02.119. Psalm 119

Psalms 119:1-176 This psalm is a collection of David’s precious thoughts, sorrowful complaints, humble petitions, and holy resolutions, which, it seems he had written down as they occurred, and which, in the end of his life, he digested into the form in which they now stand, consisting of as many parts as there are letters in the Hebrew alphabet, the eight verses of each always beginning with the same letter in the original. The general scope of it is to magnify God’s word, and make it honourable. To intimate that it informs us of whatever we ought to expect from God in the way of gracious donation, and of whatever he may expect from us in the way of grateful returns of duty, it is represented under ten different characters, one or other of which is to be found in every verse, except Psalms 119:122 and Psalms 119:132 : As God’s Law, because framed and published by him as our Sovereign ­ His Commandments, because given with authority, and lodged with us as a trust ­ His Precepts, because peremptorily prescribed, and not left as a thing indifferent ­ His Statutes, because fixed and determined, and of perpetual obligation ­ His Word, because it is the declaration of his mind, and Christ, his essential Word, is all and in all therein ­ His Way, because it represents Christ, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and is the rule of our faith and obedience ­ His Testimonies, because therein God, upon his word, his oath, and writ, declares to men the truths necessary to be known, in order to his honour and their salvation, as ratified in the death of his Son ­ His Judgments, because it is framed in infinite wisdom, and by it we must both judge and be judged (but in Psalms 119:75, Psalms 119:84, Psalms 119:121, judgment denotes righteous conduct) ­ His Righteousness, because it is holy, just, and good, and is the perfect standard of righteousness ­ And his Truth, or Faithfulness, because its leading truths are eternal, and the faithfulness of God is pledged in every point thereof.

While I sing, let me all along enter into the spirit of the psalm. Let my delight be in God’s testimonies; my desires after God’s presence; and my endeavours to have God honoured. Let God’s word be my rule, my food, my armour, my wealth, my comfort; and God himself, as therein revealed and bestowed, be my everlasting and infinite all.

Aleph, The 1st Part.

Here, (1.) David marks out holy men as the only blessed men, Psalms 119:1-3. (2.) Begs that, to his own honour and satisfaction, he may be helped of God to an upright observance of his laws, Psalms 119:4-6. (3.) In the faith of God’s direction and assistance, he resolves to praise and obey him, Psalms 119:7-8.

Beth, The 2nd Part.

He, (1.) Points out the proper method of mortifying lust and attaining true holiness, Psalms 119:9. (2.) Professeth his attachment to God and his word, and supplicates wisdom, direction, and support, Psalms 119:10-12. (3.) Reflects with satisfaction on his former regard to God’s truth and ways, Psalms 119:13-14. And, (4.) Resolves to persevere therein, Psalms 119:15-16.

Gimel, The 3rd Part.

(1.) With eagerness and longings of heart, he supplicates divine favour, and instruction in God’s truths, Psalms 119:17-20. (2.) Remarks the just vengeance of God upon such as wander from his ways, Psalms 119:21. (3.) Supplicates preservation from reproach, as he observed, meditated on, delighted in, and consulted God’s word in all his conduct, Psalms 119:22-24.

Daleth, The 4th Part.

He, (1.) Represents his distress, and his behaviour under it, Psalms 119:25-26, Psalms 119:28, Psalms 119:30-31. (2.) Supplicates spiritual quickening, instruction, strength, rectitude of sentiment, and honour in the Lord’s way, Psalms 119:25, Psalms 119:31. (3.) Resolves under the influences of heaven, to be more active in holiness, Psalms 119:32.

He, The 5th Part.

He, (1.) Prays for divine instruction, sanctifying influences, quickening grace; for the accomplishment of God’s promises to him; and against covetousness, vanity, and reproach, Psalms 119:33-40. (2.) Enforces his requests, from his holy resolutions, his relation to God, his zeal for his honour, and his regard to his excellent declarations, promises, and precepts, Psalms 119:33-34, Psalms 119:38-40.

Vau, The 6th Part.

