This psalm is generally thought to be written by David, but when is uncertain; very probably towards the decline of life; and, as some think, for the sake or his son Solomon.

ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way Who are in the right way to heaven and happiness, which is Jesus Christ; the strait gate, and narrow way to eternal life; the only true way of life and salvation, in which way believers walk by faith.

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies The whole word of God, the Scriptures of truth, are his testimonies: they testify of the mind of God, and of his love and grace in the method of salvation by Christ; they testify of Christ, his person, offices, and grace; of the sufferings of Christ, and…

They also do no iniquity Not that they are free from indwelling sin, nor from the acts of sin, nor that what they do are not sins; but they do not make a trade of sinning, it is not the course of their lives; nor do they do iniquity with that ease and pleasure, without reluctance and remorse, as…

Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. ] Here, and in the following verses, the psalmist expresses his great regard to the precepts, commandments, statutes, and judgments of God; and that as such, because they were commanded by him; were not the precepts of men, but the commands of…

O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! ] The psalmist, sensible of his own inability, as every good man is, to keep the commands of God, prays for grace, direction, and assistance in it; that the ways of his mind, his thoughts, affections, and inclinations, might be directed to an…

Then shall I not be ashamed Of hope in God, of a profession of faith in him, and of a conversation agreeable to it before men; nor of appearing before God in his house, worshipping him there; nor at the throne of his grace, nor at the day of judgment, and before Christ at his coming; when I have…

I will praise thee with uprightness of heart In the most sincere manner, in the most affectionate way, with the whole heart; sensible of great favours received, and great obligations laid under; see ; when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments; or, “the judgments of thy righteousness”…

I will keep thy statutes This is a resolution taken up in the strength of divine grace, to answer the end of learning the judgments of God; which he did, not merely to have a notional knowledge of them, but to put them in practice; and not that he thought he could perfectly keep them, but was…

(ב) , BETH.—The Second Part. Ps. 119:9 BETH. Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way? &c.] Some think David means himself, and that he was a young man when he wrote this psalm; and which they think is confirmed by ; but neither of them seem conclusive; rather any young man is meant, and who is…

With my whole heart have I sought thee Not himself, his own honour and applause, as formal worshippers and self-righteous persons do; but the Lord and his glory, his face, his presence, and communion with him, his grace, and fresh supplies of it, to help in time of need; his doctrine, as the…

Thy word have I hid in mine heart Not only heard and read it, but received it into his affections; mixed it with faith, laid it up in his mind and memory for future use; preserved it in his heart as a choice treasure, where it might dwell richly, and be of service to him on many occasions; and…

Blessed art thou, O Lord In himself, in his nature, persons, and perfections; the fountain of all happiness to angels and men, in time and to eternity; to whom all blessing, honour, and glory, are to be given.

With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. ] Not the judgments of his hand, what he executes on an ungodly world; nor the intricate dispensations of his providence; those judgments of his now unsearchable, though before long will be manifest; these the psalmist could not declare:…

I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies The way which the Scriptures, that testify of God and Christ, direct unto; and the principal way is Christ himself, the only way of life and salvation; in which believers walk and go on rejoicing; rejoicing in his person, offices, grace, righteousness,…

I will meditate in thy precepts In his own mind; revolve them in his thoughts; consider well the nature, excellency, usefulness, and importance of them, and the obligations he lay under to observe them.

I will delight myself in thy statutes In looking over them; in meditating on them; in obeying them, and walking according to them; as every good man does delight in the law of the Lord, after the inward man, ; see (Ps. 119:24, Ps. 119:92, Ps.

(ג) , GIMEL.—The Third Part. Ps. 119:17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant Which character is mentioned, not by way of plea or argument for favour, but as expressive of modesty, sense of duty, and obligation to it.

Open thou mine eyes The eyes of my heart or understanding, as Kimchi; or, “reveal mine eyes” [[18]]; take off the veil from them: there is a veil of darkness and ignorance on the hearts of all men, with respect to divine and spiritual things; their understandings are darkened, yea, darkness itself.

I am a stranger in the earth As all his fathers were, and all the saints are; not to divine and spiritual things; to God, and communion with him; to Christ, and the knowledge of him; to the Spirit, and his operations in their hearts; to their own hearts, and the plague of them; to the Gospel, and…

My soul breaketh for the longing His heart was just ready to break, and his soul fainted; he was ready to die, through a vehement desire of enjoying the object longed for, after mentioned; “hope deferred makes the heart sick”, (Prov. 13:1, Prov.

