Psalm 119:41-48 VAU
- Gleanings from Historical CommentariesCollectedby
Jack Kettler
Psalm 119:41-48
introductory observations from The
Treasury of David:
“Ver. 41-48. This whole
section consists of petitions and promises.
The petitions are two; Psalms 119:41; Psalms
119:43. The promises are six. This, among
many, is a difference between godly men and
others: all men seek good things from God, but
the wicked so seek that they give him nothing
back again, nor yet will promise any sort of
return. Their prayers must be unprofitable,
because they proceed from love of themselves,
and not of the Lord. If so be they obtain that
which is for their necessity, they care not to
give to the Lord that which is for his glory:
but the godly, as they seek good things, so
they give praise to God when they have gotten
them, and return the use of things received,
to the glory of God who gave them. They love
not themselves for themselves, but for the
Lord; what they seek from him they seek it for
this end, that they may be the more able to
serve him. Let us take heed unto this; because
it is a clear token whereby such as are truly
religious are distinguished from counterfeit
dissemblers.” William Cowper. (1)
41 Let thy mercies come also
unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according
to thy word.
From Gill's
Exposition of the Entire Bible:
VAU.--The Sixth Part.
“VAU. Let thy mercies come
also unto me, O Lord,.... Meaning not his
providential mercies, but his special mercies
and favours; his mercies of old, which were
upon his heart and thoughts from everlasting;
the sure mercies of David, or the blessings of
the everlasting covenant; the spiritual
blessings, wherewith the saints are blessed in
Christ; the grace that was given to them in
him, before the world was: these are desired
by the psalmist to be remembered, shown,
communicated, and applied unto him, and, as it
were, that they might come into his heart and
soul; which is done when the love of God is
shed abroad there, when full flows of it come
in, and all grace is made to abound, and every
want is supplied;
even thy salvation, according
to thy word; not temporal, but spiritual and
eternal salvation; which God has appointed his
people to, secured for them in covenant,
promised them in Christ, whom he sent to work
it out, and which is in him; and which in the
effectual calling comes to the soul, being
brought near and applied to a sensible sinner
by the Spirit of God. Here a fresh view of
interest in it, a fresh visit with it, and a
restoration of the joys of it, are desired;
and which salvation flows from the abundant
mercy and free favour of God in Christ; and
is, according to his word of promise, spoken
by the mouth of all his holy prophets, from
the beginning of the world; and may here
respect the particular word of promise made to
David, that God would put away his sin, and
save him, and that he should not die, 2 Samuel
12:13; or his word of promise in general, to
all that seek and call upon the Lord, that
they shall find grace and mercy, and be saved
everlastingly.” (2)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
O LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine
singular
Strong's Hebrew 3069: 1)
Jehovah-used primarily in the combination
'Lord Jehovah' 1a) equal to H03068 but pointed
with the vowels of H0430
Cross-References for verse
41: Psalm 119:58; Psalm 119:76; Psalm 119:77
42 So shall I have wherewith
to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust
in thy word.
From the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Bible Commentary:
“42. The possession of God's
gift of ‘salvation’ (Ps 119:41) will be the
Psalmist's answer to the foe's "reproach,"
that his hope was a fallacious one.” (3)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
in Your word.
דָבָ֑ר (ḏā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 1697: 1)
speech, word, speaking, thing 1a) speech 1b)
saying, utterance 1c) word, words 1d)
business, occupation, acts, matter, case,
something, manner (by extension)
Cross-References for verse
42: Psalm 102:8; Psalm 119:39; Proverbs 27:11
43 And take not the word of
truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have
hoped in thy judgments.
From Barnes'
Notes on the Bible:
“And take not the word of
truth utterly out of my mouth - Do not take it
entirely or altogether from me. Let me not be
utterly hopeless; let me be at no time without
some evidence that thy word dwells in me with
sustaining and sanctifying power. The prayer
seems to have been offered when the mind was
troubled and in doubt, and when it seemed as
if all hope and all trust in the truth of God
would vanish. The words rendered “utterly”
mean “to very much;” that is, altogether or
entirely. Let it not be done until the extreme
shall be reached.
