Psalms 119:89

STROPHE 12

THE ETERNITY OF GOD'S EXCEEDINGLY BROAD LAW IS FIXED FOR EVER IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH

Lamed

"Forever, O Jehovah,

Thy word is settled in heaven.

Thy faithfulness is unto all generations:

Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

They abide this day according to thine ordinances;

For all things are thy servants.

Unless thy law had been my delight,

I should then have perished in mine affliction.

I will never forget thy precepts;

For with them thou hast quickened me.

I am thine, save me;

For I have sought thy precepts.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me;

But I will consider thy testimonies.

I have seen an end of all perfection;

But thy commandment is exceeding broad."

"They abide this day" (Psalms 119:91). "The `they' of this verse must include the heavens and the earth, mentioned in the two preceding verses."[32] However, we prefer the marginal reading in the ASV, "As for thy ordinances, they abide this day."

"I have seen an end of all perfection" (Psalms 119:96). "This could well be a summary of Ecclesiastes, where every earthly enterprise has its day and comes to nothing, and where only in God and his commandments do we get beyond these frustrating limits."[33]

"Thy commandment is exceeding broad" (Psalms 119:96). This means, according to Dummelow, that, "The most perfect earthly things are finite and limited; but God's law is for all needs and for all time."[34]