Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:137
Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, and upright [are] thy judgments.
137. Righteous ] This fundamental attribute of the Author of the law necessarily determines its character in all its aspects. Cp. Psa 19:9.
upright are &c.] R.V. marg. upright in thy judgements is a possible but less obvious construction.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
137 144. Tsd. The righteousness, purity, and truth of God’s law command the Psalmist’s deepest love and reverence.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Righteous art thou, O Lord … – This commences a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Tsaddiy ( ts) – corresponding with ts. The thought in this verse is, that God is right, or righteous, in his judgments, that is, in his law; or, in other words, that his law is founded on principles of equity.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 119:137-144
Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments.
The testimony of a tried saint
I. His testimony concerning God.
1. Concerning the Divine character (verses 137,142).
(1) Gods righteousness has no standard but Himself What He does is right, not because it conforms to anything outside Himself, but because it conforms to His nature.
(2) Gods righteousness agrees with the moral constitution of the universe. Universal conscience agrees with it. Just and right are Thy ways.
2. Concerning His Word.
(1) Faithful. His Word is truth.
(2) Pure as the purest gold, free from all dross, pure as the purest sunbeam, absolutely free from all erroneous thoughts, from all unholy sentiments and passions.
II. His testimony concerning himself.
1. Zeal for the Divine (verse 139). How few can say they are zealous for the right, person! When he saw the utter forgetfulness of his contemporaries of God, his heart glowed with zeal for the Divine glory.
2. Love for the purity of truth (verse 140). Some may love the truth on account of the beautiful form in which it is presented, the power of its suggestiveness and the sublimity of its speculations. But this man loved it for the sake of its purity.
3. Consciousness of self-insignificance (verse 141). How insignificant is the greatest man in comparison with God–His character and manifestations!
4. Joy in suffering (verse 143). His interest in the Divine Word bore him up and made him happy even under suffering.
5. A desire for further knowledge. More light is what he wanted. (Homilist.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
LETTER TSADDI. – Eighteenth Division
Verse 137. Righteous art thou] Thou art infinitely holy in thy nature; and therefore thou art upright in thy judgments – all thy dispensations to men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
TZADDI
Righteous art thou, by thine essence and nature, and therefore it is impossible that thou shouldst be unjust in any of thy laws or providences.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
137-139. God’s justice andfaithfulness in His government aggravate the neglect of the wicked,and more excite the lively zeal of His people.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
u, TZADDI.–The Eighteenth Part.
Ver. 137. TZADDI. Righteous [art] thou, O Lord,…. Essentially, originally, and of himself; naturally, immutably, and universally, in all his ways and works of nature and grace; in his thoughts, purposes, counsels, and decrees; in all the dispensations of his providence; in redemption, in the justification of a sinner, in the pardon of sin, and in the gift of eternal life through Christ;
and upright [are] thy judgments; they are according to the rules of justice and equity; the precepts of the word, the doctrines of the Gospel, as well as the judgments of God inflicted on wicked men, and all the providential dealings of God with his people, and also the final judgment.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The eightfold Tsade . God rules righteously and faithfully according to His word, for which the poet is accordingly zealous, although young and despised. The predicate in Psa 119:137 precedes its subject (God’s decisions in word and in deed) in the primary form (after the model of the verbal clause Psa 124:5), just as in German [and English] the predicative adjective remains undeclined. The accusatives and in Psa 119:138 are not predicative (Hitzig), to which the former (“as righteousness”) – not the latter however – is not suited, but adverbial accusatives (in righteousness, in faithfulness), and according to its position is subordinate to as a virtual adjective (cf. Isa 47:9): the requirements of the revealed law proceed from a disposition towards and mode of dealing with men which is strictly determined by His holiness ( ), and beyond measure faithfully and honestly designs the well-being of men ( ). To see this good law of God despised by his persecutors stirs the poet up with a zeal, which brings him, from their side, to the brink of extreme destruction (Psa 69:10, cf. , Psa 88:17). God’s own utterance is indeed without spot, and therefore not to be carped at; it is pure, fire-proved, noblest metal (Psa 18:31; Psa 12:7), therefore he loves it, and does not, though young (lxx , Vulgate adolescentulus ) and lightly esteemed, care for the remonstrances of his proud opponents who are old and more learned than himself (the organization of Psa 119:141 is like Psa 119:95, and frequently). The righteousness ( ) of the God of revelation becomes eternal righteousness ( ), and His law remains eternal truth ( ). is here the name of the attribute and of the action that is conditioned in accordance with it; the name of the state that thoroughly accords with the idea of that which is right. So too in Psa 119:144: are Jahve’s testimonies for ever, so that all creatures must give glory to their harmony with that which is absolutely right. To look ever deeper and deeper into this their perfection is the growing life of the spirit. The poet prays for this vivifying insight.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| 18. TZADDI. | |
