John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:144

"Thy testimonies are righteous for ever: Give me understanding, and I shall live. QOPH." — Psalms 119:144 (ASV)

The righteousness of thy testimonies endureth forever. The Psalmist repeats what he had previously stated, that there is a great dissimilarity between the righteousness of God's testimonies and human inventions; the splendor of the latter quickly vanishes, whereas the other continues steadfast forever. He repeats this twice; for although the world is forced to acknowledge that God's law deserves praise for its righteousness, yet the majority of humanity are carried away by their own speculations, so that there is nothing more difficult than to keep us steadfast in our obedience to God.

David's aim is to show that everlasting righteousness is found only in God's law, and that it is futile to seek it anywhere else. Accordingly, a clearer definition of righteousness is presented here: namely, that righteousness consists in our keeping ourselves within the bounds of the law.

Regarding the last clause of the verse, Give me understanding and I shall live, I read it in connection with the preceding clause. For although David desires to have his mind enlightened by God, he does not conceive of any other way to obtain an enlightened understanding than by profiting correctly in the study of the law.

Furthermore, he teaches here that people cannot, properly speaking, be said to live when they lack the light of heavenly wisdom. Since the purpose for which people are created is not, like swine or asses, to stuff their bellies, but to exercise themselves in the knowledge and service of God, when they turn away from such activity, their life is worse than a thousand deaths.

David therefore declares that for him, living was not merely being fed with food and drink and enjoying earthly comforts, but aspiring to a better life, which he could not do except under the guidance of faith. This is a very necessary warning. For although it is universally acknowledged that humans are born with this distinction, excelling the lower animals in intelligence, yet the great majority of humanity, as if with deliberate purpose, stifle whatever light God pours into their understanding.

I indeed admit that all people desire to be sharp-witted; but how few aspire to heaven and consider that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Since, then, meditation on the celestial life is buried by earthly cares, people do nothing else than plunge into the grave, so that while living to the world, they die to God.

Under the term life, however, as I have elsewhere said, the Prophet denotes the utmost he could wish. Lord, as if he had said, although I am already dead, yet if You are pleased to illumine my mind with the knowledge of heavenly truth, this grace alone will be sufficient to revive me.