Monday, August 9, 2021

Seder 67: Psalm 119:89-86---A Word We Can Count On

 Psalm 119 praises God through praise of his word.  The twelfth of the twenty two sections of the psalm compares the order and reliability of creation with the dependability of God's word and his faithfulness to his promises.  We know that the sun will rise and set tomorrow, and when the next full moon will be.  Similarly, we know that God's word is sure (vv 89-91).  

The psalmist is undergoing trial and affliction. His life is in flux, but through it all he can depend upon God's word.  Where would he be without it?  It has been a source of life (vv 92-93).  Affirming his loyalty to God's word (and therefore to God), he prays for deliverance. 

This section concludes with another strong statement about God's word in verse 96:  "I have seen a limit to all perfection, but your commandment is exceedingly broad."  Commentator Daniel Estes (NAC) paraphrases the verse this way: 

"Even the best human efforts reach their limits.  By contrast the Lord's command has no limit so it transcends all that humans can accomplish or even attempt" (p 437 of the NAC commentary on Ps 73-150).   

Another commentator, Derek Kidner, has described this verse as an apt summary of the message of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes.

What is affirmed about God's written word in this psalm is also true of God's incarnate Word, Jesus the Messiah, a perfect life giver upon whom we can depend.  We can count on the promise that he gave to his disciples in Matt 28:20:  "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

No comments:

Post a Comment

Seder 73: 2 Chronicles 33-36---What Happened to the Ark of the Covenant?

 Egyptologist David Falk, in his book on the Egyptian context of the ark of the covenant, says that one of the things he is asked about mos...