Psalm 119:89-96 ל

ל Lamedh

Your word, Lord, is eternal;
    it stands firm in the heavens.
Your faithfulness continues through all generations;
    you established the earth, and it endures.
Your laws endure to this day,
    for all things serve you.
If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.
I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have preserved my life.
Save me, for I am yours;
    I have sought out your precepts.
The wicked are waiting to destroy me,
    but I will ponder your statutes.
To all perfection I see a limit,
    but your commands are boundless.

• Psalm 119:89-96

Type of Psalm

Didactic psalms: These psalms are psalms that are intended to teach.  In most cases the psalm instructs us in moral principles.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

“This is a psalm by itself, like none of the rest; it excels them all, and shines brightest in this constellation. It is much longer than any of them more than twice as long as any of them. It is not making long prayers that Christ censurers, but making them for a pretence, which intimates that they are in themselves good and commendable. It seems to me to be a collection of David’s pious and devout ejaculations, the short and sudden breathings and elevations of his soul to God, which he wrote down as they occurred, and, towards the latter end of his time, gathered out of his day-book where they lay scattered, added to them many like words, and digested them into this psalm, in which there is seldom any coherence between the verses, but, like Solomon’s proverbs, it is a chest of gold rings, not a chain of gold links. And we may not only learn, by the psalmist’s example, to accustom ourselves to such pious ejaculations, which are an excellent means of maintaining constant communion with God, and keeping the heart in frame for the more solemn exercises of religion, but we must make use of the psalmist’s words, both for the exciting and for the expressing of our devout affections; what some have said of this psalm is true, “He that shall read it considerately, it will either warm him or shame him.” The composition of it is singular and very exact. It is divided into twenty-two parts, according to the number of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and each part consists of eight verses, all the verses of the first part beginning with Aleph, all the verses of the second with Beth, and so on, without any flaw throughout the whole psalm. Archbishop Tillotson says, It seems to have more of poetical skill and number in it than we at this distance can easily understand. Some have called it the saints’ alphabet; and it were to be wished we had it as ready in our memories as the very letters of our alphabet, as ready as our A B C. Perhaps the penman found it of use to himself to observe this method, as it obliged him to seek for thoughts, and search for them, that he might fill up the quota of every part; and the letter he was to begin with might lead him to a word which might suggest a good sentence; and all little enough to raise any thing that is good in the barren soil of our hearts. However, it would be of use to the learners, a help to them both in committing it to memory and in calling it to mind upon occasion; by the letter the first word would be got, and that would bring in the whole verse; thus young people would the more easily learn it by heart and retain it the better even in old age. If any censure it as childish and trifling, because acrostics are now quite out of fashion, let them know that the royal psalmist despises their censure; he is a teacher of babes, and, if this method may be beneficial to them, he can easily stoop to it; if this to be vile, he will be yet more vile.

II. The general scope and design of it is to magnify the law, and make it honourable; to set forth the excellency and usefulness of divine revelation, and to recommend it to us, not only for the entertainment, but for the government, of ourselves, by the psalmist’s own example, who speaks by experience of the benefit of it, and of the good impressions made upon him by it, for which he praises God, and earnestly prays, from first to last, for the continuance of God’s grace with him, to direct and quicken him in the way of his duty. There are ten different words by which divine revelation is called in this psalm, and they are synonymous, each of them expressive of the whole compass of it (both that which tells us what God expects from us and that which tells us that we may expect from him) and of the system of religion which is founded upon it and guided by it. The things contained in the scripture, and drawn from it, are here called, 1. God’s law, because they are enacted by him as our Sovereign. 2. His way, because they are the rule both of his providence and of our obedience. 3. His testimonies, because they are solemnly declared to the world and attested beyond contradiction. 4. His commandments, because given with authority, and (as the word signifies) lodged with us as a trust. 5. His precepts, because prescribed to us and not left indifferent. 6. His word, or saying, because it is the declaration of his mind, and Christ, the essential eternal Word, is all in all in it. 7. His judgments, because framed in infinite wisdom, and because by them we must both judge and be judged. 8. His righteousness, because it is all holy, just, and good, and the rule and standard of righteousness. 9. His statutes, because they are fixed and determined, and of perpetual obligation. His truth, or faithfulness, because the principles upon which the divine law is built are eternal truths. And I think there is but one verse (it is ver. 122) in all this long psalm in which there is not one or other of these ten words; only in three or four they are used concerning God’s providence or David’s practice (as ver. 75, 84, 122), and ver. 132 they are called God’s name. The great esteem and affection David had for the word of God is the more admirable considering how little he had of it, in comparison with what we have, no more perhaps in writing than the first books of Moses, which were but the dawning of this day, which may shame us who enjoy the full discoveries of divine revelation and yet are so cold towards it. In singing this psalm there is work for all the devout affections of a sanctified soul, so copious, so various, is the matter of it. We here find that in which we must give glory to God both as our ruler and great benefactor, that in which we are to teach and admonish ourselves and one another (so many are the instructions which we here find about a religious life), and that in which we are to comfort and encourage ourselves and one another, so many are the sweet experiences of one that lived such a life. Here is something or other to suit the case of every Christian. Isa. any afflicted? Isa. any merry? Each will find that here which is proper for him. And it is so far from being a tedious repetition of the same thing, as may seem to those who look over it cursorily, that, if we duly meditate upon it, we shall find almost every verse has a new thought and something in it very lively. And this, as many other of David’s psalms, teaches us to be sententious in our devotions, both alone and when others join with us; for, ordinarily, the affections, especially of weaker Christians, are more likely to be raised and kept by short expressions, the sense of which lies in a little compass, than by long and laboured periods.”

• Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 119:69-96 “The security of God’s word. God’s word is forever and firmly fixed in heaven (119:89). It will never change and remains relevant to all people in every culture throughout history. The foundation of the word’s faithfulness is God’s faithfulness; his creation and judgments are firm (119:90-91). The psalmist knows that he has security through God’s precepts, so he determines to never forget them (119:93).”

• Tony Evans, The Tony Evans Bible Commentary

My Thoughts

This psalm is not attributed to any author.

These verses start with Lamedh, ל.

The focus in Lamedh is endurance and forever.

God’s Law endures forever.  God’s Word is eternal.  God’s faithfulness stretches out to all generations.

And shock of all shocks, the earth still endures, no matter how mankind tries to ruin it.

If I had not loved God’s Law, I would have been afflicted with diseases long ago.  Loving God’s Law sustains us.

Save me, oh Lord, for my wicked enemies seek to destroy me.

But while earthly “perfection” is limited, your Law is boundless.

Psalm 119:97-104 מ

מ Mem

Oh, how I love your law!
    I meditate on it all day long.
Your commands are always with me
    and make me wiser than my enemies.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
    for I meditate on your statutes.
I have more understanding than the elders,
    for I obey your precepts.
I have kept my feet from every evil path
    so that I might obey your word.
I have not departed from your laws,
    for you yourself have taught me.
How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
I gain understanding from your precepts;
    therefore I hate every wrong path.

• Psalm 119:97-104

Type of Psalm

Didactic psalms: These psalms are psalms that are intended to teach.  In most cases the psalm instructs us in moral principles.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

See 119:89-96 ל. above.

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 119:97 ”When you meet with God, open the Bible, Don’t rely on your memory; rely on those printed pages.
“Start at the beginning of a book of the Bible and work your way through it, slowly and systematically. Read it aloud. Read it thoughtfully. Listen to what your lips say and ask Him to make what you hear come alive in your life. Block out everything else. Pray it. Personalize it. Sing it. Make it a part of your conscious thought, and forget everything else as you give that time to him.”

• Charles R. Swindoll, Bedtime Blessings

My Thoughts

This psalm is not attributed to any author.

These verses start with Mem, מ.

What are the benefits of loving and following the Law?

We stay out of trouble.

We become wiser than our enemies, teachers, and elders.

But verses 98-100 should have a warning. And the warning is imbedded throughout Psalm 119.

Warning: These benefits of the Law only apply if you love the Law and follow the Law.  Paul says we are condemned by the Law because we cannot perfectly follow it.  But we are saved by Grace.

Now with the warning out of the way, I know people who, without knowing anything, declare that they already know everything.  This leads to not listening to their teachers and preachers.  It leads to dropping out.  And it eventually leads to a total ignorance of the Law.  If you do not know the Law, how can you love it?  How can you follow it?

But if we devour the Law by reading the Bible, by praying, by bringing the Law into our conversations with others, then the Law will be sweeter than honey and we will hate every wrong path.

Psalm 119:105-112 נ

נ Nun

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
    that I will follow your righteous laws.
I have suffered much;
    preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
    and teach me your laws.
Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
    I will not forget your law.
The wicked have set a snare for me,
    but I have not strayed from your precepts.
Your statutes are my heritage forever;
    they are the joy of my heart.
My heart is set on keeping your decrees
    to the very end.

• Psalm 119:105-112

Type of Psalm

Didactic psalms: These psalms are psalms that are intended to teach.  In most cases the psalm instructs us in moral principles.

Matthew Henry’s Summary

See 119:89-96 ל. above.

Noted Biblical Scholars, Teachers, and Preachers Comments

Psalm 119:105 “Arthur Hays Sulzberger was the publisher of the New York Times during the Second World War. Because of the world conflict, he found it almost impossible to sleep. He was never able to banish worries from his mind until he adopted as his motto these five words-‘one step enough for me’-taken from the hymn ‘Lead Kindly Light.’
“God isn’t going to let you see the distant scene either. So you might as well quit looking for it. He promises a lamp unto our feet, not a crystal ball into the future. We do not need to know what will happen tomorrow:
“God is leading you. Leave tomorrow’s problems until tomorrow.”

• Max Lucado, Traveling Light

My Thoughts

This psalm is not attributed to any author.

These verses start with Nun, נ.

Mem ends with hating the many wrong paths.  Nun begins with an often quoted verse.  God is a light that shines so that we can see the path.   It is so easy to travel down the wrong path, that path that we hate.

And this section talks about how we need God’s guidance.  Sure, we love God’s Law, but some of our failures are in not knowing the Law.  Other failures come from not having the Law knitted into the fabric of who we are.

Teach me, Lord, so that I won’t suffer due to my sins again.

Keep your Light shining before me so that I know your perfect path.  Keep me from stumbling, Lord.

Make my heart yearn for You to the very end of my life here, so that I can be with You in Paradise.

Some Serendipitous Reflections

Psalm 119:89-96 ל

“1. What 8 ‘L-words’ describe your group’s opinion of Bible study?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 119:97-104 מ

“1. What 8 ‘M-words’ describe your group’s opinion of Bible study?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

Psalm 119:105-112 נ

“1. What 8 ‘N-words’ describe your group’s opinion of Bible study?”

• Lyman Coleman, et al, The NIV Serendipity Bible for Study Groups

There is one set of questions for each of these psalms.  It is the same question, but who among you is the poet who can spin those 8 words into a story of how wonderful our God is?

Substitute whatever group for any reference to a small group or ask who could come to your aid.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.