137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments. 138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
Here is, 1. The righteousness of God, the infinite rectitude and perfection of his nature. As he is what he is, so he is what he should be, and in every thing acts as becomes him; there is nothing wanting, nothing amiss, in God; his will is the eternal rule of equity, and he is righteous, for he does all according to it. 2. The righteousness of his government. He rules the world by his providence, according to the principles of justice, and never did, nor ever can do, any wrong to any of his creatures: Upright are thy judgments, the promises and threatenings and the executions of both. Every word of God is pure, and he will be true to it; he perfectly knows the merits of every cause and will judge accordingly. 3. The righteousness of his commands, which he has given to be the rule of our obedience: “Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded, which are backed with thy sovereign authority, and to which thou dost require our obedience, are exceedingly righteous and faithful, righteousness and faithfulness itself.” As he acts like himself, so his law requires that we act like ourselves and like him, that we be just to ourselves and to all we deal with, true to all the engagements we lay ourselves under both to God and man. That which we are commanded to practise is righteous; that which we are commanded to believe is faithful. It is necessary to our faith and obedience that we be convinced of this.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Tzaddl Section
Scripture v. 137-144:
Verses 137, 138 assert that the Lord is righteous in His character and that His judgments and testimonies that He has mandated are upright, righteous, and truly faithful, as certified Ezr 9:15; Neh 9:33; Jer 12:1; Dan 9:7. See also Deu 32:4. Their promised blessings are sure to be fulfilled, as well as their curses, v.86; Psa 93:5.
Verses 139, 140 declare that the psalmist’s zeal had consumed him, or cut him off, because his enemies had forgotten the words of the Lord, willfully, by acting as if they did not even remember them, Psa 69:9. He added, “thy word is very pure, as refined gold or silver, therefore thy servant loveth it,” as without dross or any error, Psa 12:6; Psa 18:30; Psa 119:160.
Verses 141, 142 witness, “I am small and despised (before and by the world); yet do I not forget thy precepts;” To be righteous, Though small before the world, is to be great before God, Pro 15:16; Amo 7:2; Luk 1:15; 1Co 1:27; 2Co 8:9; Jas 2:5. The psalmist added, “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth, v. 151,” therefore it can not prove false to its promises, Psa 19:9; Joh 17:17; Eph 1:13.
Verse 143 laments “trouble and anguish have taken hold on (enslaved) me,” adding “yet thy commandments are my delight,” Though anguish and trouble have hounded me like a dog tracking a wild beast, tit it catches it: Psa 116:3; Exo 18:8.
Verse 144 concludes “the righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting,” (without end). He added “give me (dole out to me, of thy grace) understanding, and I shall live,” survive with spiritual life, v. 34,73,142,169. For His testimonies are true, sure, to those who trust in them, Pro 3:35.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
137. O Jehovah! thou art righteous. The Prophet yields to God the praise of righteousness, and also acknowledges that it is to be found in his law. Some understand judgments as referring to those infliction’s by which God chastises the sins of men; but this does not seem so fitly to agree with the scope of the passage. Besides, as the adjective ישר , yashar, translated right, is put in the singular number with the word judgments, the sentence should be explained thus that there is not any one of the judgments of God which is not right. Should we be inclined to take ישר as a substantive, the sense will be almost the same. All men indeed grant that God is righteous; but the Prophet has expressed more than the common sort of men, yea than the whole world, perceive in reference to this subject; for in designating God righteous, he means, that as soon as we depart from Him, we will not find a particle of righteousness anywhere else. When he adds that the evidence and testimony of this righteousness are to be seen in the law, he teaches us that God is robbed of his praise, if we do not subscribe to all his commandments. To the same purpose is the following verse, which declares that God has taught in his law full and perfect righteousness and truth. The adverb, מאד, meod, which signifies greatly, is with more propriety connected with the nouns than with the verb commanded; inasmuch as it was God’s design to exhibit in the law a perfect rule of righteousness. The doctrine of the law is honored with these encomiums, that all of us may learn to derive wisdom from it, and that no man may devise for himself any other standard of rectitude or righteousness than that which is exhibited in the law; a very necessary lesson, since every man would willingly frame for himself a new pattern or standard of righteousness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
TZADDI.
