Psalms 119:81-96

Psalms 119:81. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

The ship rocks, but the anchor holds; the singer is ready to faint, but he is not ready to despair. He knows where his restoring will come.

Psalms 119:82. Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

What a mercy it is to have our eyes on God's word, full as it is of blessing to be waiting till the blessing comes out of it! Mine eyes watch thy word, that is so full of the rain of comfort; and I say to myself, «When will it descend and refresh me? When will the clouds let fall their silver drops upon my thirsty soul?»

Psalms 119:83. For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statues.

I feel dried up, besmeared and besmirched as with soot, my very beauty is gone from me, and my usefulness too. I am not fit to hold anything, but I have become like a skin bottle that is parched up; yet for all that I have a memory of thy word: the smoke and the heat have not dried out of me the flavour of that good old «wine on the lees well refined» that once filled my heart.

Psalms 119:84. How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

«How many are the days of thy servant;» or rather, how few they are be; not long in coming to me, lest I die whilst thou art still on the road.

Psalms 119:85. The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

They might make pits for lions and tigers, but not for sheep. These pits were not after God's law. There are still cruel enemies who would, if they could, entrap the people of God; shall not this make us feel what a great mercy it is we have one to be our guardian and defender who knows where the pitfalls are?

Psalms 119:86. All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully;

There is a fine prayer for us every day in the week: «Help thou me.» Lord, I am helpless if thou do not help me. Thou art the helper of Israel: he that keepeth Israel will not slumber nor sleep. «Help thou me.»

Psalms 119:87. They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

«They had almost consumed me upon earth.» They seemed as if they would swallow me up entirely, «but I forsook not thy precepts,» and therefore they could not consume me; I was invulnerable and invincible because I stuck to rectitude and kept to thy precepts.

Psalms 119:88. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

There is not a new divine word, or a new gospel, or a new law; but it is a settled gospel, a settled law, a settled revelation, «settled in heaven,» stereotyped, fixed, made permanent. If perfect, then unalterable, if alterable, then would it be imperfect.

Psalms 119:90. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

«Thy faithfulness is unto all generations.» Thou who wast true to Abraham wilt be true to David; thou who wast true to David wilt be true to me. Thou art ever faithful to thine own nature and Godhead. «Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.» It would rot out of its place, it would rush into space like a truant planet if thou didst not hold it where it is. Thou, therefore, wilt hold thy gospel where it is, and thy servants where they are.

Psalms 119:91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

The fixed laws of the universe have their analogy in the fixed rules of revelation. Are not all material things thy servants, and they are kept; thou wilt therefore keep us.

Psalms 119:92. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

We may well keep to that which is our life. If God's precepts breed life in us and then quicken us, and so renew that life, let us stand to them, be obedient to them, and that at all times.

Psalms 119:94. I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

«I am thine, save me.» Oh, what a sweet assertion. «I am thine,» thy creature, thy redeemed one, thy chosen, thine espoused. «I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.»

Psalms 119:95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me:

Let them wait.

Psalms 119:95. But I will consider thy testimonies.

I will not consider them, they are not worth it, they would only distract or distress me. I will keep my thoughts fixed upon thy word, and so shall I be at peace and escape from their malice.

Psalms 119:96. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

Yes: all perfection in the creature! In very deed it is an attribute of the Creator, and whether it be true or false, whether men have the excellence they boast of, or have it not, there must be an end to it all, either as to its extent or its duration; but thy commandment has no limit, it covers everything; and it has no termination; it endures for ever. «Thy commandment is exceeding broad.»