12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
12 Praise be to you, Lord; teach me your decrees.
12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!
12 Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes!
12 I praise you, O Lord ; teach me your decrees.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.
64 The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!
64 Your love, God, fills the earth! Train me to live by your counsel.
64 The earth, O Lord, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes.
64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.
(Read Psalm 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.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
68 You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.
68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.
68 You are good, and the source of good; train me in your goodness.
68 You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes.
68 You are good and do only good; teach me your decrees.
(Read Psalm 119:65-72)
However God has dealt with us, he has dealt with us better than we deserve; and all in love, and for our good. Many have knowledge, but little judgment; those who have both, are fortified against the snares of Satan, and furnished for the service of God. We are most apt to wander from God, when we are easy in the world. We should leave our concerns to the disposal of God, seeing we know not what is good for us. Lord, thou art our bountiful Benefactor; incline our hearts to faith and obedience. The psalmist will go on in his duty with constancy and resolution. The proud are full of the world, and its wealth and pleasures; these make them senseless, secure, and stupid. God visits his people with affliction, that they may learn his statutes. Not only God's promises, but even his law, his percepts, though hard to ungodly men, are desirable, and profitable, because they lead us with safety and delight unto eternal life.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:12
Commentary on Psalm 119:9-16
(Read Psalm 119:9-16)
To original corruption all have added actual sin. The ruin of the young is either living by no rule at all, or choosing false rules: let them walk by Scripture rules. To doubt of our own wisdom and strength, and to depend upon God, proves the purpose of holiness is sincere. God's word is treasure worth laying up, and there is no laying it up safe but in our hearts, that we may oppose God's precepts to the dominion of sin, his promises to its allurements, and his threatenings to its violence. Let this be our plea with Him to teach us his statutes, that, being partakers of his holiness, we may also partake of his blessedness. And those whose hearts are fed with the bread of life, should with their lips feed many. In the way of God's commandments there is the unsearchable riches of Christ. But we do not meditate on God's precepts to good purpose, unless our good thoughts produce good works. I will not only think of thy statutes, but do them with delight. And it will be well to try the sincerity of our obedience by tracing the spring of it; the reality of our love by cheerfulness in appointed duties.