Psalm 119:81-96 KJV -- Caph & Lamed

What It Says:

Psa 119:81  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Psa 119:82  Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Psa 119:83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Psa 119:84  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Psa 119:85  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
Psa 119:86  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Psa 119:87  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Psa 119:88  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psa 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psa 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
Psa 119:91  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
Psa 119:92  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Psa 119:93  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Psa 119:94  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Psa 119:95  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Psa 119:96  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

What It Means:

Psa 119:81  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

THE AFFLICTED ONE SUSTAINED BY THE WORD

How does he say his soul feels? My soul fainteth for thy salvation

Define: Fainteth  -- H3615, כּלה, kâlâh, kaw-law', A primitive root; to end, … (to cease, be finished, perish) …: -- cease, consume (away), destroy (utterly), be… done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, …

Define: Salvation -- H8668, תּשׁעה    תּשׁוּעה, teshû‛âh  teshû‛âh, tesh-oo-aw', tesh-oo-aw', From H7768 in the sense of H3467; rescue (literally or figuratively, personal, national or spiritual): - deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory.

In what does he hope? But I hope in thy word.

He says his soul is in distress waiting to be rescued from his current torment – but he has hope in God’s promise of salvation from His word. When you are trapped in a situation with no way out, when you feel your soul is both fainting in a hard spot and clamoring for salvation, the only, and the best, thing a believer can do is remember and hope in God’s word.  

Believer’s Bible Commentary: The believer may be afflicted but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed (2Co_4:8-9). Here he languishes (be neglected or deprived, to undergo hardship) for God's saving help but hope is still alive.

Notice that he counters the despair in his circumstance with hope in God. That is truly how a believer counters those feelings of depression or anxiety by focusing on the promise of salvation that we have in Jesus Christ. He makes his own negative feelings less effective, and does spiritual warfare, by remembering and trusting in God’s word.

1Jn_5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

What our psalmist is demonstrating is precisely what James talked about in the following verses:

Jas 1:2-4  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Define: Patience – capacity for waiting, to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties, endurance, staying power, tolerance, lack of complaint, persistence, fortitude, serenity

James says to “count it all joy” because you know that your trial is helping you to cultivate true patience. He says that patience has a work to do in us. Our Psalmist shows us what the work is: to hope in God’s word. Being patient does not mean succumbing or giving in, it means waiting with an eye on the Lord’s promise to never leave us and never forsake us.

What will be the outcome of rejoicing in the Lord and patiently waiting for Him to work? “That ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” That you may be complete and whole, not lacking in the kind of character and behavior that pleases God. Our hope sustains us and helps us to overcome the world by our faith in Jesus Christ.

2Co 4:5-10  For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

Let’s recap what Paul says we are, yet we are not:

1. We are troubled on every side,  (disturbed, in difficulty, bothered)
yet not distressed; (not upset, not concerned, not worried)

2. We are perplexed, (puzzled, at a loss, baffled)
but not in despair; (have not lost hope, are not in anguish or gloom)

3. Persecuted, (wronged, mistreated, ill-treated)
but not forsaken; (not deserted, not disowned, we have not given up)

4 Cast down, (knocked down, thrown out, rejected)
but not destroyed; (not shattered nor cracked, not damaged nor ruined)

Now let’s look at the positive versions of the “nots:”

1. If we are not distressed, then we are: content, happy, satisfied

2. If we are not in despair, then we have: joy, hope, expectation of good things

3. If we are not forsaken, then we are settled, alive, living in peace with God

4. If we are not destroyed, then we are preserved, saved, safeguarded and kept by God

He says: we bear in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, but we know the eternal life of Jesus will be made manifest in our own bodies, too!!

Psa 119:82  Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

Our psalmist’s eyes are growing weary of looking for his rescue which is promised in God’s word. When will it come? He has not seen it yet and is getting tired from looking. He knows that God can and does comfort us in our troubles and he just wants to know: “When will my relief be here?” Just as a child says “Are we there, yet” because he does not fully comprehend her parent’s plans or how long some things take to accomplish, our psalmist is waiting and waiting and wondering when his rescue will happen. The Lord has made a promise and He will keep it when He knows the time is ripe and right.

BBC: Even though his eyes grow dim with searching for the fulfillment of God's promise of deliverance, he does not pray "Will you comfort me?" but rather "When will you comfort me?"

