John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:123

"Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, And for thy righteous word." — Psalms 119:123 (ASV)

My eyes have failed for thy salvation. First, he testifies that he had been afflicted with severe troubles, not for a short time only, but for a period so protracted that it might have exhausted his patience and caused despondency. But this was so far from being the effect they produced that he declares that in all these long and wearisome conflicts, his heart had never sunk into despair.

We have previously explained failing for salvation as meaning that although there was no prospect of an end to his calamities, and although despair presented itself on every side, yet he struggled against temptation even to the fainting of his soul. If we understand the past tense of the verb as used for the present (the sense in which it seems to be employed), the Prophet in that case suggests that his eyes do not fail him because they become fatigued. Rather, it is because through earnest looking they, as it were, contract a dimness; and yet he does not cease to wait continually for the salvation of God.

In short, the failing of his eyes indicates perseverance combined with severe and arduous effort. It is opposed to the momentary ardor of those who immediately faint if God does not grant their requests. This expression also signifies a painful earnestness, which almost consumes all the senses. Regarding the term salvation, he does not limit it to one kind of help but includes within it the continual course of God’s grace, until he puts his believing people in the possession of complete salvation.

He expresses the manner in which he waited for salvation: by depending upon God’s word. In this, two things should be noted:

1. We can only be said to wait for salvation from God when, confiding in his promises, we actually turn to him for protection.
2. We only then yield to God the praise of salvation when we continue to keep our hope firmly fixed on his word.

This is the way in which he is to be sought; and although he may conceal the working of his hand from our view, we ought to rest in his mere promises. This is the reason why David calls God’s word righteous. He would thereby confirm his faith in the truth of the divine promises, because God, in promising liberally, does not foster delusive expectations in his people.