Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:65
Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
65. according unto thy word ] i.e. thy promise. Cp. Deu 6:24; Deu 10:13; Deu 30:9; Deu 30:15.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
65 72. Tth. Jehovah’s goodness toward His servant manifested in all His dealings, even in the discipline of affliction.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Thou hast dealt well with thy servant – This begins a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Teth ( t), corresponding to our t. The use of this letter, however, does nothing to mark the sense. The literal meaning of the phrase here is, Good hast thou done with thy servant; and the idea is, that God had been good, and had done good to him. In the review of his own life he sees good, and good alone. Even in afflictions and trials this is all that he sees.
According unto thy word – According to thy promises; or, according to the principles of thy word. That is, the whole effect of the revealed truth of God upon him had been good. It was designed for his good; it had produced good only. Truth and law do nothing but good, and the welfare of individuals, and of a community, is promoted just in proportion as truth and law prevail.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 119:65-67
Thou hast dealt with Thy servant, O Lord.
A good man
I. The testimony of a good man.
1. Concerning God. His kind treatment and faithful promise.
2. Concerning affliction.
II. The prayer Of a good man for the highest instruction.
III. The experience Of a good man. (Homilist.)
Good judgment
I. Davids judgment expressed.
1. God had dealt with him.
2. God had dealt well with him. Adding up all our varied experiences, we can truly say that all things have worked together for our good. What strange compounds many of our lives are! The evening and the morning have made the day from the creation; and we have had darkness and brightness; but, putting the whole together, the result has been more than well.
3. God has dealt well with us as His servants.
(1) He has given us blessed work to do. To serve God is to reign.
(2) He has given us provision.
(3) He has given us encouragement.
(4) He has given us earnests of the pay which we shall receive at the end of our days toil.
4. He has dealt with us according to His word. The print of providence exactly answers to the type of the promise.
II. Good judgment desired (verse 66). David felt that his judgment had been greatly at fault, so that he had made great mistakes with regard to God; and new that he had come to a more correct judgment, he offered this prayer: Teach me good judgment and knowledge. This is what all Christians need,–better judgment–more sound judgment.
1. May God help us, for the future, first, to judge His providence better!
2. Next, judge your sufferings better, and learn to believe that it is good for you that you have been afflicted. May our judgments not be, as they sometimes have been, desponding, dark, dreary l
3. Then we shall be able to have good judgment in matters of doctrine.
4. We also need good judgment concerning our temptations.
5. And as to the many false spirits that are gone forth into the world.
III. Judgment possessed (verse 67). He seems to say, Lord, I am very foolish, yet I have had wit enough given me, by Thy Spirit, to believe that Thy commandments are the best that can be, so I wish to keep them, and to believe that Thy commandments are the best guide to me in life, and therefore I desire to follow them. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
LETTER TETH. – Ninth Division
Verse 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant] Whatsoever thy word has promised, thou hast fulfilled. Every servant of God can testify that God has done him nothing but good, and therefore he can speak good of his name.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
65-67. The reliance on promises(Ps 119:49) is strengthenedby experience of past dealings according with promises, and a prayerfor guidance, encouraged by sanctified affliction.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
j, TETH.–The Ninth Part.
