Psalm 119:141-150

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:141

Here is, 1. David pious and yet poor. He was a man after God's own heart, one whom the King of kings did delight to honour, and yet small and despised in his own account and in the account of many others. Men's excellency cannot always secure them from contempt; nay, it often exposes them to the scorn of others and always makes them low in their own eyes. God has chosen the foolish things of the world, and it has been the common lot of his people to be a despised people. 2. David poor and yet... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:142

Observe, 1. That God's word is righteousness, and it is an everlasting righteousness. It is the rule of God's judgment, and it is consonant to his counsels from eternity and will direct his sentence for eternity. The word of God will judge us, it will judge us in righteousness, and by it our everlasting state will be determined. This should possess us with a very great reverence for the word of God that it is righteousness itself, the standard of righteousness, and it is everlasting in its... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:143-144

These two verses are almost a repetition of the two foregoing verses, but with improvement. 1. David again professes his constant adherence to God and his duty, notwithstanding the many difficulties and discouragements he met with. He had said (Ps. 119:141), I am small and despised, and yet adhere to my duty. Here he finds himself not only mean, but miserable, as far as this world could make him so: Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me?trouble without, anguish within; they surprised him,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:145-146

Here we have, I. David's good prayers, by which he sought to God for mercy; these he mentions here, not as boasting of them, or trusting to any merit in them, but reflecting upon them with comfort, that he had taken the appointed way to comfort. Observe here, 1. That he was inward with God in prayer; he prayed with his heart, and prayer is acceptable no further than the heart goes along with it. Lip-labour, if that be all, is lost labour. 2. He was importunate with God in prayer; he cried, as... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:147-148

David goes on here to relate how he had abounded in the duty of prayer, much to his comfort and advantage: he cried unto God, that is, offered up to him his pious and devout affections with all seriousness. Observe, I. The handmaids of his devotion. The two great exercises that attended his prayers, and were helpful to them, were, 1. Hope in God's word, which encouraged him to continue instant in prayer, though the answer did not come immediately: ?I cried, and hoped that at last I should... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:149

Here, 1. David applies to God for grace and comfort with much solemnity. He begs of God to hear his voice: ?Lord, I have something to say to thee; shall I obtain a gracious audience?? Well, what has he to say? What is his petition and what is his request? It is not long, but it has much in a little: ?Lord, quicken me; stir me up to that which is good, and make me vigorous, and lively, and cheerful in it. Let habits of grace be drawn out into act.? 2. He encourages himself to hope that he shall... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:150-151

Here is, I. The apprehension David was in of danger from his enemies. 1. They were very malicious, and industrious in prosecuting their malicious designs: They follow after mischief, any mischief they could do to David or his friends; they would let slip no opportunity nor let fall any pursuit that might be to his hurt. 2. They were very impious, and had no fear of God before their eyes: They are far from thy law, setting themselves as far as they can out of the reach of its convictions and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:141

I am small and despised ,.... Or, "I have been" F24 אנכי "ego fui, et adhuc sum", Michaelis. . Some versions render it "young" F25 צעיר νεωτερος , Sept. "adolescentulus", V. L. ; as if it had respect to the time of his anointing by Samuel, when he was overlooked and despised in his father's family, 1 Samuel 16:11 ; but the word here used is not expressive of age, but of state, condition, and circumstances; and the meaning is, that he was little in his own esteem, and in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:142

Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness ,.... Or, "is for ever" F26 לועלם "in seculum", Pagninus, Montanus, Gejerus; "in aeternum", V. L. Michaelis. . The rectitude of his nature, his faithfulness in his promises, and his kindness and beneficence to his people; and particularly the righteousness of God revealed in the Gospel; the righteousness of his Son, which he approves and accepts of, and imputes to him that believes. This is a righteousness that will last for ever,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:143

Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me ,.... Or, "found me" F1 מצאוני "invenerunt me", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Musculus, Gejerus, Michaelis. . Outward troubles and inward distress; troubles arising from his enemies, the men of the world, that hated and persecuted him; and from a body of sin and death, from the temptations of Satan, and divine desertions; some from without, and others from within; troubles both of body and mind, which is what all good men are liable to; yet ... read more

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