89 “Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 90Your 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.” (Psalm 119:89–91 (ESV)
Today is New Year’s Eve. The last day of the year. Much has happened this year in my family’s life. I’m sure the same could be said for you and your family. Each year has it highs and its lows, its good and bad, its joy and its sorrows. There are events and circumstances that we hope to long remember, while at this same time other things we just as soon forget.
Today’s text from Psalm 119:89-91 speaks of the sure foundation believers’ in Christ possess. That is God’s faithfulness. In both the Old and New Testaments, faithfulness, or faith, means to trust, commit, depend and worship an object. Biblical faith is trust, commitment, dependence and worship of the LORD alone.
As it pertains to God, He alone is trustworthy, committable, dependable, and worthy of worship. These three verses from today’s text, in the longest psalm in the Psalter, describe the LORD’s faithfulness.
Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Yahweh’s Word is firmly fixed. This means that what the LORD says remains solidly positioned and firmly standing in and from the LORD’s throne of sovereign authority. For how long? The Word of the LORD is everlasting.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. The LORD’s faithfulness continues, perseveres and prevails for all time. It never ends. The psalmist says that the LORD has not only created the world, but also sustains what He has created (Hebrews 1:1-3). The universe remains fixed before its Creator.
By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. By the LORD’s judicial decision, the heavens and the earth, in effect the entire universe, remains exactly how God wants it to remain. All of creation is God’s servant. No exceptions.
The Tyndale Bible Dictionary explains, “In spite of Israel’s faithlessness (Deut. 32:20; cf. Rom. 3:3), God showed himself to be absolutely reliable. His faithfulness is great (Lam. 3:23). He is loyal to his covenant and will always manifest his steadfast love to his people (Ps. 136). The pinnacle of faithfulness in the Bible is seen in the work of Jesus Christ, who showed himself faithful to his Father (Heb. 3:2) and in his witness (Rev. 1:5-7). God calls men and women to be faithful by following Christ, relying on him for all things (Heb. 2:4; cf. Rom. 1:16-17).”
The Prophet Jeremiah, in Lamentations 3:23, says, “22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Therefore, as one year comes to its inevitable conclusion, and another year begins, let each of us give thanks to the LORD for His faithfulness.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Chorus
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning, new mercies I see
All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Summer and winter and springtime and harvest
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. (Chorus)
Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside. (Chorus)
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 