87 They had almost H4592 consumed H3615 me upon earth; H776 but I forsook H5800 not thy precepts. H6490
And David H1732 sware H7650 moreover, and said, H559 Thy father H1 certainly H3045 knoweth H3045 that I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thine eyes; H5869 and he saith, H559 Let not Jonathan H3083 know H3045 this, lest he be grieved: H6087 but truly H199 as the LORD H3068 liveth, H2416 and as thy soul H5315 liveth, H2416 there is but a step H6587 between me and death. H4194
And Saul H7586 went H3212 on this side H6654 of the mountain, H2022 and David H1732 and his men H582 on that side H6654 of the mountain: H2022 and David H1732 made haste H2648 to get away H3212 for fear H6440 of Saul; H7586 for Saul H7586 and his men H582 compassed H5849 David H1732 and his men H582 round about H5849 to take H8610 them. But there came H935 a messenger H4397 unto Saul, H7586 saying, H559 Haste H4116 thee, and come; H3212 for the Philistines H6430 have invaded H6584 the land. H776
And he said H559 unto his men, H582 The LORD H3068 forbid H2486 that I should do H6213 this thing H1697 unto my master, H113 the LORD'S H3068 anointed, H4899 to stretch forth H7971 mine hand H3027 against him, seeing he is the anointed H4899 of the LORD. H3068 So David H1732 stayed H8156 his servants H582 with these words, H1697 and suffered H5414 them not to rise H6965 against Saul. H7586 But Saul H7586 rose up H6965 out of the cave, H4631 and went H3212 on his way. H1870
And David H1732 said H559 to Abishai, H52 Destroy H7843 him not: for who can stretch forth H7971 his hand H3027 against the LORD'S H3068 anointed, H4899 and be guiltless? H5352
And, behold, as thy life H5315 was much set by H1431 this day H3117 in mine eyes, H5869 so let my life H5315 be much set by H1431 in the eyes H5869 of the LORD, H3068 and let him deliver H5337 me out of all tribulation. H6869
Now therefore send H7971 quickly, H4120 and tell H5046 David, H1732 saying, H559 Lodge H3885 not this night H3915 in the plains H6160 H5679 of the wilderness, H4057 but speedily H5674 pass over; H5674 lest the king H4428 be swallowed up, H1104 and all the people H5971 that are with him.
The proud H2086 have had me greatly H3966 in derision: H3887 yet have I not declined H5186 from thy law. H8451
The bands H2256 of the wicked H7563 have robbed H5749 me: but I have not forgotten H7911 thy law. H8451
Yet they seek H1875 me daily, H3117 H3117 and delight H2654 to know H1847 my ways, H1870 as a nation H1471 that did H6213 righteousness, H6666 and forsook H5800 not the ordinance H4941 of their God: H430 they ask H7592 of me the ordinances H4941 of justice; H6664 they take delight H2654 in approaching H7132 to God. H430
And G2532 fear G5399 G575 not G3361 them which G3588 kill G615 the body, G4983 but G1161 are G1410 not G3361 able G1410 to kill G615 the soul: G5590 but G1161 rather G3123 fear G5399 him which G3588 is able G1410 to destroy G622 both G2532 soul G5590 and G2532 body G4983 in G1722 hell. G1067
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Psalms 119
Commentary on Psalms 119 Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalm 119
The great esteem and affection David had for the word of God is the more admirable considering how little he had of it, in comparison with what we have, no more perhaps in writing than the first books of Moses, which were but the dawning of this day, which may shame us who enjoy the full discoveries of divine revelation and yet are so cold towards it.
In singing this psalm there is work for all the devout affections of a sanctified soul, so copious, so various, is the matter of it. We here find that in which we must give glory to God both as our ruler and great benefactor, that in which we are to teach and admonish ourselves and one another (so many are the instructions which we here find about a religious life), and that in which we are to comfort and encourage ourselves and one another, so many are the sweet experiences of one that lived such a life. Here is something or other to suit the case of every Christian. Is any afflicted? Is any merry? Each will find that here which is proper for him. And it is so far from being a tedious repetition of the same thing, as may seem to those who look over it cursorily, that, if we duly meditate upon it, we shall find almost every verse has a new thought and something in it very lively. And this, as many other of David's psalms, teaches us to be sententious in our devotions, both alone and when others join with us; for, ordinarily, the affections, especially of weaker Christians, are more likely to be raised and kept by short expressions, the sense of which lies in a little compass, than by long and laboured periods.
