73 'Yod.' Thy hands made me and establish me, Cause me to understand, and I learn Thy commands.
74 Those fearing Thee see me and rejoice, Because for Thy word I have hoped.
75 I have known, O Jehovah, That righteous 'are' Thy judgments, And 'in' faithfulness Thou hast afflicted me.
76 Let, I pray Thee, Thy kindness be to comfort me, According to Thy saying to Thy servant. 77 Meet me do Thy mercies, and I live, For Thy law 'is' my delight.
78 Ashamed are the proud, For 'with' falsehood they dealt perversely with me. I meditate in Thy precepts. 79 Those fearing Thee turn back to me, And those knowing Thy testimonies.
80 My heart is perfect in Thy statutes, So that I am not ashamed.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:73-80
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.