Psalm 119:69-72

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:69-70

David here tells us how he was affected as to the proud and wicked people that were about him. 1. He did not fear their malice, nor was he by it deterred from his duty: They have forged a lie against me. Thus they aimed to take away his good name. Nay, all we have in the world, even life itself, may be brought into danger by those who make no conscience of forging a lie. Those that were proud envied David's reputation, because it eclipsed them, and therefore did all they could to blemish him.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:71

See here, 1. That it has been the lot of the best saints to be afflicted. The proud and the wicked lived in pomp and pleasure, while David, though he kept close to God and his duty, was still in affliction. Waters of a full cup are wrung out to God's people, Ps. 73:10. 2. That it has been the advantage of God's people to be afflicted. David could speak experimentally: It was good for me; many a good lesson he had learnt by his afflictions, and many a good duty he had been brought to which... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 119:72

This is a reason why David reckoned that when by his afflictions he learned God's statutes, an the profit did so much counterbalance the loss, he was really a gainer by them; for God's law, which he got acquaintance with by his affliction, was better to him than all the gold and silver which he lost by his affliction. 1. David had but a little of the word of God in comparison with what we have, yet see how highly he valued it; how inexcusable then are we, who have both the Old and New... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:69

The proud have forged a lie against me ,.... Or, "sewed a lie to him" F18 טפלו "consuerunt", Tigurine version; "assuerunt", Muis. ; fastened a lie upon him, or sewed and added one lie to another. Either with respect to politics, as the proud and haughty courtiers of Saul, who represented David to him as a traitor, that had treasonable designs against him to take away his life, and seize his crown and kingdom, 1 Samuel 24:9 ; or with respect to religion; so some proud scornful men,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:70

Their heart is as fat as grease ,.... Or tallow, a lump of it, fat or grease congealed. That is, the heart of the above proud persons, who abounded in riches, were glutted with the things of this world; had more than heart could wish, and so became proud and haughty: or their hearts were gross, sottish, senseless, and stupid, as persons fat at heart are; or as creatures over fat, which have little or no feeling: so these had no knowledge of the law of God, no sense of their duty, no remorse... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:71

It is good for me that I have been afflicted ,.... The good and profit of which he had observed before; See Gill on Psalm 119:67 . The following end being also answered thereby, that I might learn thy statutes ; to understand them, and to keep them. Afflictions are sometimes as a school to the people of God, in which they learn much both of their duty and of their privileges; and when they are teaching and instructive, they are for good; see Psalm 94:12 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 119:72

The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. The word of God, the doctrines contained in it; which, coming out of the mouth of God, and spoken by him, carries in it weight and authority, commands reverence and respect; and ought to be considered as indeed the word of God and not of man; and so of more value than thousands of pieces of gold and silver; or, as the Targum, than a thousand talents of gold and silver. The truths and doctrines of the word of God are... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:69

The proud have forged a lie - The poor captives in Babylon had their conduct and motives continually misrepresented, and themselves belied and calumniated. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:70

Their heart is as fat as grease - They are egregiously stupid, they have fed themselves without fear; they are become flesh-brutalized, and given over to vile affections, and have no kind of spiritual relish: but I delight in thy law - I have, through thy goodness, a spiritual feeling and a spiritual appetite. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 119:71

It is good for me that I have been afflicted - See on Psalm 119:67 ; (note). read more

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