1. ALEPH.
Psa 119:1-3
The psalmist here shows that godly people are happy people; they are, and shall be, blessed indeed. Felicity is the thing we all pretend to aim at and pursue. He does not say here wherein it consists; it is enough for us to know what we must do and be that we may attain to it, and that we are here told. All men would be happy, but few take the right way; God has here laid before us the right way, which we may be sure will end in happiness, though it be strait and narrow. Blessednesses are to the righteous; all manner of blessedness. Now observe the characters of the happy people. Those are happy,
Psa 119:4-6
We are here taught,
Psa 119:7-8
Here is,
2. BETH.
Psa 119:9
Here is,
Psa 119:10
Here is,
Psa 119:11
Here is,
Psa 119:12
Here,
Psa 119:13-16
Here,
3. GIMEL.
Psa 119:17
We are here taught,
Psa 119:18
Observe here,
Psa 119:19
Here we have,
Psa 119:20
David had prayed that God would open his eyes (v. 18) and open the law (v. 19); now here he pleads the earnestness of his desire for knowledge and grace, for it is the fervent prayer that avails much.
Psa 119:21
Here is,
Psa 119:22
Here,
Psa 119:23
See here,
Psa 119:24
Here David explains his meditating in God's statutes (v. 23), which was of such use to him when princes sat and spoke against him.
4. DALETH.
Psa 119:25
Here is,
Psa 119:26-27
We have here,
Psa 119:28-29
Here is,
Psa 119:30-32
Observe,
5. HE.
Psa 119:33-34
Here,
Psa 119:35-36
He had before prayed to God to enlighten his understanding, that he might know his duty, and not mistake concerning it; here he prays to God to bow his will, and quicken the active powers of his soul, that he might do his duty; for it is God that works in us both to will and to do, as well as to understand, what is good, Phil. 2:13. Both the good head and the good heart are from the good grace of God, and both are necessary to every good work. Observe here,
Psa 119:37
Here,
Psa 119:38
Here is
Psa 119:39
Here,
Psa 119:40
Here,
6. VAU.
Psa 119:41-42
Here is,
Psa 119:43-44
Here is,
Psa 119:45-48
We may observe in these verses,
7. ZAIN.
Psa 119:49
Two things David here pleads with God in prayer for that mercy and grace which he hoped for, according to the word, by which his requests were guided:-
Psa 119:50
Here is David's experience of benefit by the word.
Psa 119:51
David here tells us, and it will be of use to us to know it,
Psa 119:52
When David was derided for his godliness he not only held fast his integrity, but,
Psa 119:53
Here is,
Psa 119:54
Here is,
Psa 119:55-56
Here is,
8. CHETH.
Psa 119:57
We may hence gather the character of a godly man.
Psa 119:58
David, having in the foregoing verse reflected upon his covenants with God, here reflects upon his prayers to God, and renews his petition. Observe,
Psa 119:59-60
David had said he would keep God's word (v. 57), and it was well said; now here he tells us how and in what method he pursued that resolution.
Psa 119:61
Here is,
Psa 119:62
Though David is, in this psalm, much in prayer, yet he did not neglect the duty of thanksgiving; for those that pray much will have much to give thanks for. See,
Psa 119:63
David had often expressed the great love he had to God; here he expresses the great love he had to the people of God; and observe,
Psa 119:64
Here,
9. TETH.
Psa 119:65-66
Here,
Psa 119:67
David here tells us what he had experienced,
Psa 119:68
Here,
Psa 119:69-70
David here tells us how he was affected as to the proud and wicked people that were about him.
Psa 119:71
See here,
Psa 119:72
This is a reason why David reckoned that when by his afflictions he learned God's statutes, an the profit did so much counterbalance the loss, he was really a gainer by them; for God's law, which he got acquaintance with by his affliction, was better to him than all the gold and silver which he lost by his affliction.