Thou hast rebuked the proud Which some understand of the fallen angels, who, in proud wrath, left their habitations, because they would not be subject to the Son of God in human nature; wherefore he scattered them in the imaginations of their hearts, and cast down these mighty ones into hell, where…

Remove from me reproach and contempt Or, “roll it from me” [[19]]. It lay as a load, as a heavy burden upon him, which pressed him sore; and he therefore desired ease from it, being probably in a low frame of soul; otherwise saints do and should rejoice when reproached for Christ’s sake; and esteem…

Princes also did sit and speak against me The princes in the court of Saul, who suggested to him that David sought his hurt; the princes of his own court, Absalom, his own son, a prince of the blood, and Ahithophel, a counsellor of state: or the princes of the Gentiles, as Jarchi; so the princes of…

Thy testimonies also are my delight Or “delights” [[22]]; exceeding delightful to me. The whole of Scripture is so to a good man; he delights in the law of God, after the inward man; the Gospel is a joyful sound to him; the doctrines of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Christ, are…

(ד) DALETH.—The Fourth Part. Ps. 119:25 DALETH. My soul cleaveth unto the dust Either to the dust of death, having the sentence of it; being almost in despair of life, upon the brink of the grave seemingly, and free among the dead: or in a very low estate of mind, in great dejection and…

I have declared my ways That is, to the Lord; either the ways he had chose and desired to walk in, and not wander from, and therefore entreated help and assistance, guidance and direction, in them; or his sinful ways and actions, which he acknowledged and confessed, lamented and bewailed, and…

Make me to understand the way of thy precepts The meaning of them, to have a more comprehensive, clear, and distinct knowledge of them; and to be led into the way they direct unto, and walk therein; so shall I talk of thy wondrous works; the works of creation, providence, redemption, and grace;…

My soul melteth for heaviness Like wax before the sun or fire; or flows like water; drops [[0]], as the word signifies, and dissolves into tears, through grief and sorrow for sins committed; or by reason of Satan’s temptations, or divine desertions, or grievous troubles and afflictions; which cause…

Remove from me the way of lying Not the sin of lying to men, and a course of it, which David was not addicted to; but a “false way”, or “way of falsehood” [[1]]; as it may be rendered, and so the Targum; and is the same with what he expresses his abhorrence of, ; and is opposed to the way of truth…

I have chosen the way of truth Christ, who is the way and the truth, the true way to God and to eternal happiness; and to choose him is to choose the good part, which shall never be taken away; and which choice is made, not by the free will of man, as left to itself, but under the influence and by…

I have stuck unto thy testimonies The word of God, the Scriptures of truth, and the doctrines contained in them. These he closely adhered to, was glued unto them as it were; having firmly believed them, he steadfastly professed them; nor could he be moved from them by any temptations whatever,…

I will run the way of thy commandments Not only walk but run in it; which is expressive of great affection to the commands of God, of great readiness and cheerfulness, of great haste and swiftness in the way of them, and of great delight and pleasure therein; when thou shall enlarge my heart; with…

(ה) , HE.—The Fifth Part. Ps. 119:33 HE. Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes Which they point unto, and direct to walk in; not only the statutes and ordinances themselves, the theory of them, but the practice of them.

Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law A spiritual understanding; an understanding of the law, the perfection, purity, holiness, and spirituality of it; an understanding of the Gospel, and of Christ and the things of Christ; from whom grace and strength are to be had for the due observance…

Make me to go in the path of thy commandments Lead, guide, direct me in the path, and use me to it; work in me both to will and to do; give both ability and a willing mind to walk therein; by granting fresh supplies of grace, and more spiritual strength; by drawing with the cords of love, and by…

Incline my heart unto thy testimonies To read the word of God, to hear it opened and explained, to observe and keep the things contained in it; to which there is a disinclination in men naturally: but the Lord, who fashions the hearts of men, and has them in his hands, can bend and incline them by…

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity As the things of this world, the riches, honours, and pleasures of it, which are all vanity and vexation of spirit; and yet these catch the eye, and allure the heart: and all false doctrines, glided over with the specious pretence of truth; and all false…

Stablish thy word unto thy servant Either God’s word of promise, which never fails, is firm and stable in Christ; and the sense is, that God would assure him of the fulfilment of it, and give him a strong faith and firm belief of it; for otherwise the word of the Lord cannot be surer or more stable…

Turn away my reproach which I fear Either for the sake of religion, which was disagreeable to him; and he might be afraid it would be too heavy for him to bear, and be a temptation to him to forsake the good ways of God: or rather by reason of sin, which brings a reproach on good men; and causes…

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts After a greater degree of knowledge of them, and an opportunity of hearing them explained and enforced, and of yielding obedience to them; see (Ps. 119:7, Ps. 119:20, Ps. 119:27, Ps.

(ו) , VAU.—The Sixth Part. Ps. 119:41 VAU. Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord Meaning not his providential mercies, but his special mercies and favours; his mercies of old, which were upon his heart and thoughts from everlasting; the sure mercies of David, or the blessings of the everlasting…

So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me, &c.] Saying there is no help and salvation for him in God; asking where is his God, in whom he trusted? and where is the promise of salvation, on which he depended? To which an easy and ready answer might be given, when the mercies and…

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth The Scriptures, which are by divine inspiration, come from the God of truth, contain nothing but truth in them, and are called “the Scriptures of truth”, .

