17 Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word.
17 GIMEL. Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.
17 Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.
17 Be generous with me and I'll live a full life; not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.
17 Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.
17 Be good to your servant, that I may live and obey your word.
3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.
3 Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn;
3 The pains of death surrounded me, And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me; I found trouble and sorrow.
3 Death wrapped its ropes around me; the terrors of the grave overtook me. I saw only trouble and sorrow.
(Read Psalm 116:1-9)
We have many reasons for loving the Lord, but are most affected by his loving-kindness when relieved out of deep distress. When a poor sinner is awakened to a sense of his state, and fears that he must soon sink under the just wrath of God, then he finds trouble and sorrow. But let all such call upon the Lord to deliver their souls, and they will find him gracious and true to his promise. Neither ignorance nor guilt will hinder their salvation, when they put their trust in the Lord. Let us all speak of God as we have found him; and have we ever found him otherwise than just and good? It is of his mercies that we are not consumed. Let those who labour and are heavy laden come to him, that they may find rest to their souls; and if at all drawn from their rest, let them haste to return, remembering how bountifully the Lord has dealt with them. We should deem ourselves bound to walk as in his presence. It is a great mercy to be kept from being swallowed up with over-much sorrow. It is a great mercy for God to hold us by the right hand, so that we are not overcome and overthrown by a temptation. But when we enter the heavenly rest, deliverance from sin and sorrow will be complete; we shall behold the glory of the Lord, and walk in his presence with delight we cannot now conceive.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 119:17
Commentary on Psalm 119:17-24
(Read Psalm 119:17-24)
If God deals in strict justice with us, we all perish. We ought to spend our lives in his service; we shall find true life in keeping his word. Those that would see the wondrous things of God's law and gospel, must beg him to give them understanding, by the light of his Spirit. Believers feel themselves strangers on earth; they fear missing their way, and losing comfort by erring from God's commandments. Every sanctified soul hungers after the word of God, as food which there is no living without. There is something of pride at the bottom of every wilful sin. God can silence lying lips; reproach and contempt may humble and do us good, and then they shall be removed. Do we find the weight of the cross is above that we are able to bear? He that bore it for us will enable us to bear it; upheld by him we cannot sink. It is sad when those who should protect the innocent, are their betrayers. The psalmist went on in duty, and he found comfort in the word of God. The comforts of the word of God are most pleasant to a gracious soul, when other comforts are made bitter; and those that would have God's testimonies to be their delight, must be advised by them. May the Lord direct us in exercising repentance of sin, and faith in Christ.