Psalm 119:57-64 CHETH -
Gleanings from Historical CommentariesCollectedby
Jack Kettler
Psalm 119:57-64
introductory observations from The
Treasury of David:
“In
this section the Psalmist seems to take firm
hold upon God himself; appropriating him
(Psalm 119:57), crying out for him (Psalm
119:58), returning to him (Psalm 119:59),
solacing himself in him (Psalm 119:61, Psalm
119:62), associating with his people (Psalm
119:63), and sighing for personal experience
of his goodness (Psalm 119:64). Note how Psalm
119:57 is linked to the last of the former
one, of which indeed it is an expanded
repetition. This I had because I kept thy
precepts. Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have
said that I would keep thy words.” (1)
57
Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that
I would keep thy words.
From Gill's
Exposition of the Entire Bible:
“CHETH.--The
Eighth Part.
CHETH.
Thou art my portion, O Lord,.... Which he
chose and preferred to all others; to the
riches, honours, and profits of this world;
the grant of which was made to him in the
covenant of grace; the first discovery of it
was from the Lord himself; and the choice and
claim were made under the influence of his
grace; and a great act of faith it is to
assert this, and a wonderful blessing to enjoy
it. This is a large portion indeed, immense
and inconceivable, soul satisfying, safe, and
forever! See Psalm 73:26,
I have said that I would keep
thy words; keep his commandments, lay up his
promises, observe his doctrines, profess and
retain them; this he determined within himself
to do, under a sense of the love of God to
him, in being his portion and inheritance.
Some render the words, in connection with the
former, thus, “my portion, O Lord, I said,
is”, or “shall be, to keep thy words” (l); it
is the part and portion of some to preach the
word, and of others to hear it; and of all to
keep or observe it, its precepts, promises,
and truths. Aben Ezra gives the sense of them
thus,
‘This
I said to many, perhaps they will keep thy
words;’
Namely,
that the Lord was his portion, which he
thought, might induce them to an observance of
them, as he had done.” (2)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
Is
my portion;
חֶלְקִ֖י (ḥel·qî)
Noun
- masculine singular construct | first person
common singular
58
I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be
merciful unto me according to thy word.
From The
Pulpit Commentary:
“Verse
58. - I entreated thy favor with my whole
heart; literally, I have supplicated thy face
(comp. Psalm 45:12). Be merciful unto me,
according to thy Word. A repetition of the
prayer of ver. 41.” (3)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
Be
gracious to me
חָ֝נֵּ֗נִי (ḥān·nê·nî)
Verb
- Qal
- Imperative - masculine singular | first
person common singular
Strong's
Hebrew 2603: 1) to be gracious, show favour,
pity 1a) (Qal) to show favour, be gracious
1b) (Niphal) to be pitied 1c) (Piel)
to make gracious, make favourable, be gracious
1d) (Poel) to direct favour to, have
mercy on 1e) (Hophal) to be shown favour, be
shown consideration 1f) (Hithpael)
to seek favour, implore favour 2) to be
loathsome
59
I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto
thy testimonies.
From Barnes'
Notes on the Bible:
“I
thought on my ways - This language most
naturally refers to the time of conversion,
and may be employed without impropriety to
describe the process of a sinner's turning to
God. It would seem to be descriptive of the
experience of the author of the psalm when he
became personally interested in the subject of
religion. The first step in such a work is
reflection on the course of life, which has
been led; on the guilt of such a course; and
on the consequences. It is a pause in the
career of sin and folly - a pause for
reflection and thought. Compare Luke 15:17-18.
No one is converted without such reflection;
and as soon as a sinner can be made to pause
and reflect on his course, there is hope that
he will be converted. Assuredly, it is proper
for all, whatever may be their circumstances
in life, to pause from time to time; to
reflect; to ask what will be the consequences
of the course of life, which is pursued.
And
turned my feet - Changed my course of life. He
himself did this in fact; and he does not
hesitate to say that it was he who thus
turned. His own agency was employed. He does
not say that he “waited” for God to turn him;
or that he found he could not turn of himself,
but that he turned; he paused; he reflected;
he changed his course of life. This is true in
conversion always. There is an actual turning
from sin, an actual turning to God. The sinner
turns. He leaves an old path, and treads a new
one. He does this as the conscious result of
reflection on the course, which he was
pursuing; and there is nothing in his actual
turning, or in his whole future course, which
is not the proper result of reflection, or
which a proper reflection on the course of
life would not lead to and justify. Man
himself is always active in conversion. That
is, he does something; he changes; he repents;
he believes; he turns to God; it is not God
that changes, that repents, that believes,
that turns; it is the man himself. It is,
indeed, by the grace and help of God; but the
effect of that grace is not to make him idly
wait; it is to rouse him to effort; to lead
him to act.
