Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 119:59

"I thought on my ways, And turned my feet unto thy testimonies." — Psalms 119:59 (ASV)

I thought on my ways – This language most naturally refers to the time of conversion and may be used appropriately to describe the process of a sinner’s turning to God. It seems to describe the experience of the author of the psalm when he became personally interested in the subject of religion. The first step in such a work is reflecting on the course of life one has led, on the guilt of such a course, and on its consequences. It is a pause in the career of sin and folly – a pause for reflection and thought. Compare Luke 15:17-18.

No one is converted without such reflection; and as soon as a sinner can be made to pause and reflect on their course, there is hope that they will be converted. Assuredly, it is proper for all, regardless of their circumstances in life, to pause from time to time; to reflect; to ask what the consequences will be of the course of life they are pursuing.

And turned my feet – He changed his course of life. He himself actually did this, and he does not hesitate to say that it was he who turned in this way. His own agency was employed. He does not say that he “waited” for God to turn him, or that he found he could not turn by himself; rather, he turned. He paused; he reflected; he changed his course of life.

This is always true in conversion. There is an actual turning from sin, an actual turning to God. The sinner turns. He leaves an old path and treads a new one. He does this as the conscious result of reflecting on the course he was pursuing. There is nothing in his actual turning, or in his whole future course, that is not the proper result of reflection, or that proper reflection on his course of life would not lead to and justify.

A person is always active in conversion. That is, they do something; they change; they repent; they believe; they turn to God. It is not God who changes, repents, believes, or turns; it is the person themself. It is, indeed, by the grace and help of God, but the effect of that grace is not to make them idly wait; it is to rouse them to effort, to lead them to act.

Unto thy testimonies – Your law, considered as the divine testimony concerning what is right.