For they have made void thy law. 127 Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; And I hate every false way. 129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful: Therefore doth my soul keep them. 130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple. 131 I opened my mouth, and panted: For I longed for thy commandments. 132 Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, As thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. 133 Order my steps in thy word: And let not any iniquity have dominion over me. 134 Deliver me from the oppression of man: So will I keep thy precepts. 135 Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; And teach me thy statutes. 136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, Because they keep not thy law. 137 TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous And very faithful. 139 My zeal hath consumed me, Because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. 140 Thy word is very pure: Therefore thy servant loveth it. 141 I am small and despised: Yet do not I forget thy precepts. 142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And thy law is the truth. 143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: Yet thy commandments are my delights. 144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: Give me understanding, and I shall live. 145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. 146 I cried unto thee; save me, And I shall keep thy testimonies. 147 I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. 148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word. 149 Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment. 150 They draw nigh that follow after mischief: They are far from thy law. 151 Thou art near, O Lord; And all thy commandments are truth. 152 Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old That thou hast founded them for ever. 153 RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: For I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: Quicken me according to thy word. 155 Salvation is far from the wicked: For they seek not thy statutes. 156 Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: Quicken me according to thy judgments. 157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. 158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; Because they kept not thy word. 159 Consider how I love thy precepts: Quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness. 160 Thy word is true from the beginning: And every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. 161 SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: But my heart standeth in awe of thy word. 162 I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil. 163 I hate and abhor lying: But thy law do I love. 164 Seven times a day do I praise thee Because of thy righteous judgments. 165 Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them. 166 Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, And done thy commandments. 167 My soul hath kept thy testimonies; And I love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: For all my ways are before thee. 169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: Give me understanding according to thy word. 170 Let my supplication come before thee: Deliver me according to thy word. 171 My lips shall utter praise, When thou hast taught me thy statutes. 172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: For all thy commandments are righteousness. 173 Let thine hand help me; For I have chosen thy precepts. 174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; And thy law is my delight. 175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; And let thy judgments help me. 176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; For I do not forget thy commandments.

Verses 81-88 is the low point of the psalm. The storm nearly wiped out his faith.

In this section, the psalmist is coming through the storm. He is standing on the rock.

Psalm 119:89–96 (KJV 1900)

Psalm 119:89–96 KJV 1900

89 LAMED. 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. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: For with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: But I will consider thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection: But thy commandment is exceeding broad.

89 LAMED.

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.

91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances:

For all are thy servants.

92 Unless thy law had been my delights,

I should then have perished in mine affliction.

93 I will never forget thy precepts:

For with them thou hast quickened me.

94 I am thine, save me;

For I have sought thy precepts.

95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me:

But I will consider thy testimonies.

96 I have seen an end of all perfection:

But thy commandment is exceeding broad.

God’s Word is settled in Heaven

Psalm 119:89 “89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.”

Psalm 119:89 KJV 1900

89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.

Because it is settled in heaven, it will not change on earth.

It will not always make sense to you. 

It will not always give you what you want. 

It will not always keep you out of storms.

It will never let you down!

God's Word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

No trouble here can ultimately contradict it.

No trial here can ultimately challenge it.

No sin here can ever tarnish it.

Transitional Statement: You can trust the word of God because the God of the word is faithful. Verse 89 points to heaven to affirm the trustworthiness of God’s word. Verse 90 points to earth to affirm it.

The very stability of this world depends on God's faithfulness, so let it be true of your world.

Psalm 119:90 “90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”

Psalm 119:90 KJV 1900

90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

Earth testifies of God’s faithfulness.

The earth is close enough to the sun that we don’t freeze and far enough that we don’t burn because God is faithful. 

The sun continues to rise in the east and go down in the west because God is faithful. 

The psalmist is saying that the very stability of the world depends on God's faithfulness.

Billy Sunday testified: “I am a Christian because God says so, and I did what he told me to do, and I stand on God’s Word, and if the Book goes down, I’ll go with it.”

Heaven and earth do not stand on their own. God sustains them. Psalm 119:91 “91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants.”

Psalm 119:91 KJV 1900

91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: For all are thy servants.

The disciples recognized this Mark 4:41 “41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Mark 4:41 KJV 1900

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Recognizing God has stabilized this world should help you stabilize your little world. Even in affliction we can delight in the steadfast Word.

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me. The Bible is not antique or modern. It is eternal.” Martin Luther

Transitional Statement: Verse 89 tells us God’s word is settled in the heavens. Verses 90-91 tell us God’s word stands on earth. Verses 92-95 tell us God’s word is sufficient for the believer.

God's Word our sure hope in affliction

Psalm 119:92 “92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.”

