81 'Kaph.' Consumed for Thy salvation hath been my soul, For Thy word I have hoped. 82 Consumed have been mine eyes for Thy word, Saying, 'When doth it comfort me?'
83 For I have been as a bottle in smoke, Thy statutes I have not forgotten.
84 How many 'are' the days of Thy servant? When dost Thou execute Against my pursuers judgment?
85 The proud have digged for me pits, That 'are' not according to Thy law. 86 All Thy commands 'are' faithfulness, 'With' falsehood they have pursued me, Help Thou me. 87 Almost consumed me on earth have they, And I—I have not forsaken Thy precepts.
88 According to Thy kindness quicken Thou me, And I keep the testimony of Thy mouth!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:81-88
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.