Here are, (1.) The prayers he presented to God, Psalms 119:41, Psalms 119:43. (2.) The graces he exercised upon God and his word faith, hope, love, Psalms 119:42-43, Psalms 119:47-48. (3.) The practice he resolved on, through grace, viz. to keep God’s law; to seek and cheerfully practise his precepts; boldly publish his truth to others; and to delight in, meditate on, and zealously reduce them to practice, Psalms 119:44-48.

Zain, The 7th Part.

Represents, (1.) The comfort he had found in God’s word, Psalms 119:49-50, Psalms 119:52, Psalms 119:54. (2.) His desire that God would fulfil his promises, Psalms 119:49; and his care to remember, think on, and practise God’s truths, Psalms 119:51-52, Psalms 119:55-56. (3.) The injurious reproach he suffered from the wicked; and his abhorrence of their sin and dread of their punishment, Psalms 119:51, Psalms 119:53.

Cheth, The 8th Part.

We have here, (1.) The portion he chose, Psalms 119:57. (2.) The purpose he formed, Psalms 119:57. (3.) The prayers he offered up, for favour, mercy, and instructions, Psalms 119:58, Psalms 119:64. (4.) The penitential care he took to obey God’s law, Psalms 119:59-61. (5.) The complaints he uttered, Psalms 119:61. (6.) His fervent thanksgiving, Psalms 119:62. (7.) His choice companions, Psalms 119:63. (8.) His deep sense of God’s abundant mercy and grace, Psalms 119:64.

Teth, The 9th Part.

Contains, (1. ) Hearty acknowledgements of God’s faithfulness and goodness, and of the excellency and usefulness of his word, Psalms 119:65, Psalms 119:68, Psalms 119:72. (2.) Humble acknowledgements of the advantages he had received from his afflictions, Psalms 119:67, Psalms 119:71. (3.) Complaints of the pride, calumnious reproach, and luxurious stupidity, of wicked men, Psalms 119:69-70. (4.) Supplications for divine instruction, Psalms 119:66, Psalms 119:68. (5.) Declarations of his regard to God’s word, and resolutions to persevere in the observance thereof, Psalms 119:66-72.

Jod, The 10th Part.

Contains, (1.) Thankful acknowledgements of God’s kindness in creating, and of his equity and faithfulness in afflicting, Psalms 119:73, Psalms 119:75. (2.) Earnest supplications for divine instruction, for fresh discoveries of God’s mercy; for the confusion of enemies, and the comfortable fellowship of friends; and for an honourable soundness of heart, Psalms 119:73, Psalms 119:76-77, Psalms 119:79-80. (3.) Holy joy in the comfort of fellow saints, and especially in God’s mercy and word, Psalms 119:74, Psalms 119:76-77. (4.) An holy resolution to meditate on, and cleave to God’s testimonies amidst persecution, Psalms 119:78.

Caph, The 11th Part.

Contains, (1.) Bitter complaints of great and long distress, Psalms 119:81-87. (2.) Fervent supplications for speedy comfort, help, and quickening, Psalms 119:82, Psalms 119:86, Psalms 119:88. (3.) Pleas wherewith these supplications are enforced: as, that his distress was become insupportable; that his hope was in God’s word, and he clave to it in his profession and practice; that his life was but short, to have so much of it spent in the furnace of affliction; that the malice and pride of his enemies were excessive; and, in fine, that God’s loving kindness was infinite, Psalms 119:81-88.

Lamed, The 12th Part.

Represents, (1.) The eternity and unchangeableness of God’s word and works, Psalms 119:89-91. (2.) The advantage of delighting in, and cleaving to God’s truths, Psalms 119:92-93. (3.) God’s interest in men, a reason of his saving the observers of his law, Psalms 119:94. (4.) David’s adherence to God’s truths amidst furious persecution, Psalms 119:95. (5.) The superlative excellency of God’s word above all earthly enjoyments, Psalms 119:96.

Mem, The 13th Part.

Represents the psalmist’s ardent affection to God’s law, Psalms 119:97; because that, (1.) Thereby he had attained much useful knowledge and wisdom, Psalms 119:98-100. (2.) Thereby he was enabled to refrain from, and hate sin, Psalms 119:101, Psalms 119:104. (3.) Thereby he was preserved steady in the path of his duty, Psalms 119:101-102. (4.) And thereby he obtained much comfort to his soul, Psalms 119:103.

