Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 119:83

"For I am become like a wine-skin in the smoke; Yet do I not forget thy statutes." — Psalms 119:83 (ASV)

For I am become like a bottle in the smoke - Bottles in the East were commonly made of skins. See the notes on Matthew 9:17. Such “bottles,” hanging in tents where the smoke had little opportunity to escape, would, of course, become dark and dingy, and would thus be emblems of distress, discomfort, and sorrow. The meaning here is that, by affliction and sorrow, the psalmist had been reduced to a state which would be well represented by such a bottle. A somewhat similar idea occurs in Psalm 22:15: My strength is dried up like a potsherd. See the notes there.

Yet do I not forget thy statutes - Compare with the notes on Psalm 119:51. Though thus deeply afflicted, though without comfort or peace, yet I do, I will, maintain allegiance to you and your law. The doctrine is that distress, poverty, sorrow, penury, and rags—the most abject circumstances of life—will not turn away a true child of God from obeying and serving him. True religion will withstand all these tests. Lazarus, from the deepest poverty—from beggary, from undressed sores—went up to Abraham’s bosom.