Ver. 65. TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant,…. In a providential way, ever since he had a being; by the protection and preservation of him, by following and loading him with benefits, by raising him from a low estate to the throne of Israel, by delivering him from many dangers and enemies, and by giving him rest from them all; and in a way of special grace and mercy, by making an everlasting covenant with him, by blessing him with all spiritual blessings, by giving him an interest in salvation by Christ, and hope of eternal glory. And thus he deals with all his servants; he does all things well by them; he deals well with them even when he afflicts them; he treats them as his Davids, his beloved and chosen ones, and his children. The Syriac version renders it as a petition, “do good with thy servant”; bestow benefits on him, or deal bountifully with him, as in Ps 119:17;
O Lord, according unto thy word; thy word of promise: providential mercies are according to promise, for godliness or goodly persons have the promise of the things of this life; and so are spiritual blessings, they are laid up in exceeding great and precious promises, which are yea and amen in Christ; and so is eternal glory and happiness; it is a promise which God, that cannot lie, made before the world began; so that there is a solid foundation laid for faith and hope as to these things; and this confirms and commends the faithfulness of God to his people.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The eightfold Teth . The good word of the gracious God is the fountain of all good; and it is learned in the way of lowliness. He reviews his life, and sees in everything that has befallen him the good and well-meaning appointment of the God of salvation in accordance with the plan and order of salvation of His word. The form , which is the form out of pause, is retained in Psa 119:65 beside Athnach, although not preceded by Olewejored (cf. Psa 35:19; Psa 48:11; Pro 30:21). Clinging believingly to the commandments of God, he is able confidently to pray that He would teach him “good discernment” and “knowledge.” is ethically the capacity of distinguishing between good and evil, and of discovering the latter as it were by touch; , good discernment, is a coupling of words like , a happy disposition, cheerfulness. God has brought him into this relationship to His word by humbling him, and thus setting him right out of his having gone astray. in Psa 119:67, as in Psa 119:11, is not God’s utterance conveying a promise, but imposing a duty. God is called as He who is graciously disposed towards man, and as He who acts out this disposition; this loving and gracious God he implores to become his Teacher. In his fidelity to God’s word he does not allow himself to be led astray by any of the lies which the proud try to impose upon him (Bttcher), or better absolutely (cf. Job 13:4): to patch together over him, making the true nature unrecognisable as it were by means of false plaster or whitewash ( , to smear over, bedaub, as the Targumic, Talmudic, and Syriac show). If the heart of these men, who by slander make him into a caricature of himself, is covered as it were with thick fat (a figure of insensibility and obduracy, Psa 17:10; Psa 73:7; Isa 6:10, lxx , Aquila , Symmachus ) against all the impressions of the word of God, he, on the other hand, has his delight in the law of God ( with an accusative of the object, not of that which is delighted, Psa 94:19, but of that which delights). How beneficial has the school of affliction through which he has attained to this, been to him! The word proceeding from the mouth of God is now more precious to him than the greatest earthly riches.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| 9. TETH. | |
65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.
Here, 1. David makes a thankful acknowledgment of God’s gracious dealings with him all along: Thou hast dealt well with thy servant. However God has dealt with us, we must own he has dealt well with us, better than we deserve, and all in love and with design to work for our good. In many instances God has done well for us beyond our expectations. He has done well for all his servants; never any of them complained that he had used them hardly. Thou hast dealt well with me, not only according to thy mercy, but according to thy word. God’s favours look best when they are compared with the promise and are seen flowing from that fountain. 2. Upon these experiences he grounds a petition for divine instruction: “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, that, by thy grace, I may render again, in some measure, according to the benefit done unto me.” Teach me a good taste (so the word signifies), a good relish, to discern things that differ, to distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil; for the ear tries words, as the mouth tastes meat. We should pray to God for a sound mind, that we may have spiritual senses exercised, Heb. v. 14. Many have knowledge who have little judgment; those who have both are well fortified against the snares of Satan and well furnished for the service of God and their generation. 3. This petition is backed with a plea: “For I have believed thy commandments, received them, and consented to them that they are good, and submitted to their government; therefore, Lord, teach me.” Where God has given a good heart a good head too many in faith be prayed for.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Teth Section
Scripture v. 65-72:
Verses 65, 66 declare that the Lord has dealt well with His psalmist servant, in harmony with his word of promise, Jos 1:8. He adds, “teach me (I’m teachable) good judgment and knowledge: For I have believed thy commandments;” He longed to have experimental understanding of both God’s threats and promises, Psa 34:8; Psa 27:13; Psa 31:19.
Verses 67, 68 recount “before I was afflicted (chastened) I went astray, but now have I kept thy word,” even as Israel had done, Deu 32:15; Jer 31:18-19; Hos 2:6-7; Hos 5:15; Hos 6:1; Heb 12:11; Rev 3:19. He added that the Lord was good and did good, two grand, Divine attributes, Act 14:17; Act 10:38; He called on God to teach him His statutes, Exo 33:18-19; Exo 34:6; Psa 106:1; Psa 107:1; Psa 145:7; Psa 145:9; Mat 5:45; Mat 19:17.
Verses 69, 70 assert that, Though the proud had forged lies against the psalmist, he was, firmly resolved, at heart, to keep the Lord’s’ precepts, Job 13:4; Ezr 4:11-16; See v. 21, 51, also. Verse 70 declares that the heart of the proud forgers of lies is “as fat as grease,” obese, fat, stupid, and insensible about spiritual things; yet this man of God declared “I delight (find pleasure) in thy law,” Deu 32:15; Rom 1:28; Psa 17:10; Psa 73:7; Isa 6:10; Act 28:27.
Verse 71 acknowledges “It is good (ideal) for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn (experimentally) thy statutes,” v. 67,75; Heb 12:10; Joh 15:2; Job 5:6.