(137) And upright.For an interesting historical association with this verse see Gibbons account of the death of the Emperor Maurice (chap 46).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
, Tsade.
137-144. Thy law is the truth This division, more than any other, tells us of a heart to which the eternal God was a living power. Young, weak, small, the writer feels himself enlivened by ideas and affections originating beyond himself. Such temper Jesus showed when he put on authority and cleansed the temple. Such temper our psalmist may have seen in Nehemiah while putting forth his efforts to restore Jerusalem. It is still the secret explanation of every mystery of toil and sacrifice for the faith. By this temper morality is heightened into religion, the essence of which is loyal, admiring devotion to a higher power.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Tzaddi. The Proper Appreciation of the Word of God.
v. 137. Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments, v. 138. Thy testimonies that Thou hast commanded, v. 139. My zeal hath consumed me, v. 140. Thy Word is very pure, v. 141. I am small and despised, v. 142. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, v. 143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me, v. 144. The righteousness of Thy testimonies is everlasting,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
TZADDI.
In this portion is that memorable verse which throws a light upon the whole Psalm, and fully authorizes us to apply many parts of it directly to the person of Jesus. The passage is, My zeal hath consumed me. Independently of the royal prophet, David, in another Psalm, applying it to Christ (Psa 69:9 ) and of the disciples in the temple doing the same (Joh 2:17 ); certain it is, none but Christ could ever with truth use such language. No! thou blessed Lord! none but thine heart ever so glowed with zeal for God’s glory. And thy zeal for thy Father’s glory, added to the love thou hast had from everlasting to the eternal welfare of thy people, made thine heart burn with holy ardour, so as to prey upon thy strength, and at an early age induce all the marks of a worn-out frame and debility of body. Oh! Lord! grant me a portion of thy earnestness; I beseech thee, that, like one of thy servants, I may not count my life dear to myself, but determine that Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether by life or death; that to me to live may be Christ, and to die may be gain, Phi 1:20-21 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 119:137 TZADDI. Righteous [art] thou, O LORD, and upright [are] thy judgments.
Ver. 137. Righteous art thou, O Lord ] Essentially and efficiently.
And upright are thy judgments
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 119:137-144 (Tsadhe)
137Righteous are You, O Lord,
And upright are Your judgments.
138You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness
And exceeding faithfulness.
139My zeal has consumed me,
Because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.
140Your word is very pure,
Therefore Your servant loves it.
141I am small and despised,
Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
142Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And Your law is truth.
143Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
Yet Your commandments are my delight.
144Your testimonies are righteous forever;
Give me understanding that I may live.
Psa 119:137-144 This stanza contrasts the qualities of YHWH and/or His revelations with the psalmist’s current conditions.
1. YHWH/His revelations are characterized as
a. righteous
(1) adjective (BDB 843), Psa 119:137
(2) noun (masculine, BDB 841), Psa 119:138; Psa 119:144 (feminine, BDB 842, Psa 119:142)
b. upright (BDB 449), Psa 119:137
c. faithful (adverb, BDB 547), Psa 119:138, cf. Psa 119:86
d. pure (BDB 864, KB 1057, Qal passive participle), Psa 119:140
e. eternal (BDB 761), Psa 119:142; Psa 119:144
f. truth (BDB 54), Psa 119:142
2. the psalmist
a. he has a zeal for God’s revelation (or against his enemies) but his adversaries have forgotten them, Psa 119:139
b. he loves God’s revelation, Psa 119:140
c. he is small and despised but does not forget God’s revelation, Psa 119:141
d. trouble and anguish have come upon him yet he delights in God’s revelation, Psa 119:143
Psa 119:137 Lord See SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY .
