John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:164

"Seven times a day do I praise thee, Because of thy righteous ordinances." — Psalms 119:164 (ASV)

Seven times a day have I praised thee. By the adverb seven times, the Prophet means that he was continually or very often engaged in celebrating the praises of God, just as it is said in Proverbs 24:16, A just man falleth seven times, when he often falls into various temptations.

The phrase the judgments of God being in many places understood as the punishments which God inflicts upon sinners, and also sometimes applied in general to the providence by which he governs the world, some understand the Prophet as praising God because he provides such manifest proofs of his justice, both in punishing the wicked and in the whole government of the world.

But I rather agree with others who refer the phrase to the divine law; not that I dislike the former interpretation, but because in this psalm the great topic upon which the Psalmist chiefly insists is the commendation of God’s law. The essence, then, is that when David was diligently engaged in meditating upon the law of God, he found it distinguished by such great perfection of righteousness and wisdom that from time to time he burst forth into praise and thanksgiving.

This diligence in praising God shows that David not only spoke reverently and honorably of the divine law, but also that he considered it an inestimable blessing bestowed upon the human race. It was not simply admiration that compelled him to this commendation, but a principle of gratitude, for he saw that nothing more excellent could be bestowed upon people than their being renewed to a blessed and an endless life by the incorruptible seed of heavenly truth.

Yet scarcely one in a hundred of those to whom God offers this treasure takes the trouble to give God thanks for it, even in an ordinary manner. On the contrary, such vile ingratitude reigns everywhere in the world that some scornfully reject divine truth, and others despise or slight it, while still others rail and gnash their teeth against it if they find anything in it that does not please them.