Verse 72 concludes “the law of thy mouth is better (of more benefit) to me than thousands of gold and silver,” a thing all men should learn, v. 127; Psa 19:10; Pro 8:10.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
65. O Jehovah! thou hast done good to thy servant. Some understand this generally, as if the prophet protested that, in whatever way God dealt with him, he took it in good part, convinced that it would ultimately issue in his welfare; but as express mention is made of the Divine word or promise, the prophet, I have no doubt, celebrates the faithfulness of God in performing the grace which he had promised. I have really experienced (as if he had said) that Thou art true, and dost not delude thy servants with empty words. Special reference is therefore here made to God’s promises, because thence all his benefits flow to us, not, indeed, as from the original fountain-head, but, as it were, by conduit pipes. Although his free goodness is the only cause which induces him to deal bountifully with us, yet we can hope for nothing at his hand until he first bring himself under obligation to us by his word.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
, Teth.
65-72. Thou hast dealt well This declaration clearly refers to deliverance; and this goodness, which the insensible proud, with hearts as fat as grease, never appreciate, leads the grateful mind to long for ability to render a more intelligent service.
Before I was afflicted Providential afflictions are ofttimes “blessings in disguise,” leading the straying ones to the “Shepherd and Bishop of their souls.” Night is a great teacher, and shows us things invisible by day: so affliction also teaches that some plausible doctrines are lies, and the hopes forged from them are vain, but it brings out the priceless worth of the law of thy mouth. It is not good for a rebel like Pharaoh to be afflicted. The blessing is for those who mourn “after a godly sort,” with humble, self-abasing temper.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Teth. The Realization that God’s Humiliation of Man is Salutary.
v. 65. Thou hast dealt well with Thy servant, O Lord, according unto Thy Word, v. 66. Teach me good judgment and knowledge, v. 67. Before I was afflicted, v. 68. Thou art good and doest good, v. 69. The proud have forged a lie against me, v. 70. Their heart is as fat as grease, v. 71. It is good for me that I have been afflicted, v. 72. The Law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver;
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
TETH.
As the first verse of the foregoing portion proved that Jesus was the speaker; so the last verse of this portion as plainly points to the same. None but the ever-blessed Jesus had such testimony to give as this. But of him the Prophet sang, The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found on his lips, Mal 2:6 . And hence the church intreated, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, Son 1:2 . And wherefore? Because (saith another scripture) grace is poured into his lips, therefore God hath blessed him forever! Psa 45:2 . Reader! is it not precious thus to view Christ, and to know our interest in him? What a beauty appears in this whole Psalm, in beholding Jesus as the sum and substance of it! for then we behold an exact correspondence. We see the precepts of Jehovah kept with a whole heart; not one departure, not a single omission. The excellencies of our Jesus are all pure and unmixed: whereas with the best of his people, so much imperfection mingles, that there is nothing to be depended upon. But Jesus is the altogether lovely; comprehensive of all that is fair, and holy, and good; and excluding everything that is unpleasant, and unamiable. Oh! for grace to took to Christ; and from the continued communications of his love, to feel, and know, and enjoy, our interest in him! – Let not the Reader hesitate over these scriptures in making application of them to Christ, because he hears the confession: Before I was afflicted I went astray, and the like; let him recollect, that in all those scriptures the holy Sufferer is speaking as the sinner’s surety, enduring the curse which the law denounced against the sinner, and consequently confessing in the sinner’s name the divine justice of God, in taking vengeance for sin. Hence, being made sin, and then a curse for his people; he thus speaks in the sinner’s person: see Gal 3:13 ; 2Co 5:21 . Hence we find in other scriptures similar expressions: Mine iniquities are gone over my head as a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me, Psa 38:3-4 . That the Prophet is speaking in the person of the Redeemer, in these and the like scriptures, is evident from the other parts connected with them: see Psa 38:13-14 , compared with Isa 53:7 , and Mat 27:12-14 . Reader! when you have duly pondered these grand points of redemption, I trust and hope, your views of these portions of the Psalm will be more plain. May the Lord give both you and me a right understanding in all things!
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
Ver. 65. Thou hast dealt well with thy servant ] Men must be no less praiseful than prayerful. Shall we come to the well of life thirsty, and then turn our backs upon the Rock that followeth us?
According to thy word
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 119:65-72 (Teth)
65You have dealt well with Your servant,
O Lord, according to Your word.
66Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.
67Before I was afflicted I went astray,
But now I keep Your word.