Psa 119:139 In context it seems that the psalmist’s zeal (BDB 888) is directed, not positively, toward God’s word but against those who have forgotten His word (cf. Psa 69:9; Psa 119:53). This is opposite of Psa 119:136.
Psa 119:140
NASB, NKJVvery pure
NRSV, LXXwell tried
TEVcertain
NJB, REBwell tested
JPSOAexceedingly pure
The verb (BDB 864, KB 1057, Qal passive participle) denotes that which has been refined by fire and the dross drained off leaving a pure metal.
Psa 119:141
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV, PESHITTAsmall
TEVunimportant
NJBpuny
JPSOAbelittled
LXXyoung
REBof little account
The question is, does the word (BDB 859 I) denote
1. age (cf. Gen 43:33; Gen 48:14; Jdg 6:15; Psa 68:27)
2. physical size (cf. 1Sa 9:21; Isa 60:22; Jer 48:4; Jer 49:20; Jer 50:45)
3. social reputation (cf. Mic 5:2; and here)
This is a classic example of OT role reversal. The faithful psalmist is called despised (BDB 102, KB 117, Niphal participle) when it should be those who purposefully forget/ignore God’s revelation. Outward conditions (cf. Psa 119:143) in this fallen world do not reflect the evaluation of the God who will one day set the record straight!
Psa 119:142 true See Special Topic: Believe, Trust, Faith and Faithfulness in the OT .
Psa 119:143 This is the mystery of why the righteous suffer (cf. Job; Psalms 73). The psalmist keeps, loves, and acts on God’s revelation but still he suffers at the hands of godless men and fallen-age circumstances (i.e., illness, social unfairness, etc.).
The problem is not God or His word, but the fallen condition of creation (cf. Gen 3:6; Gen 3:11-13; Psa 14:3; Rom 1:18 to Rom 3:31).
Psa 119:144 The only imperatival prayer request in the stanza is Psa 119:144 b (cf. Psa 119:27; Psa 119:125). Note that understanding must result in godly living (BDB 310, KB 309, Qal imperfect used in cohortative sense).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Righteous, &c. See Psa 119:7. See also Rev 16:5, Rev 16:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 119:137. Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
It is well to be able to say this when you are being tried, when the hand of God lies heavy upon you; it is hard to kick against the pricks, but it is very sweet to submit, and to say, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments.
Psa 119:138. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
Righteous for the present, faithful for the future. There is no mistake about Gods Word, it will never fail, we may trust it implicitly, and we shall never be disappointed.
Psa 119:139. My zeal hath consumed me,
The psalmist had such zeal for Gods Word that he seemed like a sacrifice consumed with the fire upon the Lords altar.
Psa 119:139. Because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
First, they despised them, then, they neglected them, at last, they got as far as even to forget them. Forgetfulness of Gods Word is a very dreadful stage of disease in the heart.
Psa 119:140. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
To love Gods Word for its purity, is an index of a pure heart. Some love it for its poetry, some love it for its doctrine, some love it for its mercy; but he is an advanced man in the kingdom of grace who loves it for its purity.
Psa 119:141. I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
Others may, but I am not following their example. It is well when a Christian man is a contrast to other men. When they call him a mere nobody, he adopts their words, and says, Yes, I am nothing, I am small and despised, yet I do not forget the Lords precepts.
Psa 119:142. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
Pilate asked, What is truth? Here is the best possible answer: Thy law is the truth. Not only does it contain the truth, but it is the truth. The Word of God is not only true, that is its quality; but it is the truth, that is its essence. It is the cream of all truths. Thy law is the truth.
Psa 119:143. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: like two fierce dogs they had fixed their teeth in him; yet even then he could say, yet thy commandments are my delights. What a riddle is the man who knows God! He has great trouble and is full of anguish, yet he is delighted; how can these things be? The child of God knows what it is to be troubled on every side, and yet not to be troubled within.
Psa 119:144. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
As if he could not live without it, he did not call it true living except as he understood and enjoyed the precepts of his God.
Psa 119:145. I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD: I will keep thy statutes.
