John Calvin Commentary Psalms 119:8

"I will observe thy statutes: Oh forsake me not utterly. BETH." — Psalms 119:8 (ASV)

I will observe your statutes. In these words he declares it to be his intention to observe the law of God, but, conscious of his own weakness, he utters a prayer that God would not deprive him of his grace. The term forsake can have two interpretations: either that God withdraws his Spirit, or that he permits his people to be brought low by adversity, as if he had forsaken them.

The latter interpretation agrees best with the context and is most in accordance with the phrase immediately following, very far. The prophet is not altogether averse to the trial of his faith; only he is fearful that it might fail if the trial were to be too long prolonged. Therefore, he desires to be treated with tenderness in his infirmity.

“O God! You see my frame of mind, and, as I am but a man, do not conceal too long from me the tokens of your favor, or defer helping me longer than is proper for me, lest, imagining myself to be forsaken by you, I turn aside from the direct pursuit of godliness.”