Unto
thy testimonies - Thy law, considered as the
divine testimony in regard to what is right.”
(4)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
From
Your law.
מִ֝תּֽוֹרָתְךָ֗ (mit·tō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-m
| Noun - feminine singular construct | second
person masculine singular
Strong's
Hebrew 8451: 1) law, direction, instruction
1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
1a1) body of prophetic teaching 1a2)
instruction in Messianic age 1a3) body of
priestly direction or instruction 1a4) body of
legal directives 1b) law 1b1) law of the burnt
offering 1b2) of special law, codes of law 1c)
custom, manner 1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic
Law
Cross-References
for verse 59: Mark 14:72; Luke 15:17; Psalm
119:60; Lamentations 3:40;
Ezekiel 33:15
60
I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy
commandments.
From Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Bible Commentary:
“So
the prodigal son, when reduced to straits of
misery (Lu 15:17, 18).” (5)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
I hurried
חַ֭שְׁתִּי (ḥaš·tî)
Verb
- Qal
- Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's
Hebrew 2363: 1) to haste, make haste, hurry
1a) (Qal) to make haste 1b) (Hiphil)
1b1) to show haste, act quickly, hasten, come
quickly 1b2) to enjoy, be excited
Cross-References
for verse 60: Psalm 119:59; Psalm 119:61
61
The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I
have not forgotten thy law.
From Matthew
Poole's Commentary:
“Robbed
me; or, made a prey of me; done me many
injuries for my respect to thy law.” (6)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
Of
the wicked
רְשָׁעִ֣ים (rə·šā·‘îm)
Adjective
- masculine plural
Strong's
Hebrew 7563: 1) wicked, criminal 1a) guilty
one, one guilty of crime (subst) 1b) wicked
(hostile to God) 1c) wicked, guilty of sin
(against God or man)
Strong's
Hebrew 3034: 1) to throw, shoot, cast 1a) (Qal)
to shoot (arrows) 1b) (Piel)
to cast, cast down, throw down 1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to give thanks, laud, praise 1c2) to
confess, confess (the name of God) 1d) (Hithpael)
1d1) to confess (sin) 1d2) to give thanks
Cross-References
for verse 62: Psalm 119:7; Psalm 119:55;
Isaiah 26:9
63
I am a companion of all them that fear thee,
and of them that keep thy precepts.
From Keil
and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the
Old Testament:
“The
eightfold Heth. To understand and to keep
God's word is his portion, the object of his
incessant praying and thanksgiving, the
highest grace or favour that can come to him.
According to Psalm 16:5; Psalm 73:26, the
words חלקי
ה belong together. Psalm 119:57 is an
inference drawn from it (אמר ל
as in Exodus 2:14, and frequently), and the
existing division of the verse is verified. חלּה פּני,
as in Psalm 45:13, is an expression of
caressing, flattering entreaty, in Latin,
caput mulcere
(demulcere). His turning to the
word of God the poet describes in Psalm 119:59
as a result of a careful trying of his
actions. After that he quickly and cheerfully,
Psalm 119:60, determined to keep it without
any long deliberation with flesh and blood,
although the snares of wicked men surround
him. The meaning of חבלי
is determined according to Psalm 119:110 : the
pointing does not distinguish so sharply as
one might have expected between חבלי,
ὠδῖνας,
and חבלי, snares, bonds (vid., Psalm
18:5.); but the plural nowhere, according to
the usage of the language as we now have it,
signifies bands (companies), from the singular
in 1 Samuel 10:5 (Bttcher, 800). Thankfulness
urges him to get up at midnight (acc. temp. as
in Job 34:20) to prostrate himself before God
and to pray. Accordingly, he is on friendly
terms with, he is closely connected with
(Proverbs 28:24), all who fear God. Out of the
fulness of the loving-kindness of God, which
is nowhere unattested upon earth (Psalm 119:64
equals Psalm 33:5), he implores for himself
the inward teaching concerning His word as the
highest and most cherished of mercies.” (8)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
Fear You,
יְרֵא֑וּךָ (yə·rê·’ū·ḵā)
Verb
- Qal
- Perfect - third person common plural |
second person masculine singular
Strong's
Hebrew 3372: 1) to fear, revere, be afraid 1a)
(Qal) 1a1) to fear, be afraid
1a2) to stand in awe of, be awed 1a3) to fear,
reverence, honour, respect 1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared
1b2) to cause astonishment and awe, be held in
awe 1b3) to inspire reverence or godly fear or
awe 1c) (Piel)
to make afraid, terrify 2) (TWOT) to shoot,
pour
Cross-References
for verse 63: Psalm 16:3; Psalm 101:6
64
The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach
me thy statutes.