So shall I keep thy law continually Which denotes not the perfection of keeping the law, but the constancy of it: the psalmist was persuaded, that so long as he had the word of truth in his mouth, and the judgments of God in his view, he should be diligent and constant in the discharge of his duty,…

And I will walk at liberty Not in licentious way, but in Gospel liberty, under the influence of the free spirit; where is liberty, in the exercise of grace and discharge of duty.

I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings As very likely he did before Saul and his courtiers, before the king of Achish and the princes of the Philistines, when as yet he was not a king himself; and when he was come to the throne, such kings as came to visit him, instead of talking with…

And I will delight myself in thy commandments In perusing and practising them; which I have loved; a good man loves the law of God, and the commandments of Christ, and delights in them after the inward man.

My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved Showing by such a gesture his great esteem of them, and affection for them; stretching out his hands, and embracing them with both arms, as it were: and this being a praying gesture, , may signify his earnest desire and request…

(ז) , ZAIN.—The Seventh Part. Ps. 119:49 ZAIN. Remember the word unto thy servant The word of promise made unto him, concerning establishing his house and kingdom for ever; which he desires God would show himself mindful of in fulfilling it, and renew and confirm his faith in it, and give him some…

This is my comfort in my affliction David had his afflictions, and so has every good man; none are without; it is the will and pleasure of God that so it should be; and many are their afflictions, inward and outward: the word of God is often their comfort under them, the written word, heard or…

The proud have had me greatly in derision Profane sinners, proud and haughty scorners, that make a jest of religion, and scoff at everything serious and good: these derided the psalmist for his piety and religion, his principles and practices; in which he was a type of Christ, who was both the song…

I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord Either the judgments of God executed on wicked men; as the bringing a flood on the world of the ungodly; the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah; the destruction of Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea; the cutting off of the Canaanites, and dispossessing them of…

Horror hath taken hold upon me Trembling, sorrow, and distress, to a great degree, like a storm, or a blustering, scorching, burning wind, as the word [[7]] signifies, which is very terrible; because of the wicked that forsake thy law: not only transgress the law of the Lord, as every man does,…

Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. ] Meaning either his unsettled state, fleeing from place to place before Saul; or, literally, his house of cedar, his court and palace, which he considered no other than as an inn he had put into upon his travels homeward; or rather the…

I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night In the night of distress and affliction, as Jarchi; or rather literally, in the night season, when on his bed and awake: while others were asleep, he revolved in his mind the greatness of the divine Being; the perfections of his nature; his wonderful…

This I had, because I kept thy precepts. ] Either the comfort he had from the word, the pleasure and delight he had in it, being his songs in his pilgrimage, (Ps. 119:50, Ps.

(ח) , CHETH.—The Eighth Part. Ps. 119:57 CHETH. Thou art my portion, O Lord Which he chose and preferred to all others; to the riches, honours, and profits of this world; the grant of which was made to him in the covenant of grace; the first discovery of it was from the Lord himself; and the choice…

I entreated thy favour with my whole heart Or, “thy face” [[11]]; to see it; or thy presence, to enjoy it; to have communion with God, and the light of his countenance; than which nothing is more desirable and delightful to a gracious man: as also to be remembered with the special favour of God, in…

I thought on my ways What they were, whether right or wrong; whither they led, what would be the consequences of walking in them: the Septuagint and Arabic versions read, “thy ways”; no doubt the psalmist thought of both; of his own ways, in which he had walked; and of God’s ways, which he directed…

I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. ] As soon as he was sensible of his duty, he immediately complied with it; he consulted not with flesh and blood, but at once yielded a cheerful obedience to the commands of God.

The bands of the wicked have robbed me Very probably Saul and his ministers seized on his effects, when he fled from him; and the Amalekites plundered him of all his substance, when they took Ziklag; and Absalom and the conspirators with him robbed him, when he was obliged, because of them, to flee…

At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee Not only send up an ejaculatory thanksgiving upon his bed, but rise up from it and shake off his sleep, and in a set, serious, solemn manner, praise the Lord.

I am a companion of all them that fear thee Not of the rich and mighty, much less of the wicked and ungodly; but of such who had the true fear of God upon their hearts, and before their eyes; who feared the Lord and his goodness, and truly served and worshipped him; even “all” of these, whether…

The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy “Goodness” or “grace” [[13]]; both of the providential mercy and goodness of God, which extends to all his creatures; and of his special grace and goodness to his own people, held forth in his word and ordinances; see ; teach me thy statutes: as an instance…

(ט) , TETH.—The Ninth Part. Ps. 119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant In a providential way, ever since he had a being; by the protection and preservation of him, by following and loading him with benefits, by raising him from a low estate to the throne of Israel, by delivering him…

Teach me good judgment and knowledge Or, “a good taste” [[14]]: of the Lord himself, how good and gracious he is; of his grace and love, which is better than wine; of his word and the truths of it, which are sweeter to a spiritual taste than honey or the honeycomb; and of the things of the Spirit…

