145 I cried with all my heart ; answer me, O Lord ! I will observe Your statutes . 146 I cried to You; save me And I shall keep Your testimonies .
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help ; I wait for Your words . 148 My eyes anticipate the night watches , That I may meditate on Your word .
149 Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness ; Revive me, O Lord , according to Your ordinances .
150 Those who follow after wickedness draw near ; They are far from Your law . 151 You are near , O Lord , And all Your commandments are truth .
152 Of old I have known from Your testimonies That You have founded them forever . Resh.
153 Look upon my affliction and rescue me, For I do not forget Your law . 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word .
155 Salvation is far from the wicked , For they do not seek Your statutes .
156 Great are Your mercies , O Lord ; Revive me according to Your ordinances .
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries , Yet I do not turn aside from Your testimonies .
158 I behold the treacherous and loathe them, Because they do not keep Your word .
159 Consider how I love Your precepts ; Revive me, O Lord , according to Your lovingkindness .
160 The sum of Your word is truth , And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting . Shin.
161 Princes persecute me without cause , But my heart stands in awe of Your words .
162 I rejoice at Your word , As one who finds great spoil .
163 I hate and despise falsehood , But I love Your law .
164 Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous ordinances .
165 Those who love Your law have great peace , And nothing causes them to stumble .
166 I hope for Your salvation , O Lord , And do Your commandments .
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies , And I love them exceedingly . 168 I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies , For all my ways are before You. Tav.
169 Let my cry come before You, O Lord ; Give me understanding according to Your word . 170 Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word .
171 Let my lips utter praise , For You teach me Your statutes .
172 Let my tongue sing of Your word , For all Your commandments are righteousness .
173 Let Your hand be ready to help me, For I have chosen Your precepts . 174 I long for Your salvation , O Lord , And Your law is my delight .
175 Let my soul live that it may praise You, And let Your ordinances help me.
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep ; seek Your servant , For I do not forget Your commandments .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:145-176
Commentary on Psalm 119:145-152
(Read Psalm 119:145-152)
Supplications with the whole heart are presented only by those who desire God's salvation, and who love his commandments. Whither should the child go but to his father? Save me from my sins, my corruptions, my temptations, all the hinderances in my way, that I may keep thy testimonies. Christians who enjoy health, should not suffer the early hours of the morning to glide away unimproved. Hope in God's word encourages us to continue in prayer. It is better to take time from sleep, than not to find time for prayer. We have access to God at all hours; and if our first thoughts in the morning are of God, they will help to keep us in his fear all the day long. Make me lively and cheerful. God knows what we need and what is good for us, and will quicken us. If we are employed in God's service, we need not fear those who try to set themselves as far as they can out of the reach of the convictions and commands of his law. When trouble is near, God is near. He is never far to seek. All his commandments are truth. And God's promises will be performed. All that ever trusted in God have found him faithful.
Commentary on Psalm 119:153-160
(Read Psalm 119:153-160)
The closer we cleave to the word of God, both as our rule and as our stay, the more assurance we have of deliverance. Christ is the Advocate of his people, their Redeemer. Those who were quickened by his Spirit and grace, when they were dead in trespasses and sins, often need to have the work of grace revived in them, according to the word of promise. The wicked not only do not God's statutes, but they do not even seek them. They flatter themselves that they are going to heaven; but the longer they persist in sin, the further it is from them. God's mercies are tender; they are a fountain that can never be exhausted. The psalmist begs for God's reviving, quickening grace. A man, steady in the way of his duty, though he may have many enemies, needs to fear none. Those that hate sin truly, hate it as sin, as a transgression of the law of God, and a breaking of his word. Our obedience is only pleasing to God, and pleasant to ourselves, when it comes from a principle of love. All, in every age, who receive God's word in faith and love, find every saying in it faithful.
Commentary on Psalm 119:161-168
(Read Psalm 119:161-168)
Those whose hearts stand in awe of God's word, will rather endure the wrath of man, than break the law of God. By the word of God we are unspeakable gainers. Every man hates to have a lie told him, but we should more hate telling a lie; by the latter we give an affront to God. The more we see the beauty of truth, the more we shall see the hateful deformity of a lie. We are to praise God even for afflictions; through grace we get good from them. Those that love the world have great vexation, for it does not answer what they expect; those that love God's word have great peace, for it outdoes what they expect. Those in whom this holy love reigns, will not perplex themselves with needless scruples, or take offence at their brethren. A good hope of salvation will engage the heart in doing the commandments. And our love to the word of God must subdue our lusts, and root out carnal affections: we must make heart work of it, or we make nothing of it. We must keep the commandments of God by obedience to them, and his promises by reliance on them. God's eye is on us at all times; this should make us very careful to keep his commandments.
Commentary on Psalm 119:169-176
(Read Psalm 119:169-176)
The psalmist desired grace and strength to lift up his prayers, and that the Lord would receive and notice them. He desired to know more of God in Christ; to know more of the doctrines of the word, and the duties of religion. He had a deep sense of unworthiness, and holy fear that his prayer should not come before God; Lord, what I pray for is, what thou hast promised. We have learned nothing to purpose, if we have not learned to praise God. We should always make the word of God the rule of our discourse, so as never to transgress it by sinful speaking, or sinful silence. His own hands are not sufficient, nor can any creature lend him help; therefore he looks up to God, that the hand that had made him may help him. He had made religion his deliberate choice. There is an eternal salvation all the saints long for, and therefore they pray that God would help their way to it. Let thy judgments help me; let all ordinances and all providences, (both are God's judgments,) further me in glorifying God; let them help me for that work. He often looks back with shame and gratitude to his lost estate. He still prays for the tender care of Him who purchased his flock with his own blood, that he may receive from him the gift of eternal life. Seek me, that is, Find me; for God never seeks in vain. Turn me, and I shall be turned. Let this psalm be a touchstone by which to try our hearts, and our lives. Do our hearts, cleansed in Christ's blood, make these prayers, resolutions and confessions our own? Is God's word the standard of our faith, and the law of our practice? Do we use it as pleas with Christ for what we need? Happy those who live in such delightful exercises.