Charles Spurgeon Collection: Spurgeon - C.H. - The Golden Alphabet: 12 Exposition of Psalm 119:89-96
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Charles Spurgeon Collection: Spurgeon - C.H. - The Golden Alphabet: 12 Exposition of Psalm 119:89-96
TOPIC: Spurgeon - C.H. - The Golden Alphabet (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 12 Exposition of Psalm 119:89-96
Other Subjects in this Topic:
Exposition of Psa_119:89-96
by Charles Spurgeon
89. 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. “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” The strain is
more joyful, for experience has given the sweet singer a comfortable
knowledge of the word of the Lord, and this makes a glad theme. After
tossing about on a sea of trouble, the Psalmist here leaps to shore and
stands upon a rock. Jehovah’s word is not fickle nor uncertain; it is settled,
determined, fixed, sure, immovable. Man’s teachings change so often that
there is never time for them to be settled; but the Lord’s word is from of
old the same, and will remain unchanged eternally. Some men are never
happier than when they are unsettling everything and everybody; but God’s
mind is not with them. The power and glory of heaven have confirmed
each sentence which the mouth of the Lord has spoken, and so confirmed it
that to all eternity it must stand the same — settled in heaven, where
nothing can reach it. In the former section David’s soul fainted, but here
the good man looks out of self and perceives that the Lord fainteth not,
neither is weary, neither is there any failure in his word.
The verse takes the form of an ascription of praise: the faithfulness and
immutability of God are fit themes for holy song, and when we are tired
with gazing upon the shifting scene of this life, the thought of the
immutable promise fills our mouth with singing. God’s purposes, promises,
and precepts are all settled in his own mind, and none of them shall be
disturbed. Covenant settlements will not be removed, however unsettled
the thoughts of men may become; let us therefore settle it in our minds that
we abide in the faith of our Jehovah as long as we have any being.
90. “Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the
earth, and it abideth.”
“Thy faithfulness is unto all generations” This is an additional glory: God
is not affected by the lapse of ages; he is not only faithful to one man
throughout his lifetime, but to his children’s children after him, yea, and to
all generations so long as they keep his covenant anti remember his
commandments to do them. The promises are ancient things, yet they are
not worn out by centuries of use, for the divine faithfulness endureth for
ever. He who succored his servants thousands of years ago still shows
himself strong on the behalf of all them that trust in him. “Thou hast
established the earth, and it abideth.” Nature is governed by fixed laws;
the globe keeps its course by the divine command, and displays no erratic
movements: the seasons observe their predestined order, the sea obeys the
rule of ebb and flow, and all things else are marshaled in their appointed
order. There is an analogy between the word of God and the works of
God, and specially in this, that they are both of them constant, fixed, and
unchangeable. God’s word which established the world is the same as that
which he has embodied in the Scriptures; by the word of the Lord were the
heavens made, and specially by him who is emphatically THE WORD. When
we see the world keeping its place, and all its laws abiding the same, we
have herein assurance that the Lord will be faithful to his covenant, and
will not allow the faith of his people to be put to shame. If the earth
abideth, the spiritual creation will abide; if God’s word suffices to establish
the world, surely it is enough for the establishment of the individual
believer. There will come a time when the earth shall pass away, but even
then the Word of the Lord will stand: wherefore let us be steadfast,
unmovable.
91. “They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy
servants.”
“They continue this day according to thine ordinances.” Because the
Lord has bid the universe abide, therefore it stands, and all its laws
continue to operate with precision and power. Because the might of God is
ever present to maintain them, therefore do all things continue. The word
which spoke all things into existence has supported them till now, and still
supports them both in being and in well-being. God’s ordinance is the
reason for the continued existence of creation. What important forces these
ordinances are! How much are all ordinances of God to be had in
reverence!
“For all are thy servants.” Created at first by thy word, they obey that
word, thus answering the purpose of their existence, and working out the
design of their Creator. Both great things and small pay homage to the
Lord. No atom escapes his rule, no world avoids his government. Shall we
wish to be free of the Lord’s sway and become lords unto ourselves? If we
were so, we should be dreadful exceptions to a law which secures the well-being
of the universe. Rather while we read concerning all things else —
they continue and they serve, let us continue to serve, and to serve more
perfectly as our lives are continued. By that word which is settled may we
be settled; by that voice which establishes the earth may we be established;
and by that command which all created things obey may we be made the
servants of the Lord God Almighty.
92. “Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in
mine affliction.” That word which has preserved the heavens and the earth
also preserves the people of God in their time of trial. With that word we
are charmed; it is a mine of delight to us. We take a double and treble
delight in it, and derive a multiplied delight from it, and this stands us in
good stead when all other delights are taken from us. We should have felt
ready to lie down and die of our griefs if the spiritual comforts of God’s
word had not uplifted us; but by their sustaining influence we have been
borne above all the depressions and despairs which naturally grow out of
severe affliction. Some of us can set our seal to this statement. Our
affliction, if it had not been for divine grace, would have crushed us out of
existence, so that we should have perished. In our darkest seasons nothing
has kept us from desperation but the promise of the Lord: yea, at times
nothing has stood between us and self-destruction save faith in the eternal
word of God. When worn with pain until the brain has become dazed and
the reason well-nigh extinguished, a sweet text has whispered to us its
heart-cheering assurance, and our poor struggling mind has reposed upon
the bosom of God. That which was our delight in prosperity has been our
light in adversity; that which in the day kept us from presuming has in the
night kept us from perishing. This verse contains a mournful supposition —
“unless”; describes a horrible condition — “perished in mine
affliction”; and implies a glorious deliverance; for he did not die, but he
lived to proclaim the honors of the word of God.
93. “I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened
me.” When we have felt the quickening power of a precept we never can
forget it. We may read it, learn it, repeat it, and think we have it, and yet it
may slip out of our minds; but if it has once given us life, or renewed our
life, there is no fear of its falling from our recollection. Experience teaches,
and teaches effectually. How blessed a thing it is to have the precepts
written on the heart with the golden pen of experience, and graven on the
memory with the divine stylus of grace! Forgetfulness is a great evil in holy
things; we see here the man of God fighting against it, and feeling sure of
victory because he knew the life-giving energy of the word in his own