Rev. Don Campbell

Psalms 119:89-176

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, June 1, 2019

“GOD’S ABIDING WORD”

Two days ago, we glimpsed at verses 1-88 of Psalm 119. Today we look at verses 89-119. The first thing to which I draw attention is the fixed nature of God’s word: “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (v.89). In verse 160, we read, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” Humans may trifle with the word, deny it, and attempt to destroy it, but it is fixed and by it the world shall be judged.

In verses 97, 119, 127, the singer declares his love for the word of God. It is easy to sing of how we love God’s word, but two tests are laid down: First, he pants for the word of God (131). Second, he hates and abhors falsehood (163). We are reminded of the words Psalm 45:6-7, which are quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” We cannot love the world and God, nor can we love falsehood and truth: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

God’s word abides forever, and we can abide in God and he in us forever: “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us” (1 John 3:23-24).

CONNECTIONS

1. Some people see Christians as pessimistic alarmist. How would Paul respond to this charge? (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

2. Is the greatest danger for most of us not our denunciation of God and his word, but our straying? What did the psalmist say? (v.176).