Notice that he knows his rescue is coming…. He just wants to know when. When will this misery end?

Psa 119:83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

A bottle in the smoke becomes cloudy and greasy. It is no longer clear and bright.

BBC: Wine bottles of skin used to be hung up in smoke to dry them, before the wine was put in them [Maurer].

Even though his mind is cloudy and his soul feels shriveled what does he not forget?  Thy statutes.

He can no longer see the end for himself and though he feels weary and bone tired, he does not forget God’s eternal statutes.

Psa 119:84  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

His first question is “How many days do I have left?” He feels like his misery will bring his death and he wonders how long the misery will last and if he will die before it ends or after. His vision is cloudy and he feels frustrated.

His second question is “when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?” He knows his misery will end when his persecutors are finally foiled but how long is this gonna’ take?! He is waiting, waiting, waiting -- not only for his own death or victory, but for judgment to befall his wicked persecutors. He knows that God has promised not only salvation for him, as a believer, but judgment for his accusers because of their wickedness and disobedience of God’s laws. Sometimes it seems like it takes eternity for us to see God’s rewards but losing patience does not hurry the outcome, it only works a number on our own selves. Patience is victory.

BBC: Life at best is very brief. The days of affliction seem to occupy a disproportionate share. …

Even when there does not seem to be an end in sight for our misery, being patient while we wait on God, will sustain us personally and spiritually.

Psa_27:14  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psa_37:34  Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Pro_20:22  Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Hos_12:6  Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

1Ch_19:13  Be of good courage, and let us behave ourselves valiantly for our people, and for the cities of our God: and let the LORD do that which is good in his sight.

Psa_31:24  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psa 119:85  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

What have the proud done to him? They have purposefully dug pits, or made traps, for our psalmist to fall into.

What does he say these kinds of actions are? The proud have gone against God’s law and tried to make things bad and worse for him. That opposes the law of God which says we are to love one another. They have made plans and formed conspiracies in order to make him stumble and fall.

Rom_14:21  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.

Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Psa 119:86  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

What are all God’s commandments?  Faithful.

How have the proud persecuted him?  Wrongfully.

What does he pray?  Help thou me.

BBC: The villains of this verse are godless and lawless; these two characteristics go together. They plot the downfall of the righteous and innocent—(this is) evidence that they refuse to conform to God's law… There is nothing as dependable as God's Word. He has promised to rescue His persecuted people. So when we are attacked by lying accusers, we can confidently use the "golden prayer," "Help me!"

A prayer of few words but answered by God just as well as a long winded plea. When we leave the details to God, he works things out perfectly. He knows our needs. When we pray from our deepest hearts “help me” he hears and he knows and he helps!!

Psa_121:2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Psa 119:87  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

He very nearly lost his life and well being to his persecutors. They were hard and harsh and hateful to deal with.

But what? Even in his darkest hour, when things looked their worst, he did not abandon God’s precepts and promises!

BBC: Spurgeon said, "If we stick to the precepts we will be rescued by the promises." Even if we reach the place where we despair of life, we should never falter in our obedience. Help will come. Only believe!

Psa 119:88  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

What does he desire to be quickened or revived by?  Thy loving kindness.

It has been a long time since he has experienced any kind of kindness; but remembering God’s loving kindness will revive us and that revival will help us to press on or “keep the testimony of thy mouth” as he puts it. As he is in the face of his persecutors he remembers that God is not like them. God loves him and is kind to him.

With his new life he shall keep what?  The testimony of thy mouth. He shall keep the testimony of God’s word with him always, because God will give him life and love him! By God’s grace we are saved and given the opportunity to share the message of God’s grace with others.

Psa 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

GOD’S WORD IS ETERNAL

God’s word is settled where?  In heaven.

For how long?  For ever.

With these words he no longer focuses on his misery but begins to praise our eternal God! Hallelujah! This too, we should do when we are in similar circumstances. Begin to praise God and it will lift your heart up to Him.

Psa 22:3  But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Exo_15:11  Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? 

Psa 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

To whom is God faithful?  All generations.

What has God established?  The earth.

“And it abideth” – it is still here!! Hallelujah!

Psa 119:91  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

The generations of God’s people and His creation continue even unto this day according to what?  According to thine ordinances.

The laws of the universe which God created continue even unto this day and all according to His ordinances – His word!

What are we all? Thy servants.

Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible: All worlds obey thy commands; all are under thy control. They show that they are thy servants by the conformity of their movements to the laws which thou hast impressed on them.