From Matthew
Poole's Commentary:
“Thou
dost satisfy the just desires and necessities
of all men and all creatures with the fruits
of thy goodness. The generality of other men
chiefly desire the blessings of this life;
but, Lord, give me thy spiritual blessings,
the saving knowledge, love, and practice of
thy law.” (9)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
The earth
הָאָ֗רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article
| Noun - feminine singular
Strong's
Hebrew 776: 1) land, earth 1a) earth 1a1)
whole earth (as opposed to a part) 1a2) earth
(as opposed to heaven) 1a3) earth
(inhabitants) 1b) land 1b1) country, territory
1b2) district, region 1b3) tribal territory
1b4) piece of ground 1b5) land of Canaan,
Israel 1b6) inhabitants of land 1b7) Sheol,
land without return, (under) world 1b8) city
(-state) 1c) ground, surface of the earth 1c1)
ground 1c2) soil 1d) (in phrases) 1d1) people
of the land 1d2) space or distance of country
(in measurements of distance) 1d3) level or
plain country 1d4) land of the living 1d5)
end(s) of the earth 1e) (almost wholly late in
usage) 1e1) lands, countries 1e1a) often in
contrast to Canaan
Cross-References
for verse 64: Psalm 33:5; Psalm 119:12; Psalm
119:65
Concluding summary from Matthew
Henry’s Bible Concise Commentary Psalm
119:49-56:
“119:57-64
True believers take the Lord for the portion
of their inheritance, and nothing less will
satisfy them. The psalmist prayed with his
whole heart, knowing how to value the blessing
he prayed for: he desired the mercy promised,
and depended on the promise for it. He turned
from by-paths, and returned to God's
testimonies. He delayed not. It behoves
sinners to hasten to escape; and the believer
will be equally in haste to glorify God. No
care or grief should take away God's word out
of our minds, or hinder the comfort it
bestows. There is no situation on earth in
which a believer has not cause to be thankful.
Let us feel ashamed that others are more
willing to keep from sleep to spend the time
in sinful pleasures, than we are to praise
God. And we should be more earnest in prayer,
that our hearts may be filled with his mercy,
grace, and peace.” (10)
Notes
on Psalm 119:57-64 Cheth:
C. H. Spurgeon,
The
Treasury of David, Vol. II,
(Nashville, Tennessee, Thomas Nelson), p.
254.
2.John
Gill, Exposition
of the Old and New Testaments, Psalms,
(Grace Works, Multi-Media Labs), 2011, p.
1394.
3.H.
D. M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell, The
Pulpit Commentary, Psalms, Vol.8.,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans Publishing
Company reprint 1978), p. 106.
4.Albert
Barnes, THE AGES DIGITAL LIBRARYCOMMENTARY, Barnes’
Notes on the Bible, Psalms, Vol. 5
p.1816.
5.Jamieson,
Fausset and Brown, Commentary
on the Whole Bible, (Grand Rapids,
Michigan, Zondervan, 1977) p. 450.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
on the Holy Bible, vol. 2, (Peabody,
Massachusetts, Hendrickson Publishers, 1985)
p. 186.
7.H.
D. M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell, The
Pulpit Commentary, Psalms, Vol.8.,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans Publishing
Company reprint 1978), p. 106.
8.Keil-Delitzsch, Commentary
on the Old Testament, Psalms, vol. 5,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan, William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, Reprinted 1985), p. 251.
9.Matthew
Poole's Commentary
on the Holy Bible, vol. 2, (Peabody,
Massachusetts, Hendrickson Publishers, 1985)
p. 186.
Matthew Henry, Concise
Commentary, Psalms, (Nashville,
Tennessee, Thomas Nelson), p. 959.
Mr. Kettler has
previously published articles in the Chalcedon
Report and Contra
Mundum. He and his wife Marea attend the
Westminster, CO, RPCNA Church. Mr. Kettler is
the author of the book defending the Reformed
Faith against attacks, titled: The
Religion That Started in a Hat. Available
at: http://www.TheReligionThatStartedInAHat.com