Before I was afflicted, I went astray From God; from his word, his ways and worship; like a lost sheep from the shepherd, the fold, the flock, and the footsteps of it; see ; Not that he wilfully, wickedly, maliciously, and through contempt, departed from his God; this he denies, ; but through the…

Thou art good, and doest good Essentially, originally, and only good, and the fountain of all goodness to his creatures; who does good to all men in a providential way, and especially to his own people; to whom he is good in a way of special grace and mercy, in and through his Son Jesus Christ; and…

The proud have forged a lie against me Or, “sewed a lie to him” [[16]]; fastened a lie upon him, or sewed and added one lie to another. Either with respect to politics, as the proud and haughty courtiers of Saul, who represented David to him as a traitor, that had treasonable designs against him to…

Their heart is as fat as grease Or tallow, a lump of it, fat or grease congealed. That is, the heart of the above proud persons, who abounded in riches, were glutted with the things of this world; had more than heart could wish, and so became proud and haughty: or their hearts were gross, sottish,…

It is good for me that I have been afflicted The good and profit of which he had observed before; (See Gill on Ps. 119:67). The following end being also answered thereby, that I might learn thy statutes; to understand them, and to keep them.

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. ] The word of God, the doctrines contained in it; which, coming out of the mouth of God, and spoken by him, carries in it weight and authority, commands reverence and respect; and ought to be considered as indeed the word of…

(י) , JOD.—The Tenth Part. Ps. 119:73 JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me Not the psalmist himself, nor his parents, but the Lord alone: for though parents are fathers of our flesh, they are but instruments in the hand of the Lord; though man is produced by natural generation, yet the…

They that fear thee will be glad when they see me In outward prosperity, delivered from all troubles, set on the throne of Israel, and at rest from all enemies round about: and in spiritual prosperity, being illuminated by the Spirit of God, having a spiritual understanding of divine things, an…

I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right His word, the doctrines and precepts of it, they are all consistent with the holiness and righteousness of God; and so are his judgments on wicked men, they are righteous, just, and true: God is righteous in all his ways, there is no unrighteousness in…

Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, &c.] Shown in the provision and promise of a Saviour; in the forgiveness of sins through him; a discovery and application of which yields comfort under afflictions; according to thy word unto servant; a word of promise, in which he had…

Let thy tender mercies come unto me (See Gill on Ps. 119:41); that I may live; not merely corporeally; though corporeal life is a grant and favour, and the continuance of it; it is owing to the tender mercies of God that men are not consumed: but spiritually; the first principle of spiritual life…

Let the proud be ashamed The same persons he before speaks of as accursed, who had him in derision, and forged a lie against him. Here he prays that they might be ashamed of their scoffs and jeers, of their lies and calumnies, the evils and injuries they had done him; that they might be brought to…

Let those that fear thee turn unto me Whose companion he was fond of being, ; There were some good men, it seems, that turned from him, took the part of his enemies, and sided with them against him, which was matter of grief to him.

Let my heart be found in thy statutes Or “perfect”, and sincere: he desires that he might have a sincere regard to the ways and worship, ordinances and commands, of God; that he might have a cordial affection for them, and observe them, not in show and appearance only, but heartily as to the Lord,…

(כ) , CAPH.—The Eleventh Part. Ps. 119:81 CAPH. My soul fainteth for thy salvation, Either for temporal salvation and deliverance from enemies; which, being promised, was expected by him from the Lord; but not coming so soon as looked for, his spirits began to sink and faint: or for spiritual and…

Mine eyes fail for thy word Either with looking for the Messiah, the essential Word, that was to be, and afterwards was made flesh, and dwelt among men; or for the fulfilment of the word of promise, on which he was made to hope; but that being deferred; and he believing in hope against hope, and…

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke Like a bottle made of the skins of beasts, as was usual in those times and countries: hence we read of old and new bottles, and of their rending, .

How many are the days of thy servant? &c.] If this is to be understood of the days of his life, they were very few, as the days of every man be; and if of his days of joy and comfort, peace and prosperity, they were fewer still; but if of days of adversity and affliction, which seems to be the…

The proud have digged pits for me Laid snares and temptations in his way, to draw him into sin, and so into mischief; they sought indeed to take away his life, and formed schemes for it.

All thy commandments are faithful Or, “faithfulness” they persecute me wrongfully; without a cause, purely out of ill will and for religion’s sake; which, as it is an argument with the saints to bear persecution patiently, it is used as an argument with the Lord, to arise and appear on the behalf…

They had almost consumed me upon earth Almost destroyed his good name, wasted his substance, took away his crown and kingdom, and even his life; it was within a little of it, his soul had almost dwelt in silence; they had almost cast him down to the ground, and left him there.

Quicken me after thy lovingkindness According to it, and with it; let me have some discoveries of it, and of interest in it; and that will quicken me, revive and comfort me, under all the reproaches, ill usage, and persecutions of men.