For I have hoped in thy
judgments - I do trust in thy word, and it is
my only trust. If that is gone, all is gone.
As long as I can hold on to that, even in the
slightest degree, I am safe. When all else
fails, if that has not utterly failed me, I
shall be secure.” (4)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
I hope
יִחָֽלְתִּי׃ (yi·ḥā·lə·tî)
Verb - Piel
- Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 3176: 1) to
wait, hope, expect 1a) (Niphal)
to wait 1b) (Piel)
1b1) to wait, await, tarry 1b2) to wait for,
hope for 1c) (Hiphil) to wait, tarry, wait
for, hope for
in Your judgments.
לְמִשְׁפָּטֶ֣ךָ (lə·miš·pā·ṭe·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun -
masculine plural construct | second person
masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4941: 1)
judgment, justice, ordinance 1a) judgment 1a1)
act of deciding a case 1a2) place, court, seat
of judgment 1a3) process, procedure,
litigation (before judges) 1a4) case, cause
(presented for judgment) 1a5) sentence,
decision (of judgment) 1a6) execution (of
judgment) 1a7) time (of judgment) 1b) justice,
right, rectitude (attributes of God or man)
1c) ordinance 1d) decision (in law) 1e) right,
privilege, due (legal) 1f) proper, fitting,
measure, fitness, custom, manner, plan
Cross-References for verse
43: Psalm 119:49; Psalm 119:74; Psalm 119:81
44 So shall I keep thy law
continually forever and ever.
From Matthew
Poole's Commentary:
“So shall I be obliged and
encouraged to the constant and perpetual study
and observation of thy laws.” (5)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
obey
וְאֶשְׁמְרָ֖ה (wə·’eš·mə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw |
Verb - Qal
- Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first
person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 8104: 1) to
keep, guard, observe, give heed 1a) (Qal) 1a1)
to keep, have charge of 1a2) to keep, guard,
keep watch and ward, protect, save life 1a2a)
watch, watchman (participle) 1a3) to watch
for, wait for 1a4) to watch, observe 1a5) to
keep, retain, treasure up (in memory) 1a6) to
keep (within bounds), restrain 1a7) to
observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant
or commands), perform (vow) 1a8) to keep,
preserve, protect 1a9) to keep, reserve 1b)
(Niphal) 1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed,
take care, beware 1b2) to keep oneself,
refrain, abstain 1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed 1d) (Hithpael) to
keep oneself from
Your law,
תוֹרָתְךָ֥ (ṯō·w·rā·ṯə·ḵā)
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
44: Psalm 119:33; Psalm 119:45
45 And I will walk at
liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
From the Pulpit
Commentary:
“Verse 45. - And I will walk
at liberty. Rekhabah is literally “the open
square of a city,” hence “a wide, open, free
space.” In obeying God's commandments the
psalmist will not feel himself under
constraint, but a wholly free agent. For I
seek thy precepts. Inclination, not
constraint, makes him obey God's precepts - he
“seeks” them, “loves” them (ver. 47),
"delights in" them (vers. 16, 24, 47).” (6)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
Your precepts.
פִקֻּדֶ֣יךָ (p̄iq·qu·ḏe·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural
construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 6490: 1)
precept, statute
Cross-References for verse
45: Psalm 119:94; Psalm 119:155; Proverbs 4:12
46 I will speak of thy
testimonies also before kings, and will not be
ashamed.
From Calvin’s
Commentary:
“46. And I will steal, of thy
testimonies before kings In these words he
seems to believe that he is in possession of
that which he formerly prayed for. Having
said, "Take not away the word out of my
mouths" and now, as if he had obtained what he
requested, he rises up, and maintains he will
not be dumb, even were he called upon to speak
in the presence of kings. There can be no
question that he affirms he would willingly
stand forward in vindication of the glory of
God in the face of the whole world. He selects
kings, who are generally more to be dreaded
than other men, and haughtily shut the mouths
of God's witnesses. Sometimes, indeed, it
happens we will not hold out even in the
presence of men in the humblest ranks of life.
