Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 119

This psalm may be considered as the statement of a believer's experience. To the extent that our views, desires, and affections agree with what is expressed here, they come from the influences of the Holy Spirit, and only to that extent. The pardoning mercy of God in Christ is the only source of a sinner's happiness. And those are most happy who are preserved most free from the defilement of sin, who simply believe God's testimonies and depend on his promises.

If the heart is divided between him and the world, it is evil. But the saints carefully avoid all sin; they are conscious of much evil that clogs them in the ways of God, but not of that wickedness which draws them out of those ways. The tempter would make men think they are engaged in evil, and thus out of those ways. The tempter would make men think they are at liberty to follow the word of God or not, as they please.

But the desire and prayer of a good man agree with the will and command of God. If a man expects by obedience in one thing to purchase indulgence for disobedience in others, his hypocrisy will be detected; if he is not ashamed in this world, everlasting shame will be his portion. The psalmist coveted to learn the laws of God, to give God the glory.

And believers see that if God forsakes them, the tempter will be too strong for them.

To original corruption all have added actual sin. The ruin of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing false rules: let them walk by Scripture rules. To doubt our own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon God, proves that the purpose of holiness is sincere. God's word is a treasure worth laying up, and there is no way to lay it up safely except in our hearts, so that we may oppose God's precepts to the dominion of sin, his promises to its allurements, and his threatenings to its violence.

Let this be our plea with him to teach us his statutes, so that, being partakers of his holiness, we may also partake of his blessedness. And those whose hearts are fed with the bread of life, should with their lips feed many. In the way of God's commandments there is the unsearchable riches of Christ. But we do not meditate on God's precepts to good purpose, unless our good thoughts produce good works.

I will not only think of your statutes, but do them with delight. And it will be well to test the sincerity of our obedience by tracing its source; the reality of our love by cheerfulness in appointed duties.

If God deals in strict justice with us, we all perish. We should spend our lives in His service; we will find true life in keeping His word. Those who would see the wondrous things of God's law and gospel must beg Him to give them understanding, by the light of His Spirit. Believers feel themselves strangers on earth; they fear missing their way, and losing comfort by erring from God's commandments.

Every sanctified soul hungers for the word of God, as food that one cannot live without. There is something of pride at the bottom of every willful sin. God can silence lying lips; reproach and contempt may humble and do us good, and then they will be removed. Do we find the weight of the cross to be more than we can bear?

He who bore it for us will enable us to bear it; upheld by Him, we cannot sink. It is sad when those who should protect the innocent are their betrayers. The psalmist went on in duty, and he found comfort in the word of God. The comforts of the word of God are most pleasant to a gracious soul when other comforts are made bitter; and those who would have God's testimonies to be their delight must be advised by them.

May the Lord direct us in exercising repentance of sin, and faith in Christ.

While the souls of the children of this world cling to the earth as their portion, the children of light are greatly burdened because of the remains of carnal affections in their hearts. It is unspeakable comfort to a gracious soul to think with what tenderness all its complaints are received by a gracious God. We can talk of the wonders of redeeming love when we understand the way of God's precepts and walk in that way.

The penitent melts in sorrow for sin; even the patient spirit may melt when experiencing affliction, and it is then in its best interest to pour out its soul before God. The way of lying means all false ways by which people deceive themselves and others, or are deceived by Satan and his instruments. Those who know and love the law of the Lord desire to know it more and love it better.

The way of serious godliness is the way of truth, the only true way to happiness; we must always genuinely pay attention to it. Those who adhere to the word of God may in faith expect and pray for acceptance with God. Lord, never leave me to do anything by which I would shame myself, and do not reject my services.

Those who are going to heaven should continue to press forward. God, by his Spirit, enlarges the hearts of his people when he gives them wisdom. The believer prays to be set free from sin.

Teach me your statutes, not the mere words, but the way of applying them to myself. God, by his Spirit, gives a right understanding. But the Spirit of revelation in the word will not suffice, unless we have the Spirit of wisdom in the heart. God puts his Spirit within us, causing us to walk in his statutes.

The sin here prayed against is covetousness. Those who would have the love of God rooted in them must get the love of the world rooted out; for the friendship of the world is enmity with God.

Revive me in your way, to redeem time and to do every duty with liveliness of spirit. Beholding vanity deadens us and slackens our pace; a traveler must not stand gazing upon every object that presents itself to his view.

The promises of God's word greatly relate to the preservation of the true believer. When Satan has drawn a child of God into worldly compliances, he will reproach him with the falls into which he led him. Victory must come from the cross of Christ. When we enjoy the sweetness of God's precepts, it will make us long for more acquaintance with them.

And where God has worked to will, he will work to do.