Psalm 119:21-24

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:21

Here is, 1. The wretched character of wicked people. The temper of their minds is bad. They are proud; they magnify themselves above others. And yet that is not all: they magnify themselves against God, and set up their wills in competition with and opposition to the will of God, as if their hearts, and tongues, and all, were their own. There is something of pride at the bottom of every wilful sin, and the tenour of their lives is no better: They do err from thy commandments, as Israel, that... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:22

Here, 1. David prays against the reproach and contempt of men, that they might be removed, or (as the word is) rolled, from off him. This intimates that they lay upon him, and that neither his greatness nor his goodness could secure him from being libelled and lampooned. Some despised him and endeavoured to make him mean; others reproached him and endeavoured to make him odious. It has often been the lot of those that do well to be ill-spoken of. It intimates that they lay heavily upon him.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:23

See here, 1. How David was abused even by great men, who should have known better his character and his case, and have been more generous: Princes did sit, sit in council, sit in judgment, and speak against me. What even princes say is not always right; but it is sad when judgment is thus turned to wormwood, when those that should be the protectors of the innocent are their betrayers. Herein David was a type of Christ, for they were the princes of this world that vilified and crucified the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:24

Here David explains his meditating in God's statutes (Ps. 119:23), which was of such use to him when princes sat and spoke against him. 1. Did the affliction make his sad? The word of God comforted him, and was his delight, more his delight than any of the pleasures either of court or camp, of city or country. Sometimes it proves that the comforts of the word of God are most pleasant to a gracious soul when other comforts are embittered. 2. Did it perplex him? Was he at a loss what to do when... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:21

Thou hast rebuked the proud ,.... Which some understand of the fallen angels, who, in proud wrath, left their habitations, because they would not be subject to the Son of God in human nature; wherefore he scattered them in the imaginations of their hearts, and cast down these mighty ones into hell, where they are reserved in chains of darkness to the judgment of the great day. Others of the Scribes and Pharisees in Christ's time, this psalm being suited, as is thought, to Gospel times; who... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:22

Remove from me reproach and contempt ,.... Or, "roll it from me" F21 גל מעלי "devolve a me", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. . It lay as a load, as a heavy burden upon him, which pressed him sore; and he therefore desired ease from it, being probably in a low frame of soul; otherwise saints do and should rejoice when reproached for Christ's sake; and esteem it, with Moses, more than all the treasures in Egypt, being what is common to them with their Lord; ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:23

Princes also did sit and speak against me ,.... The princes in the court of Saul, who suggested to him that David sought his hurt; the princes of his own court, Absalom, his own son, a prince of the blood, and Ahithophel, a counsellor of state: or the princes of the Gentiles, as Jarchi; so the princes of the Philistines spake against him in a very disdainful manner, "make this fellow return to his place again", 1 Samuel 29:4 . Such as these might speak against him, as they sat and rode... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:24

Thy testimonies also are my delight ,.... Or "delights" F24 שעשעי "deliciae meae", Montanus, Tigurine version, Gejerus, Michaelis; "delectationes meae", Pagninus; "oblectationes meae", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. ; exceeding delightful to me. The whole of Scripture is so to a good man; he delights in the law of God, after the inward man; the Gospel is a joyful sound to him; the doctrines of peace, pardon, righteousness, and salvation by Christ, are very pleasant; the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:21

Thou hast rebuked the proud - This was done often in the case of David; and was true also in reference to the Babylonians, who held the Israelites in subjection, and whose kings were among the proudest of human beings. Instead of זדים zedim , the proud, some MSS. read זרים zarim , strangers, and one reads גוים goyim , the heathen; and so the Syriac. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:22

Remove from me reproach and contempt - Of these the captives in Babylon had a more than ordinary load. read more

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