The moment a man sets himself in opposition to
the word of God, we instinctively shrink back
from fear; and that boldness of speech, of
which we boasted at first, instantly
disappears: but our want of courage is most
palpable when we are summoned before the
thrones of kings. And this is the reason why
David asserts, that he will not only hold out
against enemies among the meanest of men, but
also will remain firm and fearless before
kings. These words inform us that we have
profited well and truly by God's word, when
our hearts are so completely fortified against
the fear of man, that we do not dread the
presence of kings, even though all the world
attempts; to fill us with dejection and
dismay. It is most unbecoming that God's glory
should be obscured by their empty splendor.” (7)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
I will speak
וַאֲדַבְּרָ֣ה (wa·’ă·ḏab·bə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw |
Verb - Piel
- Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first
person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 1696: 1) to
speak, declare, converse, command, promise,
warn, threaten, sing 1a) (Qal)
to speak 1b) (Niphal) to speak with one
another, talk 1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak 1c2) to promise 1d) (Pual)
to be spoken 1e) (Hithpael)
to speak 1f) (Hiphil)
to lead away, put to flight
Cross-References for verse
46: Matthew 10:18; Acts 26:1; Acts 26:2; Psalm
119:80
47 And I will delight myself
in thy commandments, which I have loved.
From the Pulpit
Commentary Homiletics:
The Joy Of Obedience
Psalm 119:47
“And I will delight myself in
thy commandments. It may be urged, and indeed
it is sometimes urged, that "obedience is
obedience by whomsoever it is done, in
whatsoever circumstances and in whatsoever
spirit. If a master or a king issues a
command, he gets all he can expect to get if
what he wishes to be done is done. It cannot
matter to him whether it is done with a
grumble or with a smile. And it must be the
same with God. We may reasonably expect him to
be satisfied if what he wishes to have done is
done." It is easy to answer that formal
obedience involves no personal relationship;
but as soon as that is recognized, the moral
quality of the obedience becomes the true
ground of acceptance. What is really accepted
is the man in the obedience, and not the mere
act of obedience. The best figures of the
Divine relations with men are taken from
family life. A master may be satisfied with
formal obedience, and so may a king (though
the deeper truth is that both want to find
willing love-service in the obedience), but a
father never is. He wants his child to obey;
but he never can rest content until his child
loves to obey, and is manifestly happy in his
obedience.
I. AN OBEDIENCE WHICH CAUSES
STRAIN.
1. There is the strain which
follows upon the feeling that we must. A power
is compelling us - a power which we fear; a
power which can punish, "casting body and soul
into hell." Much of the obedience of life has
no higher range than this. Men obey, but there
is neither credit nor joy in their obedience,
for in their hearts they say, "We would not,
if we dared not." Neither God nor man cares
for such obedience as that.
2. There is the strain which
follows upon the feeling that we ought. This
is altogether higher and nobler. Duty is one
of the most exalted inspirations. And yet it
may keep the strain, and a man may but force
himself to meet his duty. If man may be
satisfied with that, God cannot. The true
obedience is out of the range of strain. God's
acceptance waits until heart and hand go well
together, and we love what we do.
