Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:77
Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law [is] my delight.
77. thy tender mercies ] Thy compassions ( Psa 119:156). Cp. Deu 13:17-18; Isa 49:13; Isa 54:7; Zec 1:16.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Let thy tender mercies come unto me – See the notes at Psa 119:41.
That I may live – It is evident that this was uttered in view of some great calamity by which his life was threatened. He was dependent for life – for recovery from sickness, or for deliverance from danger – wholly on the compassion of God.
For thy law is my delight – See the notes at Psa 119:16; compare Psa 119:24, Psa 119:47. This is urged here as a reason for the divine interposition. The meaning is, that he was a friend of God; that he had pleasure in his service and in his commandments; and that he might, therefore, with propriety, appeal to God to interpose in his behalf. This is a proper ground of appeal to God in our prayers, not on the ground of merit or claim, but because we may reasonably suppose that God will be disposed to protect his friends, and to deliver them in the day of trouble.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 119:77
Let Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live.
Mercy to live well
He prayed before for mercy; now again he prayeth for mercy. The children of God have such an earnest desire of mercy, that whatever sense thereof they get, they still cry for more; and sure it is in this life they can never be satisfied. Nevertheless, happy are they who hunger and thirst, for hereafter they shall be satisfied. But if we mark more narrowly, we shall find that David here seeks another sort of mercy than he sought before. For first, he sought mercy to forgive his sins: then he sought mercy to comfort him in his troubles; now he seeks mercy to live and sin no more. Alas, many seek the first mercy of remission, and the second mercy of consolation in trouble, who are altogether careless of the third mercy, to live well. It is a great mercy of God to amend thy life; where this is not, let no man think he hath received either of the former. It is a great mercy of God which not only pardons evil that is done, but strengthens us also to further good that we have not done; and this is the mercy which here David seeks. (Bp. Cowper.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 77. Let thy tender mercies] rachameycha, thy fatherly and affectionate feelings.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That I may live; that I may be preserved from that violent and untimely death which mine enemies design to bring upon me.
For thy law is my delight; I humbly beg and expect thy protection, because I am thy faithful servant.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
77. Let thy tender mercies come untomeAs I am not able to come unto them. But the wicked will beconfounded.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Let thy tender mercies come unto me,….
[See comments on Ps 119:41];
that I may live; not merely corporeally; though corporeal life is a grant and favour, and the continuance of it; it is owing to the tender mercies of God that men are not consumed: but spiritually; the first principle of spiritual life is from the rich mercy and great love of God; his time of love is a time of life. Here it seems to design the lively exercise of grace, which is influenced, animated, and quickened by the love of God, as faith, hope, and love; or a living comfortably: without the love of God, and a view of it, saints look upon themselves as dead men, forgotten as they are, free among the dead, that are remembered no more; but in the favour of God is life; let but that be shown, let the tender mercies of God come in full flow into the soul, and it will be revived, and live comfortably; and such also shall live eternally, as the fruit and effect of the same love and favour;
for thy law [is] my delight; or “delights” u; what he exceedingly delighted in, after the inward man, and yet could not live by it, without the mercy, love, and grace of God; see Ps 119:24.
u “deliciae meae”, Montanus, Tigurine versions Cocceius; “oblectationes meae”, Gejerus; so Michaelis.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
77. Let thy companions come unto me. In this verse, the Psalmist repeats and confirms almost the same request as in the preceding verse, although in phraseology somewhat different. As he had just now said, that his sorrow could not be removed, nor his joy restored, in any other way than by God’s mercy being exercised towards him; so now he affirms that he cannot have without being reconciled to God. He thus distinguishes himself from worldly men, who are very little affected with a concern about having God reconciled to them; or, rather, who do not cease securely to enjoy themselves, although God is angry with them. He distinctly affirms, that, until he know that God is reconciled to him, he is a dead man even while living; but that, on the other hand, whenever God shall cause his mercy to shine upon him, he will be restored from death to life. By the way, he intimates that he was deprived for a time of the tokens of God’s fatherly favor; for it would have been needless for him to have wished that it might come to him, had it not been removed from him. As an argument for obtaining what he supplicates, he asserts that the law of God was his delight; nor could he otherwise hope that God would be merciful to him. Besides, no man truly feels what virtue is in the Divine favor, but he who, placing his chief happiness in that alone, is convinced that all who dissever themselves from God are miserable and accursed; a truth which the prophet had learned from the law.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law [is] my delight.
Ver. 77. Let thy tender mercies come unto me, &c. ] He repeateth the same thing in other words, and re-enforceth his request; showing that he could not live without divine comforts.
For thy law is my delight
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
tender mercies = compassions.
For, &c. This is the ground of his prayer.
delight. Plural as in Psa 119:92 = great delight.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
thy tender: Psa 119:41, Psa 51:1-3, Lam 3:22, Lam 3:23, Dan 9:18
for thy: Psa 119:24, Psa 119:47, Psa 119:174, Psa 1:2, Heb 8:10-12
Reciprocal: Psa 21:4 – asked Psa 25:6 – thy tender mercies Psa 57:1 – be Psa 119:14 – rejoiced Psa 119:16 – delight Psa 119:81 – but I Psa 119:92 – thy law Psa 119:124 – Deal Psa 119:143 – yet thy Jer 6:10 – delight
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may {c} live: for thy law [is] my delight.
(c) He declares that when he did not feel God’s mercies, he was as dead.