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PSALM 119:89-96
The lAmedh file
This letter is an ox goad and represents motivation.
THE MOTIVATION FILE
Verse 89, God’s Word Entry
1. Forever, O Yawheh: The
prepositional phrase is le `olAm and indicates perpetuity based on the eternal
character of God.
”From everlasting to everlasting, You are God,” (Psalm 90:2), and accordingly
His word would have the same eternal character.
Matthew 24:35, “heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away.”
2. Your word (dAbhAr) is settled in the heavens: It refers to the general
revelation from God about His glory and plan. It includes the scope and
reliability of God’s word.
The verb, settled, is nAtsabh as a niphal particple (passive action). The verb
means to stand or take a stand. The passive idea here (niphal stem) is
therefore, TO RECEIVE A STANDING; thus to be established or settled.
The physical universe is the EVIDENCE of the power and reliability of God’s
word.
Psalm 33:6-9; 148:3-6
The scope and reliability of God’s word is established by the FACT of the
existence of the universe. And although the physical universe is under the
curse of entropy, the word of God will never fade or fail.
Verse 90, God’s Faithfulness
Entry
1. Your faithfulness is
stationed unto all generations:
The word, ’emunAh, refers to the dependability of God’s character and plan. God
will never violate his own essence. He will never break his promises or
operate contrary to the established principles found in His written
revelation.
The verb, established, is not present, but it is implied from the connection
to the previous verse. The extent and applicability of God’s word and the
faithfulness of God is unto ALL GENERATIONS. It is not only FOR all, but is
universally applicable, USABLE and pertinent for all generations of mankind.
2. You established the earth and it stands: The verb is kun as a polel (the
intensive stem) perfect, and indicates the dependability of man’s earthly
home.
The verb, and it stands, is `Amadh to indicate the constancy of planet earth as
God’s designed dwelling place for the human race. This is stated as an example
of God’s faithfulness. The oriented believer can KNOW and have confidence that
the earth will continue to exist in a FUNCTIONAL state until such time as
God’s perfect wisdom and timing brings it to an end. Genesis 9:9-17
Verse 91, The Servant Entry
1. They stand this day: This
is a reference to both the heavens and the earth as sustained by the power of
Jesus Christ according to Colossians 1:17, “and by Him all things stand.”
2. According to your
ordinances: The preposition + mishpAt refers to God’s standards of justice as
the basis for waging and resolving the angelic conflict. The stability of the
physical universe attests to God’s faithfulness and vindicates His character
to the fallen angels.
3. For all things are your
servants: everything in the universe is designed to promote His glory.
A. Created FOR Him: Col.
1:16; Romans 16:36
B. Psalm 19:1-6; Romans
1:19-20
C. Signs: Genesis 1:14
(Psalm 65:8; Jer. 10:2)
See Topic:
The Testimony of the Universe
Verse 92, The Protection
Entry
1. If your law had not been
my delight: TorAh, again refers to God’s instruction for living in the way He
has designed for His people. The word for delight, is sha`ashu`iym, and
indicates an attitude of contentment and confidence in something; God’s law in
this case.
2. I would have perished in my affliction:
There are three aspects to AFFLICTION.
-
It can refer to the
PERSONAL affliction of divine discipline that the believer has endured and
responded to as at verse 71 and 75.
-
It can refer to the
PERSECUTION affliction from the spiritual rebels, which threatens his
physical life.
-
It can refer to the
general pressure of hardship in his wandering without a home.
In all three cases, it is
the PLEASURE attitude toward God’s word that keeps this believer focused on
God’s character and plan, and maintains both abundant life and physical life
status.
There are two aspects to
PERISH.
A. The loss of physical life through maximum persecution affliction. But since
this believer trusts in God’s word; His character and plan, he maintains
sinless consistency and avoids the discipline that would result in physical
death. As we have seen, this believer has failed and been disciplined by God,
but has responded properly to the discipline so that God is able to continue
using him as a powerful testimony in the face of the persecutors.
This is the PRIMARY focus in
this Psalm and in this specific context as can be seen at verses 94-95. The
issue is preservation of physical life.
B. The second aspect would be his QUALITY of life. If he had not continued to
focus on God’s word, then the pressure of persecution and hardship would
destroy his inner peace and joy. Only through total trust in God’s character
and plan can the believer remain stable and at peace in the face of all the
afflictions of this world’s antagonism.
The negative response to
pressure is seen at Psalm 6:6-7.
