Dr. Charles Allen's Commentary on Psalm 119
Exposition of Psalm 119
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Psalter, comprising 176 verses, and is an acrostic poem, with each stanza corresponding to a letter of the Hebrew alphabet [8]. The psalmist expresses a deep longing for God's law and salvation, as evident in verse 81: "My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word" [6].
The psalm is characterized by its emphasis on the importance of God's word, with the psalmist frequently referencing it as a source of guidance, comfort, and strength. The psalmist's love for God's law is evident in verse 111, where he declares, "Your testimonies are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart" [3]. This sentiment is echoed in verse 127, "Therefore I love your commandments above gold, and above fine gold" [3].
The historical setting of Psalm 119 is uncertain, but it is generally attributed to David, possibly written towards the end of his life [8]. The psalm's themes of longing for God's salvation and law suggest that it may have been written during a time of personal struggle or persecution.
One of the key terms in Psalm 119 is "torah," translated as "law" or "instruction." The psalmist's understanding of torah encompasses not only the written law but also the broader concept of God's revelation [1]. The psalmist's love for torah is not merely intellectual but is deeply personal, as evident in verse 25: "My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word" [2].
The psalmist's petitions are a significant aspect of Psalm 119, with requests for guidance, protection, and deliverance from enemies [4, 5]. In verse 18, the psalmist prays, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law" [7]. This petition highlights the psalmist's recognition of his own limitations and his dependence on God's revelation.
The range of interpretations of Psalm 119 is reflected in the commentaries of various traditions. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, notes that the psalmist's declaration of God's judgments is not merely a matter of intellectual assent but is rooted in personal experience [10]. Calvin, one theologian, highlights the psalmist's emphasis on the authority of God's word, citing Psalm 119 as evidence of the importance of Scripture in the life of the believer [9].
Sources
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 119:2 cross-references: Deuteronomy 4:29, Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 6:17, 1 Kings 2:3, 1 Chronicles 22:19, 2 Chronicles 31:21, Psalms 25:10, Psalms 105:45, Psalms 119:10, Psalms 119:17, Psalms 119:22, Psalms 119:33, Psalms 119:34, Psalms 119:57, Psalms 119:69, Psalms 119:88, Psalms 119:101, Psalms 119:115, Psalms 119:146, Proverbs 23:26, Jeremiah 29:13, Ezekiel 36:27, John 14:23, 1 John 3:20”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 119:25 cross-references: Deuteronomy 30:6, 2 Samuel 7:27, Psalms 22:15, Psalms 44:25, Psalms 44:26, Psalms 71:20, Psalms 80:18, Psalms 119:37, Psalms 119:40, Psalms 119:88, Psalms 119:93, Psalms 119:107, Psalms 119:149, Psalms 119:156, Psalms 119:159, Psalms 143:11, Isaiah 65:25, Matthew 16:23, Romans 7:22, Romans 8:2, Philippians 3:19, Colossians 3:2”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 119:111 cross-references: Deuteronomy 33:4, Psalms 16:5, Psalms 19:8, Psalms 19:9, Psalms 119:14, Psalms 119:74, Psalms 119:92, Psalms 119:127, Psalms 119:162, Psalms 119:174, Isaiah 54:17, Jeremiah 15:16, Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:12, Hebrews 9:15, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Peter 1:8”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 119:110 cross-references: Psalms 10:8, Psalms 38:13, Psalms 57:7, Psalms 119:10, Psalms 119:21, Psalms 119:51, Psalms 119:85, Psalms 119:87, Psalms 119:95, Psalms 124:6, Psalms 140:5, Psalms 141:9, Proverbs 1:11, Jeremiah 18:22, Daniel 6:10, Luke 20:19”
- Treasury of Scripture Knowledge “Psalms 119:95 cross-references: 1 Samuel 23:20, 2 Samuel 17:1, Psalms 10:8, Psalms 27:2, Psalms 37:32, Psalms 38:12, Psalms 119:24, Psalms 119:31, Psalms 119:61, Psalms 119:69, Psalms 119:85, Psalms 119:111, Psalms 119:125, Psalms 119:129, Psalms 119:167, Matthew 26:3, Acts 12:11, Acts 23:21, Acts 25:3”
- Psalms “My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word. -- Psalms 119:81”
- Psalms “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law. -- Psalms 119:18”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 119 This psalm is generally thought to be written by David, but when is uncertain; very probably towards the decline of life; and, as some think, for the sake or his son Solomon. It seems to be a collection of observations on the word of God and its precepts, the usefulness and excellency of it, he had made in the course of his life; interspersed with various petitions for the grace of God, to enable him to observe it. The psalm is a very extraordinary one; partly on account of the unusual length of it, it being more than double t”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: bears such distinguished testimony to the authority of God, in order that it may cure the disease of which I have spoken, and induce us to give full credit to the divine promises: “The words of the Lord” 483 (says David, Ps. 12:6 ) “are pure words, as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times:” “The word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him,” ( Ps. 18:30 ). And Solomon declares the same thing almost in the same words, “Every word of God is pure,” ( Prov. 30:5 ). But further quotation is”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:12: With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. Not the judgments of his hand, what he executes on an ungodly world; nor the intricate dispensations of his providence; those judgments of his now unsearchable, though before long will be manifest; these the psalmist could not declare: but the revelation of the will of God, what his mouth has uttered, doctrines and precepts of righteousness and truth; these, though David had them in his heart, he did not conceal them from men; but out of the abundant experience he had of them in his heart, his lips spake o”