Here we have both a prayer and a resolve; but the resolution grew out of the prayer, and was connected with it. The psalmist prays to God to help him to keep his statutes. Are any of you hard put to it just now by strong temptation? I commend this verse to you: Hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. Cry unto God, Do help me, O Lord; let not strong temptation drag me away from thee! I do long to be holy, my whole hearts desire is to keep Thy ways; O help me, I pray thee! This verse begins with I cried, and the next verse begins in the same way:
Psa 119:146. I cried unto thee;
It is good when you can cry. The living child cries, and it is the man of God whose prayer is a cry of almost inarticulate utterance and grief: I cried, I cried. What did he cry?
Psa 119:146. Save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies.
David had no notion of salvation without obedience; so he prays, Save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. Is that the salvation you desire, salvation from sin? If so, you shall have it. God, the Holy One, delights to bestow holiness; and he will speedily hear and answer such a prayer as that.
Psa 119:147. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried:
The psalmist was still crying, crying early in the morning; before the sun was up, he was up, and crying unto God.
Psa 119:147. I hoped in thy word.
It is well when hope goes with prayer, when you begin to see daylight even before the sun is up. I hoped in thy Word. Not in any enthusiastic impression of his own, but in Gods Word itself, the psalmist placed all his confidence.
Psa 119:148. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
As he was up before the sun, so he was praying before they set the guards for the night-watch; and when they were changing guards, and he heard the cry of the hour from the watchman, he was still crying to God; and at the same time he was meditating: that I might meditate in thy Word. Ah, that is the way to cry! Meditation is very much neglected nowadays; we read, perhaps, too much, we meditate, for certain, too little; and meditation is to reading like digestion after eating. The cows in the pasture eat the grass, and then they lie down, and chew the cud, and get all the good they can out of what they have eaten. Reading snips off the grass, but meditation chews the cud. Therefore, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. In this matter we often fail; we shall be wise to imitate David, who devoted the early morning to prayer, and the night watches to meditation.
Psa 119:149. Hear my voice
So the psalmist used to pray aloud. It is a very great help in prayer if you can do the same. If we pray aloud to be heard of men, it is a sin; but if we pray aloud that we may hear ourselves, so that our devotion may be excited, we shall often find it very profitable, and if people hear us by accident, so much the better; they are not hearing anything that will do them hurt, they are hearing that which may do them good.
Psa 119:149. According unto thy lovingkindness:
That is, do not hear it to judge it, to censure it, to criticize it, but hear it as a father hears his child, loving to hear its little voice speaking in broken accents.
Psa 119:149. O LORD, quicken me according to thy judgment.
Just now, the psalmist prayed, Hear me, O Lord! In the 146th verse, he cried, Save me; now his prayer is, O Lord, quicken me! When God puts more life into us, then we have more strength to bear our burdens, and having more spiritual life, we have more power to resist temptation. Quickening is an essential mercy, containing within itself a multitude of blessings: Quicken me according to thy judgment.
Psa 119:150. They draw nigh that follow of after mischief:
He could hear the sound of their feet behind him; they were running after him, and he could detect the pit-pat of their malicious footsteps.
Psa 119:150-151. They are far from thy law. Thou art near, O LORD;
What a comfort that is! They are trying to get near, but thou art near. I can hear the tread of their feet behind me, but I can see thy face close to me. How comforted is the psalmist in the time of trouble! His adversaries may be as keen of scent as bloodhounds, but God is with him, therefore he fears them not.
Psa 119:151-152. And all thy commandments are truth, Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.
So that this Psalm was written by David when he was an old man. He had known the Lords commandments when he was young, and now, in his declining days, he can say, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever. O young men, if you want to be happy old men, begin by knowing Gods Word! If you have known that God has founded his Word of old, you know that which will comfort you when you grow old. In fact, you have found a perpetual spring within your heart, if from your youth up you have known in the fullest sense the Word of the Lord. Some are changing their creed every day in the week, as the weather changes, but blessed is that man who has so learned Christ to begin with that he keeps in the old way all his life. He is the man who can truly grow. Transplant a tree six times a year, and you will not get any fruit from it; but blessed are they that are planted in the courts of the Lord, for they shall flourish there, and shall still bring forth fruit in old age.
Fuente: Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible
Psa 119:137-144
Psa 119:137-144
STROPHE 18
LIKE HIMSELF; GOD’S LAW IS RIGHTEOUS; THE PSALMIST IS VERY ZEALOUS FOR IT; DOES NOT FORGET IT
Tsade
“Righteous art thou, O Jehovah,
And upright are thy judgments.
