Weekly Introduction: Because the psalmist is living his life according to the precepts of God’s Word, he is able to rejoice in the life God has given him as he successfully navigates the unexpected turns and potential pitfalls of life. I pray that you will sense the joy of the psalmist as we look at the next 8 verses presented under the heading of the tenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

(Lamedh) – The twelfth letter of the Hebrew alphabet begins this 8-verse section

Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens (vs 89).

The psalmist begins with a statement of affirmation, celebrating the fact that the Lord’s Word is eternal, standing firm in a sacred and safe place, that is, in the heavens. When you hold your Bibles in your hands (hardback or on your cell phone), let’s all remember that we are holding the eternal Word of God which has been preserved for us to read and apply its truths to our lives.

Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures (vs 90).

And one of the things that the Word reveals is one aspect of God’s character, namely, His faithfulness, and specifically, His faithfulness to keep all His promises. The psalmist realized that His faithfulness has extended throughout all generations, including his own, and even since the earth was established, God’s faithfulness continues to endure.

Your laws endure to this day, for all things serve you (vs 91).

Yes, God’s Word endures since the Law was given on Mount Sinai. It’s interesting to note that all the things that God has established actually serve Him. At this point, the psalmist is pointing to God’s glory, that is, God receiving all the majesty that is due Him.

If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction (vs 92).

This is one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament. In times of suffering or in times of great need, it has been the Word of God that has been my “delight,” that is, it has been the Word that has brought me both joy and comfort. And, as the psalmist declared, without His Word, his affliction would have been “the end of him,” that is, it would have brought him to the point of despair.

I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life (vs 93).

This is why the psalmist says that he will never forget the precepts in God’s Word, because in time of distress and trouble, those precepts have preserved his life, or at least, kept him from despairing of all hope.

Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts (vs 94).

The psalmist now asks the Lord to “save” him,” or “deliver” him from despairing, recognizing that he is God’s child, professing that he “belongs” to the Lord. And because of this unique relationship, he continues to seek out the Lord’s precepts. He wants to know even more than what he has learned because he knows that these precepts are “life preservers!”

The wicked are waiting to destroy me, but I will ponder your statutes (vs 95).

He knows that the wicked are out to destroy him, and it is the “wicked” that do not know nor follow the Lord’s commandments.” And once again, he will ponder, or reflect upon, the Lord’s statutes. And this is what each of us must do in times of trouble, that is, to read and reflect upon the truths and promises found in God’s Word.

To all perfection I see a limit, but your commands are boundless (vs 96).

As the psalmist closes out this section, he looks around at all of man’s created things, and sees their limits, realizing that none of those “creations” are “perfect.” However, that is not true of God’s commands, as they are indeed perfect, as well as boundless, in that they cover all aspects of our existence, and all aspects of our human needs.

Once again, I return to one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament, in that when times get hard and we want to “give up,” if we turn to God’s Word and the promises included therein, those promises will give us hope and “sustain” us. Indeed, “If God’s Word had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction!” May each of us experience the truth in this statement by the psalmist.

Hope to see you next week.