View source for 144. The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting:

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<p>'''144. The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.''' (Comp. verses 137, 138.)<br /><br />
  What deep—weighty—impressive thoughts were exercising the Psalmist's mind! He had just marked the happy influence of the testimonies upon the believer's heart. Now he again recurs to their righteousness—as the Divine administration—not subject to the incessant variations of the human standard—but everlasting—of unalterable obligation—binding us unchangeably to God, and God to us. His creatures can virtually &quot;make them void&quot; by their rebellion; but they cannot change their character, or shake their foundation.<br /><br /> No—themselves shall be the instruments of their fulfilment. Every word shall be established either by them as His obedient servants, or in and upon them as rebel transgressors. What solemn weight therefore is due to this Divine standard! It seems now to be trampled under foot; but its righteousness, inflexible in its demands, and unalterable in its obligations—will before long assert its sovereignty over the world, when every other standard shall have passed away.<br /><br /> It will be the rule of the Divine procedure at the great day of decision. When the &quot;great white throne&quot; is set up—when &quot;the dead, small and great, stand before God, and the books are opened, and another book is opened, which is the book of life;&quot; and the dead are judged out of those things which were written in the books, &quot;according to their works&quot;—the acknowledgement will be made throughout the universe of God—The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting. How glorious is the confidence of being dealt with in that great day upon an everlasting foundation of righteousness!<br />
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  But this view of the Divine righteousness and everlasting obligation of the testimonies, naturally suggests the prayer for a more spiritual, enlightened, and experimental acquaintance with them. Often before had the petition been sent up. But who can cry too often or too earnestly? One ray of this understanding is of far higher value than all the intellectual or speculative knowledge in the world. If its first dawn exhibits the infinite difference between light and darkness—if prayer for it implies a measure already received, still—Give me understanding—will be the cry—not of the &quot;little child&quot; whose spiritual perception is just opening—but of the &quot;father who has known Him that is from the beginning.&quot;<br /><br /> Let me know the holiness of Your testimonies—their extent—their perfection—their intimate connection with every part of my daily walk—with the restraint of my inclination, the regulation of my temper, the direction of every step of my path. And indeed the more devoutly we study them, the more shall we feel our need of supplication for Divine teaching, to give us more adoring and thankful views of the government of God, and to subjugate our cavilling disposition to the humbling influence of faith.<br />
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  The principle of spiritual and eternal life flows from the enlightened perception of the testimonies of God. Give me understanding, and I shall live. For &quot;this is life eternal, that we might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.&quot; His testimonies are the revelation of Himself. If then we &quot;have an unction from the Holy One, and know all things,&quot; our knowledge of them will become more spiritual in its character, more experimental in its comforts, and more practical in its fruits. And thus, 'the life of God in the soul' will invigorate us for higher attainments in evangelical knowledge, and more steady advancement in Christian holiness. But how infinitely do we live below the full privilege of knowing God in His testimonies! Christians of a Scriptural standard are &quot;forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.&quot;<br />
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  And then—what will it be at the great consummation; when our God of love will have put His last hand to His glorious work; when the mark of all our aims—the term of all our hopes and desires—all that we have so long laboured for—so earnestly panted after—so restlessly pursued—when all shall be attained? Then indeed we shall live a life worthy of the name—not as now under the shadowed glimmerings—but under the immediate full-eyed glory of His light and love; having escaped forever the deadliest of all dangers—sin—the very deadliness of death itself.
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