38 Establish Your word to Your servant,
Who is devoted to fearing You.
What do you think it means when the psalmist asks the Lord to “establish His word”?
Have you ever thought to ask God to establish His word to you?
This word “establish” in the Hebrew language is translated “confirm” in Isaiah, and I think conveys the essence of the meaning here in Psalm 119:
I am the Lord...Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messengers Isaiah 44:24, 26
Simply put, God performs His word.
This is one aspect of the Bible that makes it a unique book: the fact that God Himself backs it up.
For example, there are scores of men through the ages who have claimed to be the Christ. But only One said,
Jesus said that if He was crucified, He would rise from the dead. And then He did it.
But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said. John 2:21-22
This is God establishing His word: He says it, then He does it.
The Grace of God is not meant to be merely understood intellectually. It is the power of God to be experienced in our lives; to bring the resurrection power of Jesus into every aspect of life.
It takes a level of commitment, though. The psalmist says, “who is devoted to fearing You.” There is a connection between seeing God’s Word manifest in our lives and our resolve to believe His word when the situation seems hopeless.
For example, consider what Jesus said to us:
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27
Jesus said that it is possible for you to have peace, and to have no fear in your heart. He didn’t say you wouldn’t be in terrifying situations - but that in any situation you can have peace. The psalms tell of…
Having no fear in the face of death:
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Psalm 23:4
Having no fear in the middle of a war:
Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. Psalm 27:3
Having no fear in the middle of an earthquake and tsunami:
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3
But again, it takes commitment. A resolve in the heart and mind that when your world seems to be falling apart, you will not give in to fear, but cling to God’s word. To shout “No!” to fear and “Yes!” to peace.
And then you experience the fear leaving and the peace remaining.
It is possible.
It is miraculous.
That is God establishing His word in your life.
Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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