Nun, The 14th Part.

Represents, (1.) The remarkable usefulness of God’s word, Psalms 119:105. (2.) David’s solemn dedication of himself to his service, Psalms 119:106. (3.) His recourse to God by prayer under his afflictions, Psalms 119:107-108. (4.) His faithful adherence to the Lord’s way, amidst trouble and persecution, Psalms 119:109-110. (5.) His solemn and deliberate choice of God’s word for his portion and rule, Psalms 119:111-112.

Samech, The 15th Part.

We have here, (1.) David’s hatred of sin, and love of God’s law, Psalms 119:113. (2.) His profession of dependence upon God, Psalms 119:114. (3.) His debarring of wicked men from his company, Psalms 119:115. (4.) His prayer for support, comfort, and honour, in the Lord’s way, Psalms 119:116-117. (5.) His foresight of, and trembling at the ruin of the wicked, Psalms 119:118-120.

Ain, The 16th Part.

Here David, (1.) Appeals to God for his integrity and equity, Psalms 119:121. (2.) Supplicates that God would protect him against enemies; grant him merciful deliverance, and saving instruction; and arise for the maintenance of his own honour, Psalms 119:121-126. (3.) Enforces his requests with these pleas ­ that he was God’s servant; and that he could no longer bear up under trouble, Psalms 119:122-125. (4.) Professeth his superlative regard to God’s law, and hatred of all iniquity, Psalms 119:127-128.

Pe, The 17th Part.

Here David, (1.) Declares his esteem of, and regard to God’s word, Psalms 119:129-131; and his deep concern for men’s violation thereof, Psalms 119:136. (2.) Supplicates for mercy, direction, preservation, deliverance, spiritual comfort, and instruction, Psalms 119:132-135.

Tzaddi, The 18th Part.

Contains, (1.) David’s celebration of the righteousness of God’s nature and work, and of the righteousness, faithfulness, and purity of his word, Psalms 119:137-138, Psalms 119:140, Psalms 119:142, Psalms 119:144. (2.) His avowed remembrance of, zeal for, and delight in God’s word, notwithstanding much contempt and trouble, suffered on account of his adherence to it, Psalms 119:139-143. (3.) His fervent prayer for spiritual instruction, Psalms 119:144.

Koph, The 19th Part.

Contains, (1.) David’s importunate supplications for gracious audience, necessary salvation, and quickening influence, Psalms 119:145-147, Psalms 119:149. (2.) His hopes in, and meditations on God’s word as perfectly true, and perpetually stable, Psalms 119:147-148, Psalms 119:151-152. (3.) In danger from wicked men, he flees to God for relief, Psalms 119:149-151.

Resh, The 20th Part.

Contains, (1.) David’s cries to God ­ that he would consider his affliction, plead his cause, deliver him, and quicken his soul, Psalms 119:153-154, Psalms 119:156, Psalms 119:159. (2.) His adherence to, love for, and high esteem of God’s word, Psalms 119:153-154, Psalms 119:157, Psalms 119:159-160. (3.) His description of the character and misery of the wicked, Psalms 119:155, Psalms 119:157-158.

Schin, The 21st Part.

Here, (1.) David complains to God of persecution from princes, Psalms 119:161. (2.) Professeth his holy awe of, his delight in, love to, and careful observance of God’s testimonies, and his utter detestation of falsehood, Psalms 119:161-168. (3.) Avows his persuasion of the happiness of the godly, and his own hopes of God’s salvation, Psalms 119:165-166.

Tau, The 22nd Part.

Here, (1.) David’s prayers for access to God, and for instruction, deliverance, help, and recovery, from God, Psalms 119:169-170, Psalms 119:173, Psalms 119:175-176. (2.) Hearty professions of his regard to God’s word, and to the salvation therein contained, Psalms 119:169-176. (3.) His humble confession of his wandering from God, and desire to be brought back, Psalms 119:176.