#8. The Fixed Heart (Psa. cxii. 7).


Among the blessings consequent upon trust in the Lord is confidence or, in the language of the Psalmist, a “fixed heart” (Psa. cxii. 7). Of the wicked it is written, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth” (Prov. xxviii. 1). “There were they in great fear, where no fear was” (Psa. liii. 5).

The Psalm that supplies us with our text is Psalm cxii., which, by reason of its alphabetical structure, is bound together with Psalm cxi., with which it should be studied.

Psa. cxi. 1-8. Eight couplets, Aleph—Ayin.
9, 10. Two triplets, Pe—Tau.
Psa. cxii. 1-8. Eight couplets, Aleph—Ayin.
9, 10. Two triplets, Pe—Tau.

In both Psalms there are twenty-two lines, and the alphabet in both is complete. This artificial correspondence supports a correspondence of thought and idea.

“In Psalm cxi. We have the mighty deeds, the glory, the righteousness of Jehovah, celebrated in the assembly of the upright; in Psalm cxii., the righteousness, the goodness, the blessedness of the upright, themselves, is described and enlarged upon. The one sets forth God, His work and His attributes; the other tells what are the work and character of those who fear and honour God. Thus in Psalm cxi. 3 it is said of Jehovah that ‘His righteousness standeth fast for ever’; in Psalm cxii. 3 the same thing is affirmed of the man that feareth Jehovah. In cxi. 4 it is declared of Jehovah, that ‘He is gracious and of tender compassion’, in cxii. 4 the same character is given to the upright” (Perowne).

It is not therefore surprising to find that the words “Stand fast” of Psalm cxi. 8, “They stand fast for ever and ever”, and “Established”, of Psalm cxii. 8, “His heart is established, he shall not be afraid” are the same in the original. There is also a parallel between the word “Sure”, in Psalm cxi. 7, and “Fixed”, in Psalm cxii. 7.

This unmoved condition is thrice repeated in Psalm cxii.:

“Surely he shall not be moved for ever” (verse 6).
“His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord” (verse 7).
“His heart is established” (verse 8).

As we all know, evil tidings can be very unsettling, and it is in connection with such disquieting news that “Trust” gives confidence.

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings. His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established, he shall not be afraid.”

We discover, both from our own experience, and from Psalm lvii. 6 and 7 that it is possible for one to say “My soul is bowed down”, while at the same time confessing, “My heart is fixed”, for our fixedness of heart finds its roots and base, not in ourselves, but in the Lord, His omnipotence, His faithfulness, His care.

(From The Berean Expositor Volume 34, page 214).

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