Psalm 119:89 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

NIV: Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

NASB: Forever, Lord, Your word stands in heaven.

CSB: Lord, your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven.

NLT: Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven.

KJV: LAMED. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.

NKJV: Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 119:89–96 begins each verse with the Hebrew letter lamedh. The permanence of the Lord's Word and His creation give the psalmist reasons to give praise. The writer credits his obedience to God's commands with saving his life. Even when evil people lurk, the psalmist has faith. While everything else is limited in its perfection, the perfection of God's instructions is boundless. Paul also speaks of Scripture's power and inspiration (2 Timothy 3:15–17).

This song is composed of twenty-two stanzas, each corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each line in the stanza is an individual verse and each begins with the corresponding letter. The psalmist emphasizes study of God's Word in a variety of circumstances, including persecution, sadness, and rescue. Benefits of taking in the Word include a moral life, joy, wisdom, hope, peace, strength, and freedom. Those who interact with the Word of the Lord should respond with delight, careful study, and obedience.

This is the largest psalm in the book of Psalms. At 176 verses, Psalm 119 is longer than many books of the Old Testament and most books of the New Testament. The psalmist focuses on a proper relationship with God's Word and how those who follow the Lord face persecution. Ideas parallel those found in Psalm 1, 2 Timothy 3:14–17, Proverbs 3:5–8, Hebrews 12:6–11, and more. The psalm is arranged in twenty-two stanzas of eight lines each. Every stanza is associated with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet; each line in that stanza begins with that letter.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.

Accessed 11/21/2024 11:58:33 AM