(ל) , LAMED.—The Twelfth Part. Ps. 119:89 LAMED. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. ] The Syriac version makes two propositions of these words, rendering them thus, “for ever thou art, O Lord; and thy word stands”, or “is firm in heaven”: and which agrees with the accents: the first…

Thy faithfulness is unto all generations Or “to generation and generation” [[23]]; to his people in every age, fulfilling his word, supplying their wants, giving them new mercies every morning and every day; never leaving and forsaking them, according to his promise: his faithfulness never fails,…

They continue this day according to thine ordinances That is, the heavens and the earth do, before mentioned, just as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Unless thy law had been my delights Not the law of works, the voice of words, which they that heard entreated they might hear no more; which is terrible, and works wrath in the conscience; is a cursing and damning law to the transgressors of it; and so not delightful, unless as considered in the…

I will never forget thy precepts Not the precepts of the moral law, though he carefully observed and attended to them, laid them up in his mind, and did not forget to keep them; but the doctrines of the word, of the word which the Lord commanded to a thousand generations; these he endeavoured to…

I am thine, save me From all troubles and afflictions; from all enemies, temporal and spiritual; from Satan, and his principalities and powers, from sin, and all the wretched consequences of it; from hell wrath, and damnations: salvation from all which is by Christ.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me This is another reason why he desires the Lord would save him; because wicked men, such who feared not God, nor regarded men, sons of Belial; such as Saul’s courtiers and the conspirators with Absalom were, had laid wait and were waiting an opportunity,…

gVer. 96. I have seen an end of all perfection An end, limit, or border, to every country, as the Syriac version; as there is to every kingdom and state, and to the whole world; but none to the commandment of God: or an end of all created beings, the finished works of God, the most perfect in their…

(מ) , MEM.—The Thirteenth Part. Ps. 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! &c.] The whole word of God, the preceptive part of it; the commands of the moral law, which are holy, just, and good, and to be loved: but they are not loved by carnal men, whose minds are enmity to them, and therefore are not…

Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies David had his enemies, as every good man has: and these are often cunning and crafty ones, at least in wickedness; many of them are wise and prudent as to natural things, wiser in worldly things and political matters than the…

I have more understanding than all my teachers Such as had been or would have been his teachers, who were bad ones in religious matters; especially such might be the religious teachers in Saul’s time, when David was a young man: as the priests, whose lips should keep knowledge, and deliver it to…

I understand more than the ancients Than those that had lived in ages before him; having clearer light given him, and larger discoveries made unto him, concerning the Messiah, his person and offices particularly, as it was usual for the Lord to do; or than aged men in his own time: for though…

I have refrained my feet from every evil way Of error or immorality, forbidden and condemned by the word of God; every way that is evil in itself, or leads to evil, and in which evil men walk; and though there may be many snares and temptations to walk in such a way, yet a good man cannot allow…

I have not departed from thy judgments From the precepts of the word, from the ways and worship and ordinances of God; he had not wickedly and on purpose departed from them; whenever he did, it was through inadvertency, the weakness of the flesh, and strength of temptation; nor from the doctrines…

How sweet are thy words unto my taste! &c.] Who had a spiritual one; and could discern perverse things, and could taste how good and gracious the Lord is: and so his words were sweet unto him; the doctrines of grace, the truths of the Gospel, were delightful and pleasant to him; like unadulterated…

Through thy precepts I get understanding Of the will of God; of his worship, the nature and manner of it; of his ordinances, their use and importance; and of his doctrines, and the excellency of them; therefore I hate every false way; of worship; all superstition and will worship, the commandments…

(נ) , NUN.—The Fourteenth Part. Ps. 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet The same Solomon says of the law and commandment, the preceptive part of the word, ; and the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it “law” here.

I have sworn, and I will perform it Or, “I have performed it” [[7]]. The psalmist had not only taken up a resolution in his mind, but he had openly declared with his mouth, and professed in a solemn manner, that he would serve the Lord; he had sworn allegiance to him as his King, and, through…

I am afflicted very much In a temporal sense, in his body, in his family, and by his enemies; in a spiritual sense, with the corruptions of his heart, with the temptations of Satan, and with the hidings of God’s face; and what with one thing or another, he was pressed above measure, and his spirits…

Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord Not sacrifices out of his flocks and herds, such as were the voluntary and freewill offerings brought to the priests under the law, though there may be an allusion to them; nor out of his substance, such as David and his people…

My soul is continually in my hand In the utmost jeopardy, always exposed to danger, ever delivered unto death; killed all the day long, or liable to be so: this is the sense of the phrase; see ; for what is in a man’s hands may easily fall, or be taken out of them: so the Targum, “my soul is in…

The wicked have laid a snare for me To draw him into sin, and so into mischief; and even to take away his life, as they are said to dig pits for him, ; yet I erred not from thy precepts: not wilfully and wickedly, though through inadvertence and infirmity, as he often did, and every good man does;…

Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever The Scriptures, which testify of Christ and of his grace, and of the mind and will of God, are a portion of themselves; and a goodly heritage they are, better than thousands of gold and silver, preferable to all worldly inheritances; as they have…

I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, &c.] He had prayed to God to incline his heart to them, ; and by the grace of God his heart was inclined to obedience to them; and nothing but that can incline the heart, which is naturally averse unto them: the carnal mind is not subject to…

(ס) , SAMECH.—The Fifteenth Part. Ps. 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts Or thoughts: evil thoughts are undoubtedly meant, no other can be the object of hatred to a good man; they are such as are contrary to the law of God, and forbidden by it, mentioned in the next clause as the object of love,…

Thou art my hiding place From temporal calamities. The perfections of God are chambers of retreat and safety to his people, where they may hide themselves and be safe, till such calamities are over, .

Depart from me, ye evildoers The same with the evil thinkers, ; According to Aben Ezra, they that think evil commonly do it; as they devise it, they commit it.

Uphold me according unto thy word In thy ways, that my footsteps slip not; in thine arms, and with the right hand of thy righteousness, from fainting and sinking under difficulties and discouragements, in trying circumstances; and from slipping and sliding out of the way of God; and from a total…

Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe As all are, and none but such, who are in the hands of Christ; enclosed in the arms of everlasting love, upheld with the right hand of Jehovah, supported by his promises and grace, surrounded by his power, sustained by his love, and preserved in Christ Jesus;…

Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes, &c.] That wander from the way of the Lord’s commandments; that deviate from his precepts, go astray constantly and wilfully; a people that err in their hearts, and with all their hearts.

Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross, &c.] Which is of no worth and value, useless and unprofitable; which is cast into the fire, and separated from the choice metal.

My flesh trembleth for fear of thee Not for fear of the wrath of God coming down upon himself, nor for fear of eternal damnation; but for fear of what was coming upon the wicked, for their sins and transgressions.

(ע) , AIN.—The Sixteenth Part. Ps. 119:121 AIN. I have done judgment and justice As king of Israel; which is the character given of him, ; and in which he was a type of Christ, ; and as a private person; which is everyone’s duty, and every good man especially will be desirous of performing it: it…

Be surety for thy servant for good The psalmist was, in a like case with Hezekiah, oppressed; and therefore desires the Lord would undertake for him, appear on his side, and defend him, ; and if God himself is the surety of his people, and engages in their behalf, they need fear no enemy.

Mine eyes fail for that salvation For temporal salvation or deliverance from oppressors; and for spiritual salvation, for views of an interest in it, the joys and comforts of it; and for the Messiah, the author of it; whom he was looking wistfully for, but, not coming so soon as expected, his eyes…

Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy Which is either general and providential, and reaches to all his creatures; and according to which David had been dealt with all his days, and which he desires a continuance of: or special; and which is in Christ, and communicated through him; and in…

I am thy servant Not only by creation, but by grace; and as he had a work to do, he desires to know what it was; and as it was proper he should know his Master’s will, he applies to him for it; using this as an argument, that he was his servant, devoted to his service, and willing to perform it to…

It is time for thee, Lord, to work To send the Messiah, to work righteousness; to fulfil the law, and vindicate the honour of it, broken by men. It was always a notion of the Jews that the time of the Messiah’s coming would be when it was a time of great wickedness in the earth; and which seems to…

Therefore I love thy commandments Because he was the Lord’s servant, as Aben Ezra; or rather because the wicked made void the law. His love was the more inflamed and increased towards it by the contempt it was had in by others; he preferred it above gold, yea, above fine gold; or gold of Phez, a…

Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right He had an impartial regard to all the commandments of God; and valued one as well as another, and walked according to all of them; making no difference either in his affection or practice between one and another, as being more or…

(פ) , PE.—The Seventeenth Part. Ps. 119:129 PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them.

The entrance of thy words giveth light The beginning of them; the first three chapters in Genesis, what light do they give into the origin of all things; the creation of man, his state of innocence; his fall through the temptations of Satan, and his recovery and salvation by Christ, the seed of the…

I opened my mouth, and panted As a person out of breath does, through walking or running; he stops and pants, and opens his mouth, to draw in air to his relief: or as hungry and thirsty persons pant for food and drink, and open their mouths to receive it, before it can well be brought to them.

Look thou upon me Not as in himself; a sinful creature will not bear looking upon by the Lord, especially with the strict eye of justice; but as in Christ, and clothed with his righteousness; and so not merely in a providential way, though that is a favour, but in a way of special grace and mercy.

Order my steps in thy word Or, “by thy word” [[17]], or “according” to it. Which is the rule of practice and action, as well as of faith; and happy are they who walk according to the directions of it; but it is not in the power of man to order and direct his steps: this is done by the Lord; and…

Deliver me from the oppression of man Of any man, of proud and haughty men, as in ; the psalmist always desired rather to fall into the hands of God than into the hands of wicked men, whose tender mercies are cruel.

