Comfort of]

I trust in thy word.

43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

44 So shall I keep thy law continually, for ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy

statutes.

ZAIN.

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

50 This is my comfort in my affliction for thy word hath quickened

me.

51 The proud have had me greatly in derision yet have I not declined from thy law.

52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself.

53 Horror hath taken hold upon

thy law.

54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law.

56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts. (Z)

СНЕТН.

57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart be merciful unto me according to thy word.

59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee, because of thy righteous judgments.

63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

TETH.

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy

(Z) Ver. 25-50. Prayer for divine instruction and direction. Our souls naturally cleave to the dust. It is alone by the influence of God's Spirit, and by the instrumentality of his word, that they can be quickened. And when quickened to newness of life, it is still the same word that must be our guide, our consolation, our support. "Remember thy word unto thy servant on which thou hast caused me to hope." And when the word of God becomes the ground of our hope, it will become the subject of our conversation, and

the theme of our rejoicing. We shall neither be ashamed nor afraid, to avow ourselves believers in divine truth David resolves to bear testimony in favour of the God of Israel "before kings," when assembled on affairs of state: and when travelling among strangers, in "the house of his pilgrimage," that neither his voice nor his harp should be prostituted to idol worship, however popular; but the word and truth of God should form "his theme, his inspiration, and his song."

68 Thou art good, and doest good: teach me thy statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

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

JOD.

73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.

[salvation.

77 Let thy tender inercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause but I will meditate in thy precepts.

79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

CAPH.

81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. (A)

CXIX. Continued. precious than thousands of gold and silver." "In the school of affliction, (says Dr. Boothroyd,) sin is brought to remembrance, repentance promoted, the judgment informed, the heart improved, the spirit of prayer strengthened, and the principles of new and holy obedience established."

"I love thee, therefore, O my God,
And breathe toward thy dear abode;
Where, in thy presence fully blest,
Thy chosen saints for ever rest."

Ver. 66. Good judgment-Heb. "Taste," or savour. It is applied both to bodily and mental taste, and in the title of Ps. xxxiv. is rendered behaviour. See Ainsworth and Horne.

Ver. 70. Fet as grease-Ainsworth, "As gross as fat;" Boothroyd, "Void of feeling," which is rather the interpretation.

Ver. 75. Right-Heb. "righteousness."
Ver. 80. Sound-Heb. " Perfect," sincere; ver. 1.

Conper.

Ver. 82. Mine eyes fail-That is, are wearied (or worn) with waiting for its fulfilment See Ps. 1 xix. 3. Ver. 83. Like a bottle-That is, a bottle of skin, which is dried and shrivelled. So the psalmist's body, by disease and age: "How many are the days of thy servant!”

Ver. 85. Not after thy law-That is, contrary to thy law. See Exod. xxi. 33; Ps. xxxv. 7. Ver. 86. FaithfulHeb. Faithfulness."

89 ¶ For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants.

92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in nine affliction.

93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened

me.

94 I am thine, save me; for I have sought thy precepts.

95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.

MEM.

97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

98 Thou, through thy commandments, hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.

102 I have not departed from thy judgments for thou hast taught me.

103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through thy precepts I get un

[of God's word.

derstanding: therefore I hate every false way.

NUN.

105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thý righteous judgments.

107 I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.

108 Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.

109 My soul is continually in my hand; yet do I not forget thy law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.

111 Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.

112 I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.

SAMECH.

113 I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.

114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

115 Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

118 Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.

119 Thou puttest away all the

Ver. 112. To perform Heb. "To do."the end-That is, of this life. See ver. 33.

-Unto

Ver. 113. I hate vain thoughts.-The term "vain,” not being in the original, various epithets have been supplied, as "wavering, foolish," and, by Luther, "light-minded." Perhaps no supply is necessary. Mr. Ainsworth thinks the reference is to "the top branches of trees," continually waving in the wind'; the sense may be, "I hate speculations;" meaning, sceptical notions in religion:

Ver. 119. Thou puttest away-Heb. "Cansest to cease."-Like dross-Or refuse, fit only to be thrown away. See Ezek. xxii. 18-22.

(B) Ver. 89-120. Farther meditations on God's word, accompanied by prayer.-The psalmist's attachment to the word of God, led him to make it the theme of his meditation, both by day and night. It was honey to his taste, a light to his path, and the choicest of all his treasures. But what was that word? The Pentateuch, and a few other books of the Old Testament; but neither the Psalms, as a whole, nor any of the prophets. If, then, a part only of the Old Testament was thus precious, what store ought we to set by our Bible, as comprehending both Testaments, and especially as including the discourses of our Lord, and the epistolary correspondence of his

-

apostles? But the author of this psalm is an example for us, not only in his medita tions on the word of God, but in his devo tional breathings, mingled with those me ditations; one of which is particularl worthy of our adoption. Most of our back slidings from God are preceded by too muc confidence in ourselves, and in our strengt to resist temptation. Well, therefore, ma we pray, "Hold thou me up, and I sha be safe." Indeed, our safety depen solely on the support of divine grace.

Ver. 132. As thou usest to do-Heb. "Accord to the custom towards those," &c.

Ver. 138. Righteous and very faithful-H "Righteousness, and very faithfulness."

Ver. 139. My zeal hath consumed me— "Cut me off." See Ps. lxix. 9.

H

Ver. 140. Thy word is very pure-Heb. " Tri or" refined," like gold. Ps. xix. 10.

[frequent devotion,

RESH.

153¶ Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. 154 Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word.

155 Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

156 Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD: quicken me according to thy judgments.

157 Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies.

158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word.

159 Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O LORD, according to thy loving-kindness.

160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

SCHIN.

161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.

162 I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.

163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.

164 Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judg

ments.

(C) Ver. 121-152. An appeal to, and prayer for the Divine protection. The Psalmist David, as we know, being engaged in a righteous cause, is warranted in his appeal to God, to support him in his pretensions, which were founded on the divine appointment and decree; and his enemies were now so numerous, and had become so powerful, that he seems warranted in saying, "It is time for thee, Lord, to Work:" for no human aid seemed sufficient to extricate or deliver him. And we may always conclude this to be the case, when men make "void the law" of God. A remark, this, not impertinent in the pre

sent time, when some persons appear to glory in thus treating the divine law, though St. Paul revolted at the idea:"What, then, do we make void the law through faith? God forbid !" (Rom. iii. 31.) The fact is, we can never think or speak too highly of any part of God's word, unless we misplace it for some other part, as the law for the gospel, &c. Though salvation be not of the law, yet the subjects of salvation should never vilify God's law, to exalt his gospel. "The law is good, if a man use it lawfully." (1 Tim. i. 8)

Ver. 146. And I shall keep-Marg, "That 1 may kiep.”

Ver. 148. Prevent the night watches. Ixiii. 6, &c. Ver. 156. Great-Marg. "Many are," &c. Ver. 160. Thy word is true from the beginning ➡