II. THE OBEDIENCE WHICH KNOWS
NO STRAIN. It is no trouble to do what we wish
to do. There is no sense of strain when we
love and choose and persist in finding our
pleasure in what we do. The soul moves freely
in its delights. Make a joy of your obedience,
and the result is that obedience becomes your
joy.” - R. Tuck (8)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
I delight
וְאֶשְׁתַּֽעֲשַׁ֥ע (wə·’eš·ta·‘ă·ša‘)
Conjunctive waw |
Verb - Hitpael
- Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if
contextual - first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 8173: 1) to
stroke, be smeared over, be blinded 1a) (Qal)
1a1) to be smeared over, be blinded 1a2) to
smear eyes shut 1b) (Hiphil) to besmear (of
eyes), smear over eyes 1c) (Hithpalpel) to
blind oneself, be blinded 2) to sport, take
delight in 2a) (Pilpel) to sport, delight in,
take delight in, delight oneself 2b) (Palpal)
to be fondled 2c) (Hithpalpel) to delight
oneself
in Your commandments
בְּמִצְוֺתֶ֗יךָ (bə·miṣ·wō·ṯe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun -
feminine plural construct | second person
masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 4687: 1)
commandment 1a) commandment (of man) 1b) the
commandment (of God) 1c) commandment (of code
of wisdom)
48 My hands also will I lift
up unto thy commandments, which I have loved;
and I will meditate in thy statutes.
From Keil
and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the
Old Testament:
“The eightfold Vav.
He prays for the grace of true and fearlessly
joyous confession. The lxx renders Psalm
119:41: καὶ
ἔλθοι ἐπ ̓ ἐμε ̓ τὸ ἔλεός σου;
but the Targum and Jerome rightly (cf. Psalm
119:77, Isaiah 63:7) have the plural: God's
proofs of loving-kindness in accordance with
His promises will put him in the position that
he will not be obliged to be dumb in the
presence of him who reproaches him (חרף,
prop. a plucker, cf. Arab. charûf, a lamb
equals a plucker of leaves or grass), but will
be able to answer him on the ground of his own
experience. The verb ענה,
which in itself has many meanings, acquires
the signification "to give an answer" through
the word, דּבר,
that is added (synon. השׁיב
דּבר). Psalm 119:43 also refers to the
duty of confessing God. The meaning of the
prayer is, that God may not suffer him to come
to such a pass that he will be utterly unable
to witness for the truth; for language dies
away in the mouth of him who is unworthy of
its before God. The writer has no fear of this
for himself, for his hope is set towards God's
judgments (למשׁפּטך,
defective plural, as also in Psalm 119:149; in
proof of which, compare Psalm 119:156 and
Psalm 119:175), his confidence takes its stand
upon them. The futures which follow from Psalm
119:44 to Psalm 119:48 declare that what he
would willingly do by the grace of God, and
strives to do, is to walk בּרחבה,
in a broad space (elsewhere בּמּרחב),
therefore unstraitened, which in this instance
is not equivalent to happily, but courageously
and unconstrainedly, without allowing myself
to be intimidated, and said of inward freedom
which makes itself known outwardly. In Psalm
119:46 the Vulgate renders: Et
loquebar de (in) testimoniis
tuis in conspectu regum et non confundebar
- the motto of the Augsburg Confession, to
which it was adapted especially in connection
with this historical interpretation of the two
verbs, which does not correspond to the
original text. The lifting up of the hands in
Psalm 119:48 is an expression of fervent
longing desire, as in connection with prayer,
Psalm 28:2; Psalm 63:5; Psalm 134:2; Psalm
141:2, and frequently. The second אשׁר
אהבתי is open to the suspicion of being
an inadvertent repetition. שׂיח בּ
(synon. בּ הגה)
signifies a still or audible meditating that
is absorbed in the object.” (9)
Gleanings from Strong's
Lexicon:
and I meditate
וְאָשִׂ֥יחָה (wə·’ā·śî·ḥāh)
Conjunctive waw |
Verb - Qal
- Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first
person common singular
Strong's Hebrew 7878: 1) to
put forth, mediate, muse, commune, speak,
complain, ponder, sing 1a) (Qal)
1a1) to complain 1a2) to muse, meditate upon,
study, ponder 1a3) to talk, sing, speak 1b) (Polel)
to meditate, consider, put forth thoughts
on Your statutes.