68You are good and do good;
Teach me Your statutes.
69The arrogant have forged a lie against me;
With all my heart I will observe Your precepts.
70Their heart is covered with fat,
But I delight in Your law.
71It is good for me that I was afflicted,
That I may learn Your statutes.
72The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Psa 119:65 This verse sums up the faithful follower’s worldview. Knowledge (Psa 119:66) and obedience (Psa 119:67; Psa 119:69) of God’s revelation bring a happy, healthy, peaceful life. True life is found only in Him. Remember in this Psalm knowledge of God’s word is equated with knowing God Himself!
Almost every verse of this Psalm has a Hebrew word that denotes God’s revelation (see SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS FOR GOD’S REVELATION ).
The Hebrew word (BDB 373) begins verses, Psa 119:65-66; Psa 119:68; Psa 119:71-72. It is the key word for this stanza.
Psa 119:66 Although the psalmist knows God’s revelation, he is conscious that he needs to understand it more and more (cf. Psa 119:68, both verbs teach, BDB 540, KB 531, are Piel imperatives, i.e., prayer request, cf. Psa 119:12; Psa 119:26; Psa 119:64; Psa 119:66; Psa 119:68; Psa 119:108; Psa 119:124; Psa 119:135; Psa 119:171).
I believe There are several perfect verbs that describe the psalmist’s attitude.
1. I believe – BDB 52, KB 63, Hiphil perfect (see Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith and Faithfulness in the OT )
2. I keep – BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal perfect (see Special Topic: Keep )
3. I delight – BDB 1044, KB 1613, Pilpel perfect, cf. Psa 1:2; Psa 112:1; Psa 119:16; Psa 119:24; Psa 119:35; Psa 119:47; Psa 119:70; Psa 119:77; Psa 119:92; Psa 119:143; Psa 119:174
Notice how mental ascent must be matched by an obedient life (cf. Jas 1:22-25).
Psa 119:67 The psalmist is confessing his disobedience in the past that resulted in God’s discipline. God’s discipline is the act of a loving parent (cf. Heb 12:5-13). The cursings of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 27-30 are God’s reaction to covenant disobedience and His desire for His followers to change their ways! He desires to bless us! Discipline always has a redemptive purpose!
Psa 119:68 This first line of poetry describes God’s character. He is good (BDB 373 II, cf. Psa 25:8; Psa 86:5; Psa 100:5; Psa 106:1; Jer 33:11; Nah 1:7). See Special Topic: Characteristics of Israel’s God.
Teach me Your statutes This is the second use of the Piel imperative of this verb (cf. Psa 119:66). God wants to reveal Himself and His will through Scripture.
Psa 119:69-70 As is so often the case in Psalms, the psalmist feels attacked. The arrogant have lied about him. It is contextually difficult to identify who these attackers are. They are often the rich and powerful of society, as here (i.e., fat, BDB 316, Psa 119:70 a, cf. Psa 17:10; Psa 73:7; this is spiritually parallel to Isa 6:10, BDB 1031 I). But true wealth for the psalmist is a knowledge of God and His revelation (Psa 119:72; cf. Psa 19:10).
Psa 119:69 The verb (BDB 381, KB 378, Qal perfect) in line 1 means to plaster or smear (cf. Job 13:4). This stanza has two imperfects which describe the psalmist’s ongoing action.
1. I will observe, Psa 119:69 – BDB 665, KB 718, Qal imperfect
2. I may learn, Psa 119:71 – BDB 540, KB 531, Qal imperfect
Psa 119:70 heart See Special Topic: Heart.
Psa 119:70 b There is no but in the Hebrew text. However, a sharp contrast is implied. The two ways of Deu 30:15-20 and Psa 1:1 are implied.
Psa 119:71 The psalmist acknowledges that God’s discipline was a benefit because it caused him to turn back to Him and His word. The unfairness of life, the terrible consequences to personal choices are often a chance to trust God more. A book that has helped me in this area is Hannah Whithall Smith’s The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Psa 119:65-72
Psa 119:65-72
STROPHE 9
AFFLICTIONS FROM PROUD ENEMIES CANNOT DENY GOD’S GOODNESS; NOR THAT HE IS THE DOER OF GOOD
Teth
“Thou hast dealt well with thy servant,
O Jehovah, according to thy word.
Teach me good judgments and knowledge;
For I have believed in thy commandments.
Before I was afflicted I went astray;
But now I observe thy word.
Thou art good, and doest good;
Teach me thy statutes.
