145 'Koph.' I have called with the whole heart, Answer me, O Jehovah, Thy statutes I keep, 146 I have called Thee, save Thou me, And I do keep Thy testimonies.

147 I have gone forward in the dawn, and I cry, For Thy word I have hoped. 148 Mine eyes have gone before the watches, To meditate in Thy saying.

149 My voice hear, according to Thy kindness, Jehovah, according to Thy judgment quicken me.

150 Near have been my wicked pursuers, From Thy law they have been far off. 151 Near 'art' Thou, O Jehovah, And all Thy commands 'are' truth.

152 Of old I have known Thy testimonies, That to the age Thou hast founded them!

153 'Resh.' See my affliction, and deliver Thou me, For Thy law I have not forgotten. 154 Plead my plea, and redeem me, According to Thy saying quicken me.

155 Far from the wicked 'is' salvation, For Thy statutes they have not sought.

156 Thy mercies 'are' many, O Jehovah, According to Thy judgments quicken me.

157 Many 'are' my pursuers, and adversaries, From Thy testimonies I have not turned aside.

158 I have seen treacherous ones, And grieve myself, Because Thy saying they have not kept.

159 See, for thy precepts I have loved, Jehovah, According to Thy kindness quicken me.

160 The sum of Thy word 'is' truth, And to the age 'is' every judgment of Thy righteousness!

161 'Shin.' Princes have pursued me without cause, And because of Thy words was my heart afraid.

162 I do rejoice concerning Thy saying, As one finding abundant spoil.

163 Falsehood I have hated, yea I abominate 'it', Thy law I have loved.

164 Seven 'times' in a day I have praised Thee, Because of the judgments of Thy righteousness.

165 Abundant peace have those loving Thy law, And they have no stumbling-block.

166 I have waited for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy commands I have done.

167 Kept hath my soul Thy testimonies, And I do love them exceedingly. 168 I have kept Thy precepts and Thy testimonies, For all my ways are before Thee!

169 'Taw.' My loud cry cometh near before Thee, O Jehovah; According to Thy word cause me to understand. 170 My supplication cometh in before Thee, According to Thy saying deliver Thou me.

171 My lips do utter praise, For Thou dost teach me Thy statutes.

172 My tongue doth sing of Thy saying, For all Thy commands 'are' righteous.

173 Thy hand is for a help to me, For Thy commands I have chosen. 174 I have longed for Thy salvation, O Jehovah, And Thy law 'is' my delight.

175 My soul liveth, and it doth praise Thee, And Thy judgments do help me.

176 I wandered as a lost sheep, seek Thy servant, For Thy precepts I have not forgotten!

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.