John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:171

"Let my lips utter praise; For thou teachest me thy statutes." — Psalms 119:171 (ASV)

My lips shall speak praise. David now shows, in a different way than in the preceding verse, how high a privilege he considered it to be admitted by God among the number of His disciples and to profit rightly in His school. He declares that, if so privileged, he will hasten to give thanks to Him with a fluent tongue.

The word נבע, naba, which he uses, is a metaphor taken from the bubbling up of fountains. Accordingly, it signifies not simply to speak, but to pour forth speech copiously. Therefore, just as he showed the earnestness of his desire a little earlier through prayer, so now he affirms that his rejoicing will testify that he desires nothing more than to be thoroughly imbued with heavenly truth.

He again confirms the doctrine that the way by which we become truly wise is, first, by submitting ourselves to the Word of God and not following our own imaginations; and secondly, by God’s opening our understanding and subduing it to the obedience of His will. He here joins together both these truths: namely, that when God has set His law before us, from which we are to learn whatever is profitable for our welfare, He, at the same time, teaches us inwardly.

It would not be enough to have our ears struck with the outward sound if God did not illuminate our minds by the Spirit of understanding and correct our stubbornness by the Spirit of teachableness.

Just as the labor of teachers is to no purpose until power and effectiveness have been given to it, so it is also to be noted that those who are truly taught by God are not led away from the law and the Scriptures by secret revelations.

These individuals are unlike some fanatics, who imagine they are still lingering at their ABCs unless, disdainfully trampling the Word of God underfoot, they fly away after their own foolish fancies.