John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:26

"I declared my ways, and thou answeredst me: Teach me thy statutes." — Psalms 119:26 (ASV)

I have declared my ways. In the first part of this verse, he affirms that he had prayed sincerely and had not imitated the proud, who, trusting to their own wisdom, fortitude, and opulence, do not make God their refuge. That person is said to declare his ways to God who presumes neither to attempt nor undertake anything without His assistance and, depending entirely on His providence, commits all his plans to His sovereign pleasure and centers all his affections on Him, doing all this honestly, and not like the hypocrites, who profess one thing with their lips and conceal another in their hearts. He adds that he was heard, which was very important in making him cherish good hope for the future.

In the second part of the verse, he solemnly declares that he holds nothing more dear than acquiring a true understanding of the law. There are not a few who make known their desires to God, but then they wish that He would yield to their extravagant passions. Therefore, the prophet affirms that he desires nothing more than to be well instructed in God’s statutes. This statement is strengthened by the next verse, in which he once more asks for this knowledge to be communicated to him. In both passages, it must be carefully observed that with the law of God set before us, we will reap little benefit from merely perusing it if we do not have His Spirit as our internal teacher.

Some expositors take the word that I have translated I will meditate to mean I will entreat or argue, and thus the Hebrew term שוח, shuach, is referred both to words and thoughts. The latter meaning is most in accordance with the scope of the passage. I take the meaning of the prophet’s words to be this—That I may meditate on Your wondrous works, make me understand Your commandments.

We will have no relish for the law of God until He sanctifies our minds and renders them susceptible to tasting heavenly wisdom. And from this disrelish springs indifference, so that it is a grievous thing for the world to pay respectful attention to the law of God, having no savor for the admirable wisdom contained in it.

Therefore, with great propriety, the prophet prays that this way may be opened to him by the gift of knowledge. From these words we are instructed that, in proportion to the spirit of knowledge given to us, our regard for the law of God and our delight in meditating on it ought to increase.