10. JOD.
Psa 119:73
Here,
Psa 119:74
Here is,
Psa 119:75
Still David is in affliction, and being so he owns,
Psa 119:76-77
Here is,
Psa 119:78-79
Here David shows,
Psa 119:80
Here is,
11. CAPH.
Psa 119:81-82
Here we have the psalmist,
Psa 119:83
David begs God would make haste to comfort him,
Psa 119:84
Here,
Psa 119:85-87
David's state was herein a type and figure of the state both of Christ and Christians that he was grievously persecuted; as there are many of his psalms, so there are many of the verses of this psalm, which complain of this, as those here. Here observe,
Psa 119:88
Here is,
12. LAMED.
Psa 119:89-91
Here,
Psa 119:92
Here is,
Psa 119:93
Here is,
Psa 119:94
Here,
Psa 119:95
Here,
Psa 119:96
Here we have David's testimony from his own experience,
13. MEM.
Psa 119:97
Here is,
Psa 119:98-100
We have here an account of David's learning, not that of the Egyptians, but of the Israelites indeed.
Psa 119:101
Here is,
Psa 119:102
Here is,
Psa 119:103-104
Here is,
14. NUN.
Psa 119:105
Observe here,
Psa 119:106
Here is,
Psa 119:107
Here is,
Psa 119:108
Two things we are here taught to pray for, in reference to our religious performances:-
Psa 119:109-110
Here is,
Psa 119:111-112
The psalmist here in a most affectionate manner, like an Israelite indeed, resolves to stick to the word of God and to live and die by it.
15. SAMECH.
Psa 119:113
Here we have,
Psa 119:114
Here is,
Psa 119:115
Here is,
Psa 119:116-117
Here,
Psa 119:118-120
Here is,
16. AIN.
Psa 119:121-122
David here appeals to God,
Psa 119:123
David, being oppressed, is here waiting and wishing for the salvation of the Lord, which would make him easy.
Psa 119:124-125
Here is,
Psa 119:126
Here is,
Psa 119:127-128
David here, as often in this psalm, professes the great love he had to the word and law of God; and, to evidence the sincerity of it, observe,
17. PE.
Psa 119:129
See here how David was affected towards the word of God.
Psa 119:130
Here is,
Psa 119:131
Here is,
Psa 119:132
Here is,
Psa 119:133
Here David prays for two great spiritual blessings, and is, in this verse, as earnest for the good work of God in him as, in the verse before, for the good-will of God towards him. He prays,
Psa 119:134
Here,
Psa 119:135
David here, as often as elsewhere, writes himself God's servant, a title he gloried in, though he was a king; now here, as became a good servant,
Psa 119:136
Here we have David in sorrow.
18. TZADDI.
Psa 119:137-138
Here is,
Psa 119:139
Here is,
Psa 119:140
Here is,
Psa 119:141
Here is,
Psa 119:142
Observe,
Psa 119:143-144
These two verses are almost a repetition of the two foregoing verses, but with improvement.
19. KOPH.
Psa 119:145-146
Here we have,
Psa 119:147-148
David goes on here to relate how he had abounded in the duty of prayer, much to his comfort and advantage: he cried unto God, that is, offered up to him his pious and devout affections with all seriousness. Observe,
Psa 119:149
Here,
Psa 119:150-151
Here is,
Psa 119:152
This confirms what he had said in the close of the foregoing verses, All thy commandments are truth; he means the covenant, the word which God has commanded to a thousand generations. This is firm, as true as truth itself. For,
20. RESH.
Psa 119:153-154
Here,
Psa 119:155
Here is,
Psa 119:156
Here,
Psa 119:157
Here is,
Psa 119:158
Here is,
Psa 119:159
Here is,
Psa 119:160
David here comforts himself with the faithfulness of God's word, for the encouragement of himself and others to rely upon it.
21. SCHIN.
Psa 119:161
David here lets us know,
Psa 119:162
Here is,
Psa 119:163
Love and hatred are the leading affections of the soul; if those be fixed aright, the rest move accordingly. Here we have them fixed aright in David.
Psa 119:164
David, in this psalm, is full of complaints, yet those did neither jostle out his praises nor put him out of tune for them; whatever condition a child of God is in he does not want matter for praise and therefore should not want a heart. See here,
Psa 119:165
Here is an account of the happiness of good men, who are governed by a principle of love to the word of God, who make it their rule and are ruled by it.
Psa 119:166
Here is the whole duty of man; for we are taught,
Psa 119:167-168
David's conscience here witnesses for him,
22. TAU.
Psa 119:169-170
Here we have,
Psa 119:171
Here is,
Psa 119:172
Observe here,
Psa 119:173-174
Here,
Psa 119:175
David's heart is still upon praising God; and therefore,
Psa 119:176
Here is,