Psalm 119:92 KJV 1900

92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

We have seen the connection between Bible study and affliction

Psalm 119:67 “67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: But now have I kept thy word.”

Psalm 119:67 KJV 1900

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: But now have I kept thy word.

Psalm 119:71 “71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes.”

Psalm 119:71 KJV 1900

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; That I might learn thy statutes.

Psalm 119:75 “75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, And that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.”

Psalm 119:75 KJV 1900

75 I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, And that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

Should we start a new Bible study called affliction and afflict one another before we study. No need. The fallen world we live in will provide this for us. Just stick around. Devotion to God does not exempt you from affliction

 If you delight in God’s word, it will keep you when you cannot keep yourself.

The word of God helped the psalmist keep his sanity; it gave him something to hang onto when the world was falling apart. It was a rock, an anchor. He was able to get his feet on the solid rock when surrounded by the quicksand of mincing circumstances. He was able to throw out his anchor and feel the cable hold his drifting boat against the rising wind and perilous reef.” John Philips

Delight not just in the hearing but in the doing of His word

David Dickson says, “Affliction draws forth the worth of God's Word, which otherwise we might not have known.”

Godliness is not perfection. It is determination to please God.

Because the Word gave him life, he determined to remember it. Psalm 119:93 “93 I will never forget thy precepts: For with them thou hast quickened me.”

Psalm 119:93 KJV 1900

93 I will never forget thy precepts: For with them thou hast quickened me.

The Settled Word may unsettles us at Times

Abraham sat with his promised Isaac, perhaps imagining that his trials were over, his waiting rewarded. Then he heard a command he never expected: Gen 22:2 “2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”

Genesis 22:2 KJV 1900

2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Moses led his sheep to Mount Horeb, a contented shepherd with a wife and children. Then he heard words from the fire he could not escape: Exodus 3:10 “10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.”

Exodus 3:10 KJV 1900

10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Hosea lived among the northern kingdom of Israel, fearing God and keeping his commandments. Then he received a command unlike all the others prophets. Hosea 1:2 “2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.”

Hosea 1:2 KJV 1900

2 The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.

The mother of our Lord took her child to the temple, in awe of all the prophecies. Then she heard a prophecy that felt like a sword. Luke 2:34-3 “34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. 36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;”

Luke 2:34 KJV 1900

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

When we are running full speed at the truth of God’s Word we must know that we must move because God’s Word is settled!

God never speaks an unsettling word to his people except to give us peace.

Whatever idols need to be shattered, shatter them. Whatever lies need to be broken, break them. Discomfort me, rework me, unsettle me — whatever it takes to bring me to you.

Transitional Statement: God’s Word is not only for times of affliction. It is exceedingly broad.

God's Word is beyond perfection.

Psalm 119:96 “96 I have seen an end of all perfection: But thy commandment is exceeding broad.”

Psalm 119:96 KJV 1900

96 I have seen an end of all perfection: But thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Seen it all

It contends that even the best things in this world are limited, finite, and tainted. Nothing in this world is perfect.

This verse could well be a summary of Ecclesiastes

Have you ever been in a place where God's Word was outmatched by your circumstances?

The word of God is exceedingly broad.

Only God’s word can give hope to the lost person who is facing an uncertain eternity. 

Only God’s word can give joy to the sick person who is suffering the pain of chronic sickness or disease. 

Only God’s word can give comfort to the grieving person who is standing over the remains of a loved-one who has died. 

Only God’s word can give peace to the anxious person who is facing a severe financial crisis. 

Only God’s word can give strength to the troubled person who is enduring family discord. 

Only God’s word can give guidance to the confused person who is wrestling with a difficult decision.

Seek His precepts

Psalm 119:94 “94 I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts.”

Psalm 119:94 KJV 1900

94 I am thine, save me; For I have sought thy precepts.

True devotion does not say, “I know the Bible.” It says, “I belong to God.”

The psalmist gave a reason why the Lord should save him: “for I have sought your precepts.” He belonged to God. But he was not perfect. Yet he did not use his lack of perfection as an excuse for a life of rebellion.

Do not allow what people do to change your devotion to the word of God.

Story told by HB Charles

The novelist, Lloyd C. Douglas, lived in a boarding house during his college days. A retired music teacher lived on the first floor. And they shared a daily ritual. Douglas would come down the steps, open the old man’s door and ask, “Well, what’s the good news?” The man would pick up his tuning fork; tap it on the side of his wheelchair, and say, “That middle C. It was middle C yesterday; it will be middle C tomorrow; it will be middle C a thousand years from now. The tenor upstairs sings flat, the piano across the hall is out of tune, but, my friend, that is middle C.” The Lord Jesus Christ is the believer’s Middle C!

Conclusion

There is security for those who love and live according to God’s eternally established, faithful, and boundless decrees.