73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: Give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74 They that fear thee shall see me and be glad, Because I have hoped in thy word.
75 I know, O Jehovah, that thy judgments are righteous, And that in faithfulness thou hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray thee, thy lovingkindness be for my comfort, According to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live; For thy law is my delight.
78 Let the proud be put to shame; For they have overthrown me wrongfully: [But] I will meditate on thy precepts. 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me; And they shall know thy testimonies.
80 Let my heart be perfect in thy statutes, That I be not put to shame.
81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation; [But] I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, While I say, When wilt thou comfort me?
83 For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes.
84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?
85 The proud have digged pits for me, Who are not according to thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: They persecute me wrongfully; Help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; But I forsook not thy precepts.
88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; So shall I observe the testimony of thy mouth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:73-88
Commentary on Psalm 119:73-80
(Read Psalm 119:73-80)
God made us to serve him, and enjoy him; but by sin we have made ourselves unfit to serve him, and to enjoy him. We ought, therefore, continually to beseech him, by his Holy Spirit, to give us understanding. The comforts some have in God, should be matter of joy to others. But it is easy to own, that God's judgments are right, until it comes to be our own case. All supports under affliction must come from mercy and compassion. The mercies of God are tender mercies; the mercies of a father, the compassion of a mother to her son. They come to us when we are not able to go to them. Causeless reproach does not hurt, and should not move us. The psalmist could go on in the way of his duty, and find comfort in it. He valued the good will of saints, and was desirous to keep up his communion with them. Soundness of heart signifies sincerity in dependence on God, and devotedness to him.
Commentary on Psalm 119:81-88
(Read Psalm 119:81-88)
The psalmist sought deliverance from his sins, his foes, and his fears. Hope deferred made him faint; his eyes failed by looking out for this expected salvation. But when the eyes fail, yet faith must not. His affliction was great. He was become like a leathern bottle, which, if hung up in the smoke, is dried and shrivelled up. We must ever be mindful of God's statutes. The days of the believer's mourning shall be ended; they are but for a moment, compared with eternal happiness. His enemies used craft as well as power for his ruin, in contempt of the law of God. The commandments of God are true and faithful guides in the path of peace and safety. We may best expect help from God when, like our Master, we do well and suffer for it. Wicked men may almost consume the believer upon earth, but he would sooner forsake all than forsake the word of the Lord. We should depend upon the grace of God for strength to do every good work. The surest token of God's good-will toward us, is his good work in us.