The proud have forged a lie against me:
With my whole heart will I keep thy precepts.
Their heart is as fat as grease;
But I delight in thy law.
It is good for me that I have been afflicted;
That I may learn thy statutes.
The law of thy mouth is better unto me
Than thousands of gold and silver.”
“Teach me good judgments … teach me thy statutes” (Psa 119:66; Psa 119:68). This is a constantly recurring theme throughout the composition. Psa 119:12 b,26b,33,34,38 and Psa 119:64 b have already stated this either verbatim or in different terminology.
The wonderful new thing in this strophe is the blessing of affliction.
“Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now I observe thy word … It is good for me that I have been afflicted” (Psa 119:67; Psa 119:71). “This is language that can be used by many a child of God. Many a person can look back upon some terrible affliction, whether illness, unemployment, financial disaster, death of precious love ones, or whatever, in full recognition of the truth that is written here. The purpose of all human sorrow is that it might turn men unto God. The primeval curse upon the earth itself (Gen 3:17-19) was designed for the same purpose.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 119:65. Not only was the dealing God well toward David, but it was of in harmony with the general principles taught in the word. Psa 119:66. A man might have knowledge but not possess good judgment in applying it. David prayed for the Lord to give him both, seeing he already had faith in the commandments and the correctness of their requirements.
Psa 119:67. Went astray does not especially refer to actions that were considered as sinful although it could include that meaning. It is true that David did sin and had to be corrected by afflictions. But the statement is also one of a great priciple regarding the discipline necessary to hold a man in the line of duty. The Psalmist was always an honest and humble servant of God, and realized that his afflictions had influenced him in keeping the word in connection with his daily walk.
Psa 119:68. There is a familiar saying that a man ought to “practice what he preaches.” We should not expect God to do that exactly since he is divine and man is human. However, David says that God not only but does good teaches his statutes, things himself.
Psa 119:69. Forged is from TAPHAL which Strong defines, “a primitive root; properly to stick on as a patch; figuratively, to impute falsely.” The thought is that David’s enemies had besmirched him with lies. The mistreatment, however, did not prevent him from keeping the Lord’s precepts.
Psa 119:70. The pronoun their stands for the “proud” in the preceding verse. Fat is from TAPHASH and Strong’s definition is, “to be thick; figuratively to be stupid.” Grease is from a word that refers to the richest part of any animal. That being the part without muscles, it would be inactive and a fitting illustration of a man who is stupid or inactive as to any great usefulness. In contrast with such a character, David was actively delightful in God’s law so that he meditated thereon day and night.
Psa 119:71. This verse takes the same comments as Psa 119:67 except it uses the term statutes in referring to the same subject that is under consideration in this chapter.
Psa 119:72. The Psalmist was a possessor of great wealth, yet he did not value it as he did the law of God. He expressed the same sentiment in Psa 19:10.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Profiting from Affliction
Psa 119:65-80
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; it is good for me that I have been afflicted; thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Here is the far-off interest of our tears. God measures out our sorrows and the trials which cause them. But our condition requires the stern and bitter regimen. The stone must be cut by the lapidary. The heavy clouds, with their drenching showers, must hang over the landscape. The fire must cleanse the metal. If need be, ye suffer heaviness through many temptations. Yes, there is a need-be, and only if need be, for He doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. It is His strange work, Isa 28:21. The very least and the very greatest sorrows that befall us are provided, or permitted, by his unspeakable love. If we be without chastisement, whereof all children are partakers, then are we bastard and not sons, Heb 12:8. But amid the affliction, his loving-kindness always waits upon our comfort, Psa 119:76. God, that comforteth those that are cast down, says the Apostle, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 2Co 7:6.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
dealt well: Psa 119:17, Psa 13:6, Psa 16:5, Psa 16:6, Psa 18:35, Psa 23:5, Psa 23:6, Psa 30:11, Psa 116:7, 1Ch 29:14
Reciprocal: Gen 42:17 – ward Psa 119:58 – be merciful
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
119:65 TETH. Thou hast dealt {a} well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.
(a) Having proved by experience that God was true in his promise, he desires that he would increase in him knowledge and judgment.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
9. Confidence in the Word of God 119:65-72
The writer relied on the fact that God would deal with him according to what He had revealed (Psa 119:65). However, he felt the need for further instruction to prevent him from wandering away from God’s will (Psa 119:66-68). He would trust in God even though other people slandered Him (Psa 119:69-70). Affliction had taught him to appreciate God’s statutes more than he had previously done (Psa 119:71-72).