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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:37

Here, 1. David prays for restraining grace, that he might be prevented and kept back from that which would hinder him in the way of his duty: Turn away my eyes from beholding vanity. The honours, pleasures, and profits of the world are the vanities, the aspect and prospect of which draw multitudes away from the paths of religion and godliness. The eye, when fastened on these, infects the heart with the love of them, and so it is alienated from God and divine things; and therefore, as we ought... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:38

Here is 1. The character of a good man, which is the work of God's grace in him; he is God's servant, subject to his law and employed in his work, that is, devoted to his fear, given up to his direction and disposal, and taken up with high thoughts of him and all those acts of devotion which have a tendency to his glory. Those are truly God's servants who, though they have their infirmities and defects, are sincerely devoted to the fear of God and have all their affections and motions governed... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:39

Here, 1. David prays against reproach, as before, Ps. 119:22. David was conscious to himself that he had done that which might give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, which would blemish his own reputation and turn to the dishonour of his family; now he prays that God, who has all men's hearts and tongues in his hands, would be pleased to prevent this, to deliver him from all his transgressions, that he might not be the reproach of the foolish, which he feared (Ps. 39:8); or he... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:40

Here, 1. David professes the ardent affection he had to the word of God: ?I have longed after thy precepts, not only loved them, and delighted in what I have already attained, but I have earnestly desired to know them more and do them better, and am still pressing forward towards perfection.? Tastes of the sweetness of God's precepts will but set us a longing after a more intimate acquaintance with them. He appeals to God concerning this passionate desire after his precepts: ?Behold, I have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:37

Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity ,.... As the things of this world, the riches, honours, and pleasures of it, which are all vanity and vexation of spirit; and yet these catch the eye, and allure the heart: and all false doctrines, glided over with the specious pretence of truth; and all false worship and superstition, set off with pomp and pageantry, with which the eyes of the body or the eyes of the mind are taken, and by which the heart is ensnared; and therefore it is desirable... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:38

Stablish thy word unto thy servant ,.... Either God's word of promise, which never fails, is firm and stable in Christ; and the sense is, that God would assure him of the fulfilment of it, and give him a strong faith and firm belief of it; for otherwise the word of the Lord cannot be surer or more stable than it is: or else the word of his grace; and then the sense is, that he might be established in it, and the truths of it, and be established by it; for the word is a means of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:39

Turn away my reproach which I fear ,.... Either for the sake of religion, which was disagreeable to him; and he might be afraid it would be too heavy for him to bear, and be a temptation to him to forsake the good ways of God: or rather by reason of sin, which brings a reproach on good men; and causes the enemy to speak reproachfully, and is therefore dreaded by them who desire to be kept from sin, for that reason as well as others; see Psalm 39:8 . Jarchi and Kimchi think that David has... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:40

Behold, I have longed after thy precepts ,.... After a greater degree of knowledge of them, and an opportunity of hearing them explained and enforced, and of yielding obedience to them; see Psalm 119:7 ; quicken me in thy righteousness : in the way of righteousness, according to the word of righteousness, the Gospel, and with the righteousness of Christ revealed in it; and which is unto life, and quickens and comforts the heart, and from whence abundance of peace and joy flows. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:37

From beholding vanity - An idol, worldly pleasure, beauty, finery; any thing that is vain, empty, or transitory. Let me not behold it; let me not dwell upon it. Let me remember Achan: he saw, - he coveted, - he took, - he hid his theft, and was slain for his sin. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:38

Stablish thy word - Fulfil the promises thou hast made to me. read more

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