17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word.
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
17 Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.
17 Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.
116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.
116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
116 Take my side as you promised; I'll live then for sure. Don't disappoint all my grand hopes.
116 Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
116 Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live! Do not let my hope be crushed.
(Read Psalm 119:113-120)
Here is a dread of the risings of sin, and the first beginnings of it. The more we love the law of God, the more watchful we shall be, lest vain thoughts draw us from what we love. Would we make progress in keeping God's commands, we must be separate from evil-doers. The believer could not live without the grace of God; but, supported by his hand, his spiritual life shall be maintained. Our holy security is grounded on Divine supports. All departure from God's statutes is error, and will prove fatal. Their cunning is falsehood. There is a day coming which will put the wicked into everlasting fire, the fit place for the dross. See what comes of sin Surely we who fall so low in devout affections, should fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into heavenly rest, any of us should be found to come short of it, Hebrews 4:1.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:17
Commentary on Psalm 119:17-24
(Read Psalm 119:17-24)
If God deals in strict justice with us, we all perish. We ought to spend our lives in his service; we shall find true life in keeping his word. Those that would see the wondrous things of God's law and gospel, must beg him to give them understanding, by the light of his Spirit. Believers feel themselves strangers on earth; they fear missing their way, and losing comfort by erring from God's commandments. Every sanctified soul hungers after the word of God, as food which there is no living without. There is something of pride at the bottom of every wilful sin. God can silence lying lips; reproach and contempt may humble and do us good, and then they shall be removed. Do we find the weight of the cross is above that we are able to bear? He that bore it for us will enable us to bear it; upheld by him we cannot sink. It is sad when those who should protect the innocent, are their betrayers. The psalmist went on in duty, and he found comfort in the word of God. The comforts of the word of God are most pleasant to a gracious soul, when other comforts are made bitter; and those that would have God's testimonies to be their delight, must be advised by them. May the Lord direct us in exercising repentance of sin, and faith in Christ.