Psalms 119:72

The law of thy mouth [is] better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Not only thy promises, but even thy precepts, which are so unpleasant and hard to ungodly men, to me they are more desirable and more needful and profitable, because they do not only give me abundant satisfaction and comfort in this life, but also they conduct me with safety and delight unto that eternal and most blessed life, where gold and silver bear no price.

Psalms 119:72 The law of thy mouth [is] better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.Ver. 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me, &c.] For what is all this trash to that true treasure, those lively and life giving oracles? Dionysius worthily preferred Plato before Aristippus, because the one was ever craving money of him, but the other books. It is reported of Plato, that for three choice books he gave thirty thousand silverlings or florins. Now, what were all his books to the Bible? To blame, then, was that Anabaptist, who said in Melancthon’ s hearing that he would not give two pence for all the Bibles in the world (Joh. Maul. loc. com. 78).

(72) Better unto me—i.e., better for me. Thousands of.—We must supply shekels or pieces.

Verse 72. The law of thy mouth is better] Who can say this? Who prefers the law of his God, the Christ that bought him, and the heaven to which he hopes to go, when he can live no longer upon earth, to thousands of gold and silver? Yea, how many are there who, like Judas, sell their Saviour even for thirty pieces of silver? Hear this, ye lovers of the world and of money! As the letter ט teth begins but few words, not forty, in the Hebrew language, there is less variety under this division than under any of the preceding. ANALYSIS OF LETTER TETH. - Ninth Division The psalmist, having been afflicted, shows, - I. How graciously God dealt with him, in bringing him profitably through it. II. Prays for a right judgment and knowledge. III. Expresses his love to God's law, and the value he set upon it. I. The psalmist gives thanks for mercy granted in affliction. 1. "Thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant." Graciously in afflicting him, and graciously in relieving him. 2. And this thou hast done "according to thy word." Thou hast fulfilled thy promise. II. He prays to be taught of God: - 1. "Teach me good judgment." Many judge badly; for they think that affliction is a sign of God's displeasure. Let me have that good judgment that receives it as a fatherly correction from thee. 2. He asks for science and knowledge. A spiritual perception, and taste for heavenly things. 3. For this he gives his reason: "I have believed thy commandments." If we believe not God, we cannot profit by his word. 4. There is something remarkable in the manner of asking: 1. A good or sound judgment. 2. Knowledge; for without a sound judgment, knowledge is of no use. III. He acknowledges that God's chastisements had done him good. 1."Before I was afflicted." Prosperity is often the mother or error. 2. "Now I have kept thy word." Schola crucis, schola lucis, "The school of the cross is the school of light." 3. He acknowledges that the good God had done him good. To have a right notion of God is a great blessing. IV. Much of the psalmist's affliction proceeded from wicked men. These he describes: - 1. They were proud. Pride is the mother of rebellion, both against God and man. 2. They were liars. Evil speaking and calumny are the first weapons of persecutors. 3. They forged these lies; they invented them. There was none ready to their hand, so they framed some to serve their purpose. 4. The psalmist opposes them with humility and truth: "I will keep thy precepts." 5. He shows more particularly their moral character: "Their heart was as fat as grease;" they were stupid, brutish, hoggish. Their god was their belly. 1. Because they abounded in wealth, they were proud. 2. Because they pampered themselves, they were stupid, and incapable of moral feeling. The fat is the least sensible part of the animal system. V.

72. This is the lesson he has learnt in the school of affliction—the inestimable preciousness of God’s law. Cp. Psalms 119:14; Proverbs 8:10-11.

The law of thy mouth - The law which proceeds out of thy mouth, or which thou hast spoken.

ùׂ, Teth.65-72. Thou hast dealt well—This declaration clearly refers to deliverance; and this goodness, which the insensible proud, with hearts as fat as grease, never appreciate, leads the grateful