Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 119:148

"Mine eyes anticipated the night-watches, That I might meditate on thy word." — Psalms 119:148 (ASV)

Mine eyes prevent the night watches — Luther renders this, “I wake up early.” The Hebrew word means a “watch”—a part of the night, so called from military watches, or a dividing of the night to “keep guard.” (See the notes at Psalm 90:4).

The idea of the psalmist here is that he anticipated these regular divisions of the night to engage in devotion. Instead of waiting for their return, he arose for prayer before they recurred—so much did his heart delight in the service of God.

The language would seem to be that of one who was accustomed to pray in these successive “watches” of the night—the early, the middle, and the dawn. This may illustrate what occurs in the life of all who love God. They will have regular seasons of devotion, but they will often anticipate those seasons.

They will be in a state of mind that prompts them to pray, a state where nothing will satisfy their state of mind but prayer, and where they cannot wait for the regular and ordinary season of devotion—much like a hungry man who cannot wait for the usual and regular hour of his meals. The meaning of the phrase, “mine eyes prevent,” is that he awoke before the usual time for devotion.

That I might meditate in thy word — See the notes at Psalm 1:2.