Psalm 119:89-96

Lamedh.

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. They stand this day according to Your ordinances, for all things are Your servants. If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me. I am Yours, save me; for I have sought Your precepts. The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies. I have seen a limit to all perfection; Your commandment is exceedingly broad.^[1]

Do you remember this popular bumper sticker: “God said it, I believe it, and that settles it?” The psalmist affirms that the Word of God is settled in heaven. Another translation says: “it is forever settled in the heavens.” Still another states: it “is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Frail human beings like you and me need to think that the validity of God’s Word is predicated on whether or not it is accepted and believed. But the fact of the matter is that it does not matter whether we believe it or not, it is still settled – in heaven. The only place it is not settled is in the hearts and minds of people – like us!

Personally, it is a load off of my mind deciding whether to accept God’s Word simply because I believe it. It is true whether I choose to believe it or not. God is not waiting around for me to decide whether His promises are true. He does not predicate what He does on my ability to believe. It does not matter to Him whether I receive Him as God or not simply because I have to decide who He is. He is God still. He is able to do what He promised still. He loves us still. So, let us decide to accept that God is who He said He is and able to do what He said he could do just because He said it and not because we have decided to believe it.

Dear Lord and Father of us all, forgive our feeble faith. Forgive our penchant for proofs. Forgive us for basing our acceptance of Your promises on what we are able to believe. Help us this day to boldly accept Your Word simply because of who You are, and on the strength of Your Word alone. Amen.

^[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 119:89–96.