בְחֻקֶּֽיךָ׃ (ḇə·ḥuq·qe·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun -
masculine plural construct | second person
masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew 2706: 1)
statute, ordinance, limit, something
prescribed, due 1a) prescribed task 1b)
prescribed portion 1c) action prescribed (for
oneself), resolve 1d) prescribed due 1e)
prescribed limit, boundary 1f) enactment,
decree, ordinance 1f1) specific decree 1f2)
law in general 1g) enactments, statutes 1g1)
conditions 1g2) enactments 1g3) decrees 1g4)
civil enactments prescribed by God
Concluding summary from Matthew
Henry’s Bible Concise Commentary Psalm
119:41-48:
“119:41-48 Lord, I have by
faith thy mercies in view; let me by prayer
prevail to obtain them. And when the salvation
of the saints is completed, it will plainly
appear that it was not in vain to trust in
God's word. We need to pray that we may never
be afraid or ashamed to own God's truths and
ways before men. And the psalmist resolves to
keep God's law, in a constant course of
obedience, without backsliding. The service of
sin is slavery; the service of God is liberty.
There is no full happiness, or perfect
liberty, but in keeping God's law. We must
never be ashamed or afraid to own our
religion. The more delight we take in the
service of God, the nearer we come to
perfection. Not only consent to his law as
good, but take pleasure in it as good for us.
Let me put forth all the strength I have, to
do it. Something of this mind of Christ is in
every true disciple.
Teach me thy statutes, not
the mere words, but the way of applying them
to myself. God, by his Spirit, gives a right
understanding. But the Spirit of revelation in
the word will not suffice, unless we have the
Spirit of wisdom in the heart. God puts his
Spirit within us, causing us to walk in his
statutes. The sin here prayed against is
covetousness. Those that would have the love
of God rooted in them, must get the love of
the world rooted out; for the friendship of
the world is enmity with God. Quicken me in
thy way; to redeem time, and to do every duty
with liveliness of spirit. Beholding vanity
deadens us, and slackens our pace; a traveller
must not stand gazing upon every object that
presents itself to his view. The promises of
God's word greatly relate to the preservation
of the true believer. When Satan has drawn a
child of God into worldly compliances, he will
reproach him with the falls into which he led
him. Victory must come from the cross of
Christ. When we enjoy the sweetness of God's
precepts, it will make us long for more
acquaintance with them. And where God has
wrought to will, he will work to do.” (10)
Notes on Psalm 119:25-32 VAU:
C. H. Spurgeon,
The
Treasury of David, Vol. II,
(Nashville, Tennessee, Thomas Nelson), p.
231.
2.John Gill, Exposition
of the Old and New Testaments, Psalms, 9
Volumes, (Grace Works, Multi-Media Labs),
2011, p. 1389.
3.Jamieson, Fausset and
Brown, Commentary
on the Whole Bible, (Grand Rapids,
Michigan, Zondervan, 1977) p. 450.
4.Albert Barnes, THE AGES
DIGITAL LIBRARYCOMMENTARY, Barnes’
Notes on the Bible, Psalms, Vol. 5
p.1809.
Matthew Poole's Commentary
on the Holy Bible, vol. 2, (Peabody,
Massachusetts, Hendrickson Publishers, 1985)
p. 185.
H. D. M. Spence and
Joseph S. Exell, The
Pulpit Commentary, Psalms, Vol.8.,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans Publishing
Company reprint 1978), p. 105.
7.John Calvin, Calvin's
Commentaries, Psalms, Volume V1, (Grand
Rapids, Michigan, Baker Book House Reprinted
1979), pp. 434-435.
8.H. D. M. Spence and
Joseph S. Exell, The
Pulpit Commentary, Psalms, Vol.8.,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan, Eerdmans Publishing
Company reprint 1978), p. 151-152.
Keil-Delitzsch, Commentary
on the Old Testament, Psalms, vol. 5,
(Grand Rapids, Michigan, William B. Eerdmans
Publishing Company, Reprinted 1985), p. 249-
250.
Matthew Henry, Concise
Commentary, Psalms, (Nashville,
Tennessee, Thomas Nelson), p. 958.
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:
www.TheReligionThatStartedInAHat.com