Unlimited Perfection

“I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad.” Psalm 119.96 The psalmist has seen an end to everything’s perfection. He’s already lamented his sin in this psalm, revealing that he is not perfect. He’s certainly seen the end of the world’s perfection, as he’s spoken long about the world’s attacks against him. Everything he …

Fixed Devotion

“The wicked lie in wait to destroy me, but I consider your testimonies.” Psalm 119.95 Perhaps you’ve had those days when you feel like the whole of the universe is bent towards your destruction. The psalmist could certainly understand that feeling. Here, he speaks of the wicked lying in wait for him. They didn’t want to steal from him. They …

Salvation and Devotion

“I am yours; save me, for I have sought your precepts.” Psalm 119.94 The great Charles Spurgeon describes this verse as, “A comprehensive prayer with a prevailing argument. Consecration is a good plea for preservation.” He goes on to say, “If we are conscious that we are the Lord’s we may be confident that he will save us. We are …

No Turning Back

“I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.” Psalm 119.93 The psalmist opened this stanza by singing of the eternal nature of God’s revelation (89). This eternal nature of Scripture—it’s stability—drives his devotion. Because God’s word is forever fixed in heaven, his commitment to God’s word is forever. Here, he exalts the life-giving nature …

Delight and Devotion

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.” Psalm 119.92 God’s word is life-giving and life-protecting. The psalmist has given much attention to this truth in Psalm 119. It’s one of his most oft-repeated themes. He is a sojourner in this world. As such, he faces many trials, temptations, and the derision of …

By Divine Appointment

“By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.” Psalm 119.91 This beautiful stanza continues the poets praise of the Lord’s reliability and the reliability of his word. He continues to point the reader to the creative work of God. In the previous verse, he pointed out that God has created the earth and that it …

To All Generations

“Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast.” Psalm 119.90 As the psalmist continues to extol the reliability of God’s word, he continues to direct his thoughts to the reliability of Scripture’s author. It is God’s faithfulness that gives him hope in the faithfulness of God’s word and promises. Here, he points out …

God’s Eternal Word

“Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” Psalm 119.89 In this verse, the psalmist transitions to the second half of this amazing psalm. The theme of this stanza is the stability and sufficiency of the word of God. The poet brings the theme of stability to the forefront with this opening verse of the stanza. This …

Steadfast Love in the Battle

“In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.” Psalm 119.88 We must keep this prayer in context, lest we miss the true meaning of it. This prayer would surely be beneficial to ponder and affirm in any time. Still, when we realize that this prayer comes at the end of a stanza …

Hope for the Battle-Weary

“They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts.” Psalm 119.87 This verse gives us another glimpse of the depth of the psalmist’s devotion to God’s word. As we’ve seen many times in Psalm 119, his devotion is often set forth in contrast with the darkness of the world. Here, the poet …