Thou has commanded thy testimonies in righteousness
And very faithfulness.
My zeal hath consumed me,
Because mine adversaries have forgotten thy words.
Thy word is very pure;
Therefore thy servant loveth it.
I am small and despised;
Yet do I not forget thy precepts.
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
And thy law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me;
For thy commandments are my delight.
Thy testimonies are righteous forever:
Give me understanding, and I shall live.”
The feature of this stanza is its emphasis upon the righteousness of God (Psa 119:137), followed by an extension of this principle as applied to God’s Word, mentioned in a number of synonyms.
God’s judgments are upright (Psa 119:137).
His testimonies are righteous (Psa 119:138).
God’s righteousness is everlasting (Psa 119:142).
All of his law is truth (Psa 119:142).
His commandments are a delight (Psa 119:143).
His testimonies are eternal (Psa 119:144).
Burns’ conclusion from this was that, all of God’s testimonies effectively declare his righteousness, “And therefore are to be depended upon by man.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 119:137. No request is expected in this verse. The Psalmist makes another reference to the excellencies of God’s judgments.
Psa 119:138. The same kind of praise is meant in this verse as was given in the preceding one. The term testimonies is used and David says they are righteous and faithful. That means that obedience to them will result in righteousness and faithfulness in the lives of those who observe them.
Psa 119:139. Strong defines “consumed” as being either literal or figurative; the latter is the meaning in this verse. David had been so active in his zeal for the words of God that his enemies had all but destroyed him in their hatred.
Psa 119:140. The general definition of pure is “unmixed.” The marginal rendering here is “tried or refined.” Both definitions amount to the same thought. If a metal has been put through the refinery until all the dross has been burned out it naturally will be unmixed. That condition is used to illustrate the quality of the word of God. There is this exception, however, that God’s word was always unmixed.
Psa 119:141. David means that his enemies regarded him as of little importance. To despise means to belittle another, and the evil men in that day were envious of David’s true greatness, so they consoled themselves by making light of him. But such evil treatment could not make him forget the precepts of the Lord.
Psa 119:142. Not only is God everlastingly righteous, but those who obey Him will reap the benefits of right living even to everlasting life. The key to these conclusions is in the truth of the law that had been approved by the power of God.
Psa 119:143. Trouble and anguish may disturb our earthly interests, but that need not hinder our delight in the Lord’s commandments. In fact, in times of distress is when we should take the greatest delight in such a document.
Psa 119:144. The reader will please apply the comments at v. 142 to this one. The difference is that the term here is testimonies.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Psa 99:4, Psa 103:6, Psa 145:17, Deu 32:4, Ezr 9:15, Neh 9:33, Jer 12:1, Dan 9:7, Dan 9:14, Rom 2:5, Rom 3:5, Rom 3:6, Rom 9:14, Rev 15:3, Rev 15:4, Rev 16:7, Rev 19:2
Reciprocal: 1Ch 16:12 – the judgments Job 34:23 – he will Psa 19:9 – judgments Psa 116:5 – and righteous Psa 119:62 – thy Isa 45:19 – speak righteousness Rom 7:12 – the law
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
TZADDI.
Psa 119:137-138. Righteous art thou, O Lord In thy nature and attributes, and therefore it is impossible that thou shouldest be unjust in any of thy laws or providences. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded Hebrew, , Thou hast commanded righteousness, even thy testimonies, or, by thy testimonies, or, the righteousness of thy testimonies, and truth, very much, or, earnestly. The sense is, Thou hast strictly and severely, under the highest obligations and penalties, commanded in thy word. that men should be just and true in all their actions.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
18. The righteous character of God’s Word 119:137-144
The righteous God has given us a righteous Word (Psa 119:137-138). The psalmist had a pure zeal for God’s revelation, even though his enemies looked down on him for his commitment to it (Psa 119:139-142).
"The world may look upon God’s people as ’small and despised,’ but when you stand on God’s promises, you are a giant." [Note: Ibid., p. 329.]
The writer found comfort in God’s righteous testimonies when troubles overwhelmed him (Psa 119:143-144).