(REFLECTIONS ON Psalm 119:89-128)

89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled (literally means stands firm) in heaven. 90 Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations; You established the earth, and it stands. 91 They stand this day according to your ordinances, for all things are Your servants.

The Lord created the heavens and the earth by His Word, and His Word stands firm in heaven. God’s creation stands today, and all creation stands by God’s ordinances, meaning that it is ruled by God according to His judgments.

All things, the psalmist writes, are Your servants. This brings not only human beings, but all creation under the hand of the Lord. He is not only sovereign and the authority over people, but all of creation. There is nothing that is not a servant to God, being used by Him, and all things stand according to God’s ordinances for His purpose and will.

The stand is thus our response to the Lord’s faithfulness. Will we stand for Him, as He stands for His creation? Or, will we bow down and be faithful to everything else besides God? God’s creation stands, and all things are His servants, but do we stand with Him, or do we break down all that stands for Him?

No, the stand is not a response of fear, control, force, but is a response to the love of God. Oh how we have turned the stand into a punishment for wrong doing rather than a blessing for being in a love relationship with the God that created all things.

We stand because we are with all His creation, and because He created from love, for love. That is why the psalmist reminds us that the law, the ordinances, and the testimonies of God are not fear, control, or force, but is love.

97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day…103 How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth…105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

We stand because of love, because all creation was created to be in His love, which is a privilege and honor through His love. May we stand because of His love, His Word, His law, ordinances, and testimonies. For it is these testimonies that speak to us of who God is and why He created us.

The stand is a call for His church to rise up, stand firm and stand together, as His people, His blessing, and a reflection of His love to the broken and fallen world.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Psalm 119