January 7, 2020 -- Psalm 119:89 -- Celebrating God's Word firmly fixed in heaven
/Forever, O LORD, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Psalm 119:89 English Standard Version
If you have been reading the recent blogs, the ones based on the previous octet—the Kaph stanza—then likely you noticed a huge shift in tone in our verse today. The Kaph stanza ended with the urgent prayer for God’s revival. Reading this, the first verse of the twelfth stanza of the Lamedh octet, you sense exuberance in these words. He is fully alive and with the breath in his lungs and steadfast love of God filling his heart and mind he makes the declaration which is our verse today.
The word is firmly fixed in heaven—where Satan cannot defeat it. Where governments, for all their policies and laws contrary to the word can never undo what the LORD has so beautifully declared.
The word is firmly fixed in heaven—John 1 describes Jesus Himself as the Word of God. So, by the holy inspiration of the Spirit of God, this verse anticipates the day when Jesus will be seated in heaven at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus, Who was the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus, Who lived the law perfectly and fulfilled it completely, now is seated in majestic splendor in heaven.
The word is firmly fixed in heaven—those who cry out to the Spirit of God will read the written word and by faith behold the Living Word seated in glory. And the Spirit of the Living God, Who is the Author of the Bible, inspiring men to write it as He gave them utterance, is the same Spirit Who show the heavenly word to be living, relevant and powerful for us today.
The word is firmly fixed in heaven and by it we begin to understand that He, Who alone lives in unapproachable Light, has stooped to our human weakness and frailty and revealed Himself. Without His Self-revelation we would not know Him, could not grasp the glories that have become ours in Christ. His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).
Father in heaven, increase our capacity to receive all You choose to reveal. Let Your glorious word take hold of our thoughts and imaginations, our hearts and hands so that by it we may spend our lives for You. King Jesus, seated in majesty at the right hand of our Father, blessed are You and worthy of praise. Thank You for Your incarnation. Thank You for all You endured so that lost sinners, now washed and redeemed, could be drawn in love to our Father in heaven. Thank You Father and Son, for the powerful gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank You, Spirit of God for taking the word and by it lighting up our minds and hearts with true faith. O God of All-knowledge and wisdom, thank You for stooping to our weaknesses and frailties, and making Yourself known. May our loved ones, family members and friends, know You this year and offer their lives in wonder and praise to You. Let Your glory shine across nations and kingdoms so that all those appointed to salvation will rise up and praise You. Amen.