The positive response to pressure is seen at Psalm 63:1-11.
God protects both physically
and functionally the believer who remains occupied with His word.
Verse 93, The Life Entry
1. I will never forget your
precepts: There are two negatives here. One with the verb (lo), “I will not
forget,” and then the phrase, le `olAm, which means, “unto perpetuity.”
Remembrance is the maintenance of orientation to God’s truth, which is the
only thing that will perpetuate one’s quality of spiritual life.
The word precepts is piqqudh again, and indicates the truths that God has
appointed and gathered together as standards for Christian living.
2. for by them you have revived me: The verb is chAyAh as a piel perfect.
It can refer to the preservation of physical life or the maintenance of one’s
quality of life.
The NASB translation, “revive,” and the KJV translation, “hath quickened,”
express the latter. In this case, the idea would be, “you have maintained my
quality of life.” However, the context of verse 94, “save me,” and verse 95,
“the wicked wait for me to destroy me,” indicates a physical life issue.
Accordingly, from this perspective, the translation would be, “you have kept
me alive.”
In reality, BOTH ideas are true and it is certainly possible that this
believer has both in view.
The idea of “by them,” indicates that through knowledge and application of
God’s word the believer remains functioning WITHIN the plan of God for him,
maintaining his spiritual quality of life, and ensures divine protection
according to God’s wisdom and timing.
God’s protection through His
Word, motivates the believer to continue following His word.
Verse 94, The Deliverance
Entry
1. I am yours: This is a
statement of dedication to the divine priority for the believer’s life.
2. Deliver me: The imperative of yAsh`a to indicate humility dependence on God
for preservation of his physical life in the face of violent persecution.
3. I have sought your precepts (piqqudh): The qal perfect expresses his past
pursuit of God’s word, and his continued focus on the value of the word for
stability in life.
The trusting believer
maintains his humility dependence on God for physical protection.
Verse 95, The Persecution Entry
1. The wicked wait for me to
destroy me: The wicked, rAsh`A, as we have seen at verse 85, are those who are
rebels against God; God’s word and God’s policies for life. Accordingly, they
are actively involved in persecuting those who are faithful to God. They WAIT,
that is, they are actively LOOKING for opportunities to persecute and destroy
the righteous.
2. I shall diligently consider your testimonies: The verb is biyn as a
hithpael imperfect. It means to seek understanding. It expresses his
continuous intent to increase his knowledge of the word of God, for it is ONLY
that preserves the soul and maintains spiritual stability in the face of ANY
adversity in life – especially the attack of violent persecution.
In the face of violent persecution, the trusting believer relies on God’s word
for maintaining his spiritual and physical life status.
Verse 96, The Provision Entry
1. I have seen a limit to
all perfection: The word, seen, refers to all aspects of human perception used
to discern the various realities of life.
The word, limit, is qātz
and means END. Here, it refers to the limit or ultimate reality of all aspects
of earthly life. The word, perfection, is tiklAh, and indicates the QUALITY of
that reality. This believer has observed all the perfections of nature and
human accomplishments, and yet finds them all OUT-DONE by the perfection of
God’s word.
2. Your commandment is exceeding broad: the word, me’odh (very), and rAchabh
(wide), go together to express something that surpasses the item just
mentioned. In this case, all the “relative” perfections of this earthly
reality are set up in contrast to the wondrous provisions that are available
through God’s word.
The word of God provides what the believer needs to deal with any and every
circumstance in life, and surpasses ANYTHING that can be found in the human
realm.
SUMMARY OF THE MOTIVATION FILE
Verse 89, God’s Word Entry
The scope and reliability of God’s word is established by the FACT of the
existence of the universe.
Verse 90, God’s Faithfulness Entry
The extent and applicability of God’s word and the faithfulness of God
is unto ALL GENERATIONS.
Verse 91, The Servant Entry
Everything in the universe is designed to serve and glorify God.
Verse 92, The Protection Entry
God protects both physically and functionally the believer who remains
occupied with His word.
Verse 93, The Life Entry
God’s protection through His Word, motivates the believer to continue
following His word.
Verse 94, The Deliverance Entry
The trusting believer maintains his humility dependence on God for
physical protection.
Verse 95, The Persecution Entry
In the face of violent persecution, the trusting believer relies on
God’s word for maintaining his spiritual and physical life status.
Verse 96, The Provision Entry
The word of God provides what the believer needs to deal with any and
every circumstance in life, and surpasses ANYTHING that can be found in the
human realm.
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