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⁸⁹ Forever, O Lord, your word
    is firmly fixed in the heavens.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
⁹¹ By your appointment they stand this day,
    for all things are your servants.
⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my affliction.
⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have given me life.
⁹⁴ I am yours; save me,
    for I have sought your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

So far in this Psalm we have focused on our attitude to God’s word. The believer delights in it. We see that it is the way of blessing. We pray that we may stand firm committed to it in the face of opposition. 

In this section we have a different perspective on the word of the Lord. Before it is something which we keep, we just recognise that it keeps us. 

In verse 89 the Psalmist recognises “O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens”. The language used is a military image. God’s word is like a policeman working in an airport or at an important event. He may not be seen, but he is are there, devoted to the task, steady at his post. The word is fixed in heaven and at work, establishing and sustaining the earth (verse 90). 

The reason this earth exists today, the reason life goes on “this day” is because the Lord is at work (vs 91). Just as the Lord created by his word, he continues life by that same word. 

Why this interlude about creation? It is to make the point that if this is the power of the word of the Lord, then we should stick with the written word of the Lord we have. It is truly life giving. Without the word of God we perish (vs 92). 

The same word that keeps the world keeps the believer.  Whatever we are going through, the Lord is keeping us. This gives us the motivation we need to not forget the Lord’s precepts (vs 93). 

Even though people who hate the Psalmist want to destroy him, he doesn’t spend all his time looking out for them. He gives his attention to the word of God.

This is an important point. It can be so tempting to spend lots of time doing cultural analysis and thinking about those who hate the Lord and his word. We can praise the Lord that he raises up his servants who can do this well and serve the church to equip us (for example, the Christian Institute). But the important task of every believer is to not let society distract us from God’s word. I remember observing with some sadness an evangelist who began to appear to write less about Jesus and God’s words online and more and more about the problems of the world. There’s something wrong with that. 

There’s no limit to God’s word (vs 96).