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant That is, lift up the light of thy countenance on me; favour me with thy gracious presence, and communion with thyself; manifest thyself unto me, and shed abroad thy love in my heart; cause the sun of righteousness to arise upon me, and commune with me, from…

Rivers of waters run down mine eyes That is, “out of” them; as the Syriac version: or, “mine eyes let down rivers of waters” [[18]]; see ; that is, an abundance of tears, which flowed like a river; an hyperbolical expression, setting forth the excessiveness of grief.

(צ) , TZADDI.—The Eighteenth Part. Ps. 119:137 TZADDI. Righteous art thou, O Lord Essentially, originally, and of himself; naturally, immutably, and universally, in all his ways and works of nature and grace; in his thoughts, purposes, counsels, and decrees; in all the dispensations of his…

Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous, &c.] The Scriptures are holy, just, and good; and what is contained in them are according to godliness; are for instruction in righteousness, and teach men to live soberly, righteously, and godly; and very faithful; or “true” [[19]]: all the…

My zeal hath consumed me Zeal for God and his glory, for his word and ordinances and worship; which is a fervour of the mind, burning love, and flaming affections for God, shown in a holy indignation against sin and sinners.

Thy word is very pure Or, “exceedingly purified” [[21]]: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times, ; free from, all drossy matter; from any mixtures, or the corruptions and doctrines of men; and which tends and leads to purity of heart and life; therefore thy servant loveth it;…

I am small and despised Or, “I have been” [[22]]. Some versions render it “young” [[23]]; as if it had respect to the time of his anointing by Samuel, when he was overlooked and despised in his father’s family, ; but the word here used is not expressive of age, but of state, condition, and…

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness Or, “is for ever” [[24]]. The rectitude of his nature, his faithfulness in his promises, and his kindness and beneficence to his people; and particularly the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel; the righteousness of his Son, which he…

Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me Or, “found me” [[0]]. Outward troubles and inward distress; troubles arising from his enemies, the men of the world, that hated and persecuted him; and from a body of sin and death, from the temptations of Satan, and divine desertions; some from without,…

The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting Or, “for ever” [[1]]. The righteousness which they require, or which they publish; the righteousness revealed in the Gospel, which is the righteousness of Christ; (See Gill on Ps.

(ק) , KOPH.—The Nineteenth Part. Ps. 119:145 KOPH. I cried with my whole heart Prayer is often expressed by crying; which sometimes signifies mental, and sometimes vocal prayer; and generally supposes the person praying to be in distress, either outward or inward.

I cried unto thee; save me In his distress he cried and prayed to the Lord; and this was a principal and leading petition, that he would “save” him out of all his troubles and afflictions, and out of the hands of all his enemies; and with a temporal, spiritual, and eternal salvation which he knew…

I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried That is, he awoke and got up, and prayed, before the day broke, the morning looked forth, or the sun arose: he was early as well as earnest in his supplications to God; see ; as Christ, his antitype, rose early in the morning, a great while before…

Mine eyes prevent the night watches The Targum is, “the morning and evening watches.” There were three of them; Kimchi interprets it of the second and third; the meaning is, that the psalmist was awake and employed in one religious exercise or another, praying, reading, or meditating; either before…

Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness Not according to his own merits and deserts, or works of righteousness done by him, for the sake of which he did not present his supplications to God; nor according to his love to him, which often waxed cold, and he in a poor lukewarm frame of spirit;…

They draw nigh that follow after mischief Or “evil” [[2]]; that which is sinful in itself, and injurious to others. Some cannot sleep unless they do mischief; they are bent upon it, and proceed from evil to evil: they are eager in their pursuit of it, as the huntsman after his sport, to which the…

Thou art near, O Lord This was the comfort of the psalmist, that though his enemies drew nigh with a mischievous design upon him, yet his God was also near, and nearer than they; he was near as to relation to him, being his God and Father; near as to union, the bond of which is his everlasting…

Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old Or, “from thy testimonies, I have known of old” [[3]]: by carefully reading the Scriptures which testify of God, his mind an will, and frequently meditating on them, he had learned a long time ago, even from his youth, what follows, that thou hast…

(ר) , RESH.—The Twentieth Part. Ps. 119:153 RESH. Consider mine affliction, and deliver me Or, “look upon mine affliction” [[4]]; as in . The Lord seems as if he did not, when he does not grant his gracious presence to his people; or does not arise to the help and deliverance of them so soon as…

Plead my cause, and deliver me This shows that his affliction was chiefly from men, wicked, ungodly, and unreasonable men; such as were Saul and his courtiers, and a whole ungodly nation: his cause was a good one, and therefore he puts it into the hand of the Lord, and who otherwise would not have…

Salvation is far from the wicked Christ, the author of salvation, is far from them: he was far from the unbelieving Jews, even though salvation was of them, and he, the Saviour, was among them; and he is far from all unconverted persons, as to knowledge of him, faith in him, or love to him; and…

Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord Not his providential mercies only, which are many and undeserved, and constantly repeated; but his special mercies in Christ, which flow from the tenderness of his heart; and his merciful lovingkindness to his people, and which are great or many [[5]], as to…

Many are my persecutors and mine enemies Because they were his enemies, therefore they were his persecutors; and they became enemies to him, or hated him, because of his religion, and on that account persecuted him: and this has always been the lot and case of God’s people in all ages; and whose…

I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved Transgressors of the law of God, profane sinners; such as among whom he dwelt in Mesech and Kedar; it grieved him when he beheld their wicked life and conversation; as Lot in Sodom; and Isaiah and Jeremiah, among persons of unclean lips, and an assembly…

Consider how I love thy precepts How ardently and affectionately, how cordially and sincerely, (Ps. 119:127, Ps. 119:128) ; and that was the reason why he was so grieved and distressed when wicked men transgressed and despised them; quicken me, O Lord, according to thy loving kindness; (See Gill on…

Thy word is true from the beginning Every word of promise God made from the beginning of the world, and in any period of time; as to Adam, to Abraham, to the Israelites, or to any other person or persons; was true in itself, and faithfully performed, not one ever failed; particularly the promise…

(ש) , SCHIN.—The Twenty-first Part. Ps. 119:161 SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause These were either the princes of the Philistines at the court of Achish; or the princes of Israel, who joined in the conspiracy with Absalom; or the princes in Saul’s court, as Kimchi observes; who…

I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. ] At having it, which is a distinguishing blessing; all are not favoured with it; and is an inestimable treasure, a field in which a treasure lies; which those that find rejoice at, and especially at the understanding of it, as Kimchi notes:…

I hate and abhor lying The sin of lying in common conversation, which owes its rise to Satan, the father of lies; is common to human nature, though very dishonourable to it; exceeding unbecoming a professor of religion; and was greatly hated by David, as it ought to be by all good men, .

Seven times a day do I praise thee That is, very often in a day; not a day passed over his head but he praised the Lord, and often in the day; so the phrase “seven times” is used, .

Great peace have they which love thy law The Targum adds, “in this world.” Great prosperity, especially prosperity of soul, inward peace, peace of conscience, peace in Christ, and from him, flowing from his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice, and a view of interest therein; which is usually…

Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation Either temporal salvation and deliverance from enemies, and from afflictions, which God had promised, and therefore he had reason to hope for; or spiritual and eternal salvation, resolved on in the mind of God, provided in covenant, promised to be wrought out by…

My soul hath kept thy testimonies The word of God, which he kept cordially and heartily; and in his heart, laid it up there; and with his whole soul observed the doctrines and kept the precepts of it; and I love them exceedingly; and kept them from a principle of love, and not with mercenary and…

I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies Both the preceptive and doctrinal part of the word, he preserved and observed both; this is repeated for the certainty of it, and to show his great affection to them; for all my ways are before thee; this is either an appeal to God for the truth of what…

(ת) , TAU.—The Twenty-second and last Part. Ps. 119:169 TAU. Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord Not “my praise”, as the Syriac version; but “my prayer”, put up in great distress, and with great vehemence and importunity; see (Ps. 119:145, Ps.

Let my supplication come before thee The same with his “cry” in ; only expressed by another word, signifying a petition for grace and favour, in an humble and submissive manner; which it is entreated might be received and accepted, as before; deliver me according to thy word; of promise, such as…

My lips shall utter praise Like water flowing from a fountain, as the word [[11]] signifies. The heart of a good man is like a fountain of water, abounding: with good things, and his mouth is a well of life; out of the abundance of grace and good things in his heart his mouth speaks, (Matt.

My tongue shall speak of thy word Of the word of God in general; of the truth of it, which he knew by certain experience; of the purity of it, tending to promote holiness of heart and life; of the power and efficacy of it, enlightening his mind, and working effectually in him; of the profit of it,…

Let thine hand help me Let thine hand of power help me against mine enemies, and deliver me from them; and let thine hand of providence and grace communicate to me, and supply me with and help me to everything needful for me, for body and soul; for time and eternity, all grace here, and glory…

I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord For temporal salvation and deliverance from enemies; and for spiritual and eternal salvation by the Messiah; and for the Messiah himself, the author of it: Kimchi interprets it of the salvation of the soul in the world to come; see ; and thy law is my…

Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee The psalmist desires the continuance of his natural life, not for his own personal advantage, nor for the sake of his family, nor with any worldly, sinister, and selfish views; but for the glory of God, and for the sake of praising him: or his desire is,…

I have gone astray like a lost sheep In desert places, as it is the nature of sheep to do [[13]]. A sheep he was, a sheep of Christ, given him by the Father; known by him, and that knew him; knew his voice, and followed him; a sheep of his hand, and of his pasture; one of the lost sheep of the…