Psalm 119:33-48
33 <HE> O Lord, let me see the way of your rules, and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me wisdom, so that I may keep your law; going after it with all my heart.
35 Make me go in the way of your teachings; for they are my delight. 36 Let my heart be turned to your unchanging word, and not to evil desire.
37 Let my eyes be turned away from what is false; give me life in your ways.
38 Give effect to your word to your servant, in whose heart is the fear of you.
39 Take away the shame which is my fear; for your decisions are good.
40 See how great is my desire for your orders: give me life in your righteousness.
41 <VAU> Let your mercies come to me, O Lord, even your salvation, as you have said. 42 So that I may have an answer for the man who would put me to shame; for I have faith in your word.
43 Take not your true word quite out of my mouth; for I have put my hope in your decisions. 44 So that I may keep your law for ever and ever;
45 So that my way may be in a wide place: because my search has been for your orders. 46 So that I may give knowledge of your unchanging word before kings, and not be put to shame. 47 And so that I may take delight in your teachings, to which I have given my love. 48 And so that my hands may be stretched out to you; and I will give thought to your rules.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:33-48
Commentary on Psalm 119:33-40
(Read Psalm 119:33-40)
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.
Commentary on Psalm 119:41-48
(Read Psalm 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.