Psa 119:92  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

Unless God’s law had been his what?  Delights!!

Notice that “delights” is plural, meaning God’s law delighted him over and over, in many places, and for many reasons.

What would have happened if God’s law had not been his delights? He would have died because of his affliction. He would have just given up when things got so very hard, but he did not, because he remembered the delights he had experienced from God’s law. Recalling God’s goodness, really lifted his soul, when he needed it most: during his affliction when he was between a rock and hard place.

Barnes: … Unless I had had pleasure in thy law, thy word, thy truth; unless I had derived support and consolation in that… I should have sunk under my burden. I should not have been able to hold up under the weight of sorrow and trial. How often the people of God can say this! How often may each one in the course of his life say this! “I should have sunk a thousand times,” said a most excellent, but much afflicted, man to me, “if it had not been for one declaration in the word of God - ‘The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.’“

Deu_33:27  The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Psa 119:93  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.

I will never forget what?  Thy precepts.

Why?  for with thy precepts, thou hast quickened me -- made me alive and joyous

Barnes: Thy laws; thy truth. I will bear them in mind forever. To all eternity they shall be the object of my meditation…By them thou hast given me life, spiritual life. This is stated as a reason why he would never suffer the truth of God to pass out of his mind. By that truth he had been made really to live. He had been brought from spiritual death to spiritual life. He saw before him now, as the result of that, an endless career of blessedness. How could he ever forget what had worked such a change in his character and condition; which had inspired such hopes; which had opened before him such an immortal career of glory!

Psa 119:94  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

Such a powerful prayer: “I am thine, save me.” This is the prayer that Martin Luther was taught to pray when he was suffering in his spirit. Rather than trusting in the words of persecutors, trust in God and His word. This is a declaration of complete faith, and a request to be rescued from his current hell. This is the essence of spiritual warfare: to take a stand – “I am thine” – and to trust in God – “save me!” (This is a perfect demonstration of how we can hold up our shield of faith.)

What does he base his faith and request on?  For I have sought thy precepts.

The Bible Illustrator: The plea, which the psalmist founds upon his relation to God. “Save me” is a brief petition, but it comprehends every blessing. It is the craving after spiritual freedom; the longing to be delivered from the bondage of corruption and the body of death, the panting to be transformed, renewed and sanctified. (C. F. Childe, M. A.)

Eph_6:14  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Eph 6:17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Take your stand, based on God’s word -- trust in Him and pray! This is the most powerful thing we can do when faced with spiritual warfare. Take your stand for the Lord. The battle belongs to the Lord, but you are a soldier! Taking your own stand actually frees you from the misery.

1Sa_17:47 And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

2Ch 20:14-15  Then upon Jahaziel …, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation; And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God (take your stand), that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Our stand and our prayer should be like our psalmist’s: “I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.” If you have ever done this, you will recall the power you were given by God in that instant. If you have not, yet, then remember what you should say: “I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts” --  take your stand, trust in God’s word, and pray for help. Remember his promises:

Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Deu_31:6  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Mat_28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I (Jesus) have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 Rom_8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Douglas McArthur: “In war, there is no substitute for victory”

Psa 119:95  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

What have the wicked waited for?  For me to destroy myself. The wicked had set up stumbling blocks and pit falls for him. They had played mind games and tortured him in his spirit by their false accusations. Then they stepped back and waited for him to be destroyed!! But he foiled them by his faith in God!

What did he do instead of listening to their evil words?  But I will consider thy testimonies. He kept his mind on God’s testimonies!! He considered God’s word, not theirs. He focused on God, and did not reply to them.

Isa_26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Col 3:1-4  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Psa 119:96  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

 (GW)  I have seen a limit to everything else, but your commandments have no limit.

This earth, which we see, is limited, but God is infinite and commands His whole creation!! He’s got the whole world in His hands!!

 Isa 26:8-9  Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Read our verses once more:

Psa 119:81  CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.
Psa 119:82  Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?
Psa 119:83  For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.
Psa 119:84  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
Psa 119:85  The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.
Psa 119:86  All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.
Psa 119:87  They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.
Psa 119:88  Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psa 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.
Psa 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.
Psa 119:91  They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.
Psa 119:92  Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.
Psa 119:93  I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me.
Psa 119:94  I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.
Psa 119:95  The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.
Psa 119:96  I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.