Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Psalms 7 (2)
Pray Psalm 119.89-91.
Forever, O LORD,
Your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.
They continue this day according to Your ordinances,
For all are Your servants.
Sing Psalm 119.89-91.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Forever, LORD, Your Word abides in heaven;
Your faithfulness to every age is sure.
You made the earth; to us it has been given,
and it abides, because Your Word is pure.
All of creation serves Your holy pleasure,
thus we, Your servants, by Your grace endure.
Read Psalm 119.89-96; meditate on verses 89-91.
Preparation
1. How many different terms does the psalmist use to refer to God’s Word?
2. Where is God’s Word “settled”? Where does it have effects?
Meditation
We pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, but do we understand what this means?
In heaven, the Word of God is “settled”—stationed, supreme, immovable. He is seated at the Father’s right hand and is the terror of rebelling nations (Pss. 2, 110). Jesus rules to fill with joy all who worship and serve Him in heaven (Rev. 4, 5). The Word of the LORD is “the consummation of all perfection” and His reach is “exceedingly broad” (v. 96).
For the Kingdom of Jesus to come on earth as it is in heaven means that the Word and the rule of King Jesus must be likewise established and set in place here. The Word established the earth (v. 90); now He is establishing His Presence and rule on earth as it is in heaven.
This begins in each believer, as the Spirit teaches us the Word (ordinances, precepts, testimonies, law, commandments) and employs it to transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3.12-18). The rule of King Jesus comes to expression in the words and deed of those who know Him. He puts all things at our disposal for the sake of extending His rule (v. 91; cf. 1 Cor. 3.21-23). Increasingly, the rule of King Jesus unto righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit is the chief and supreme influence in all things throughout the earth.
As we seek His Kingdom and righteousness, and as we see it increasing, we will know the Presence of the King with us and His Kingdom coming throughout the earth as it is in heaven.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1.1).
Jesus is settled in heaven forever, and from there His will is done (Ps. 119.89).
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done…” (Matt. 6.10).
Jesus’ faithfulness endures forever (Ps. 119.90).
“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” (Lam. 3.22, 23).
Jesus established the earth (Ps. 119.90).
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1.1).
The heavens and the earth continue because all are His servants (Ps. 119.91).
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6.10).
Jesus’ Law must be our delight lest we perish in our afflictions (Ps. 119.92).
“Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever” (Ps. 73.25, 26).
Jesus’ words, precepts, laws, testimonies, judgments, statutes, and ordinances give life (Ps. 119.93).
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn. 10.10).
Jesus saves us (Ps. 119.94).
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.8).
Jesus is perfect. Nothing else ever was, is, or will be (Ps. 119.96).
Jesus is “the Son Who has been perfected forever” (Heb. 7.28).
“For we do not have a High Priest Who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4.15).
“For He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5.21).
Jesus, through the power of His Holy Spirit, protects us from evil and wickedness
when our faith and trust are placed solely in His Sovereign Word (Ps. 119.95).
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (1 Jn. 4.9).
Reflection
1. Suppose some non-Christian friend said to you, “What’s with you? Why are you always talking about Jesus?” What would you say?
2. As the Word of God, Jesus is the truth (Jn. 14.6). Why is it important that we understand this?
3. How do you need the Word of God to guide you today?
The psalmist had seen the fullness of the word of God, and its sufficiency. The word of the Lord reaches to all cases, to all times. It will take us from all confidence in man, or in our own wisdom, strength, and righteousness. Thus shall we seek comfort and happiness from Christ alone. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Psalm 119.89-96
Pray Psalm 119.92-96.
Ask the Lord to help you delight more in His Word and to give you a greater sense of full and abundant life in His Word. Commit your day to the Lord and look to Him throughout it, that you may know “the consummation of all perfection”.
Sing Psalm 119.92-96.
(Finlandia: Be Still, My Soul)
Unless Your Law had been my great delight,
I would have perished when affliction came.
I will Your precepts ever keep in sight,
for by them I have life—I praise Your Name!
LORD, I am Yours, deliver me from night!
I seek Your precepts for Your praise and fame.
The wicked lie in wait to trouble me,
but to Your testimonies I will cling!
In them perfection I delight to see,
to know the peace and joy to me they bring.
Your holy Word is broad exceedingly;
my faith, my trust, my hope in You I sing!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
