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.

ALWAYS and FOREVER

My father used to tell me “always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.” He was being silly, of course, but the point is that always and never are significant words. They are filled with absoluteness; they point beyond the limits of time.

David uses similar words in this stanza in both verses 89 and 93. In verse 89, he describes God’s word as always being firmly fixed in the heavens. In verse 93, he describes never forgetting God’s precepts. In both of these verses, however, David uses the same Hebrew word, L’olam (לְעוֹלָם), beginning with the letter lamedh (ל), to express these absolute timeless, or “time-full” concepts. In verse 89, God’s word is absolutely fixed in the heavens forever. In verse 93, David’s remembrance of God’s words are fixed in his memory forever.

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” These two realms, heaven and earth, respectively, are the backdrop for David’s two assertions. In the first case, David asserts that God’s words are fixed in the heavens. In the second case, David asserts that his commitments on earth include a timeless allegiance to God’s precepts. This allegiance is expressed through David’s commitment to remember God’s word that seems designed to anchor the reality of heaven here on earth through David’s life and leadership.

The first biblical instance of l’olam is in Genesis 3:22. In the Garden, immediately after the original deception and disobedience, God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” Beloved, we were created for eternity and those surrendered and submitted to the Messiah will live l’olam (forever) in God’s presence when the Kingdom of God comes fully here on earth as it already is in heaven.

Hebrew Treasure excerpt written by Thomas Boehm.
From The Psalm 119 Journey by Steve Allen, ©2022.
Used with permission.