Psalms 119:40

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts,.... After a greater degree of knowledge of them, and an opportunity of hearing them explained and enforced, and of yielding obedience to them; see Psalms

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness - according to thy righteousness, whereby thou savest them who trust in thee.

After thy precepts; after a more solid knowledge and constant performance of thy precepts. Quicken me; do thou preserve and maintain both my natural and spiritual life. In thy righteousness; according to thy justice or faithfulness, which obligeth thee to make good thy promises.

Psalms 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.Ver. 40. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts] This he could boldly and safely say to God, offering himself to his trial for the truth of his desires. See Hebrews 13:18. Quicken me in thy righteousness] His desires and affections were not so large and lively but that he needed to be yet farther quickened Nemo est ex omni parte beatus. No one is from evert parted blessed.

(40) Quicken me in thy righteousness—i.e., Let the sense of thy eternal justice give me vigour and life. Or the thought may be of the invigorating influence of a complete surrender to a righteous law, as in Wordsworth’s Ode to Duty;— “I myself commend Unto thy guidance from this hour. Oh let my weakness have an end! Give unto me, made lowly, wise, The spirit of self-sacrifice. The confidence of reason give, And in the light of truth thy bondsman let me live.”

Verse 40. Behold, I have longed] Thou searchest the heart; thou knowest that I have long desired thy salvation; thou seest that this desire still remains. Behold it! it is thy work; and through thy mercy I breathe after thy mercy. Quicken me] I am dying; O give me the spirit of life in Christ Jesus! ANALYSIS OF LETTER HE. - Fifth Division In this part, which is wholly precatory, the psalmist prays, - I. That God would illuminate his mind. II. That he would remove all those hinderances which might prevent him from doing his duty. I. 1. The first petition is for illumination: "Teach me;" point me out what I am to learn, and how I am to learn it. 2. The second is, "Give me understanding." Let me comprehend, that I may profit by this teaching. 3. The end for which he asks, - that he "may keep the law." He specifies the manner: 1. He will be no temporizer; he will keep it "to the end." 2. He will be no hypocrite; he will keep it "with his whole heart." 1. He prays for power: "Make me to go." Without thy Spirit's help I can do nothing: I do not know the way without thy teaching; I cannot walk in it without thy help. 2. He wishes to go in the path; the way in which all God's followers have walked. 3. It is a path, not a public road; a path where no beast goes, and men seldom. 4. He gives a reason why his petition should be granted: "Therein do I delight." II. He prays to have all impediments removed. 1. "Incline my heart." Bind it down to a willing obedience. 2. "Not to covetousness." Keep me from the love of money, the world, the creature. 3. He prays against the desire of the eye: "Turn away mine eyes." Let the eye of my body be turned away from vanity; the eye of my mind turned away to thee. 4. Let me find the benefit of this turning: "Stablish thy word," - make good thy word; give me grace to stand. 5. For which he gives this reason: "I am thy servant, and am devoted to thy fear." 6. He is afraid of the consequences if he be not faithful: "Turn away my reproach." Let it not be said, at the day of judgment, "I was hungry, and you gave me no meat," c. 7. He knows if God condemns it must be justly: "For thy judgments are good." Man may condemn where thou approvest he may approve where thou condemnest. Thy judgments alone are good. 8. He concludes, desiring the Lord to look on the state of his heart: "Behold!" 1. Is not my heart right before thee? 2. If so, quicken me; make me alive, and keep me alive! Without the latter, the former will answer no end.

40. His will is good; but he needs fresh strength, and for this he prays on the ground of God’s righteousness, that attribute in virtue of which He must needs be true to His covenant-promises. Cp. Psalms 5:8, note.

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts - I have earnestly desired them. See the notes at Psalms 119:20. Quicken me in thy righteousness - Make me to live; to live in obedience to thy righteous laws.

ä, He.33-40. Teach me… thy statutes—The trouble has passed, and entrance upon active and responsible life is contemplated. The writer sees the form of knowledge and of truth in the law.