Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:161
Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
161. His loyalty to the law has not been shaken by the gratuitous hostility of the civil authorities; rather has he feared to offend God. By princes are probably meant Israelite nobles, who exercised judicial and administrative functions. Cp. Psa 119:23; Jer 26:10 ff.; Ezr 9:1-2; Ezr 10:8; Ezr 10:14; Neh 9:32; Neh 9:34; Neh 9:38.
thy word ] So the Q’r, with Syr., Targ.; R.V. thy words, with K’thbh, LXX, Jer.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
161 168. Shn (and Sn). God’s law fills the Psalmist’s heart with awe, joy, love, and gratitude; he has been diligent in its observance. It is not the boasting of the Pharisee, but the honest profession of a good conscience. This stanza and that of Mm ( Psa 119:97 ff.) contain no petition.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Princes have persecuted me without a cause – This commences a new division of the psalm, indicated by the Hebrew letter Schin ( s, and sh) – corresponding to our s, or sh. On the meaning of the expression here, see Psa 119:23, note; Psa 119:76, note.
But my heart standeth in awe of thy word – I still reverence thy word. I am not deterred from keeping thy law by any threats or intimidations. This is in accordance with the uniform statements in the psalm, that nothing deterred him from manifesting his adherence to the law of God.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 119:161
Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of Thy Word.
A common fact and a rare experience
I. A common fact. The history of persecution and martyrdom has been, if not always inspired, sanctioned and enforced by princes. Their conduct in this respect is–
1. In direct antagonism to the Divine intention.
2. Gradually alienating the hearts of people from their class.
II. A rare experience.
1. Reverence for Gods Word. The meaning of this, perhaps, is, I have a greater dread of violating Thy law than I have of all the persecuting powers of princes or potentates. This is right, this is sublimely noble.
2. Delight in Gods Word (verse 162).
3. Loyalty to Gods Word (verse 163).
4. Gratitude for Gods Word (verse 164). (Homilist.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
LETTER SCHIN. – Twenty-first Division
Verse 161. Princes have persecuted me] This may refer to what was done by prime ministers, and the rulers of provinces, to sour the king against the unfortunate Jews, in order still to detain them in bondage. In reference to David, the plotting against him in Saul’s court, and the dangers he ran in consequence of the jealousies of the Philistine lords while he sojourned among them, are well known.
My heart standeth in awe] They had probably offers made them of enlargement or melioration of condition, providing they submitted to some idolatrous conditions; but they knew they had to do with a jealous God; their hearts stood in awe, and they were thereby kept from sin.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
SCHIN
Princes; who had power to do it, and who ought to have used their authority to protect me, whom they knew to be innocent and injured.
But my heart standeth in awe of thy word; but I feared thine offence and displeasure more than their wrath.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
161-165. (Compare Psa 119:46;Psa 119:86).
awereverential, notslavish fear, which could not coexist with love (Psa 119:163;1Jn 4:8). Instead of fearing hispersecutors, he fears God’s Word alone (Luk 12:4;Luk 12:5). The Jews inscribe inthe first page of the great Bible (Ge28:17), “How dreadful is this place! This is none other butthe house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
v, SCHIN.–The Twenty-first Part.
Ver. 161. SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause,…. These were either the princes of the Philistines at the court of Achish; or the princes of Israel, who joined in the conspiracy with Absalom; or the princes in Saul’s court, as Kimchi observes; who insinuated that David had evil designs against the king, drove him from abiding in the Lord’s inheritance, and pursued him from place to place, as a partridge on the mountains, 1Sa 29:4; and all which was without any cause or reason on his part; and which, as it was an aggravation of the sin of his persecutors, so it was an alleviation of his affliction: in this he was, a type of Christ, against whom the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers took counsel together; Herod, Pontius Pilate, and others, the princes of this world, who crucified the Lord of glory, and hated him without a cause; who was holy and harmless, and never did any injury to any man’s person or property, Ps 2:2;
but my heart standeth in awe of thy word: not in awe of the princes, but of the word of God; he had a greater regard to that than to them: when they in effect said, “go, serve other gods”, 1Sa 26:19; he remembered what the word of God says, “thou shall have no other gods before me”, Ex 20:3; and this was a means of preserving him from sinning. Kimchi thinks some respect is had to the word of God by Nathan the prophet, “I will raise up evil against thee out of thine house”, c. 2Sa 12:11 and he was afraid, on account of this word, lest he should fall into the hands of the princes: but it seems not to be an excruciating tormenting fear that is here meant; but a high regard for, and a holy reverence of the word of God, or a reverential affection for it; such as is consistent with the highest joy on account of it, as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The eightfold (both Shin and Sin)
(Note: Whilst even in the oldest alphabetical Pijutim the Sin perhaps represents the Samech as well, but never the Shin, it is the reverse in the Biblical alphabetical pieces. Here Sin and Shin coincide, and Samech is specially represented.)).
In the midst of persecution God’s word was still his fear, his joy, and his love, the object of his thanksgiving, and the ground of his hope. Princes persecute him without adequate cause, but his heart does not fear before them, but before God’s words (the Ker likes the singular, as in Psa 119:147), to deny which would be to him the greatest possible evil. It is, however, a fear that is associated with heartfelt joy (Psa 119:111). It is the joy of a conflict that is rewarded by rich spoil (Jdg 5:30, Isa 9:3). Not merely morning and evening, not merely three times a day (Psa 55:18), but seven times ( as in Lev 26:18; Pro 24:16), i.e., ever again and again, availing himself of every prayerful impulse, he gives thanks to God for His word, which so righteously decides and so correctly guides, is a source of transcendent peace to all who love it, and beside which one is not exposed to any danger of stumbling ( , lxx , cf. 1Jo 2:10) without some effectual counter-working. In Psa 119:166 he speaks like Jacob in Gen 49:18, and can speak thus, inasmuch as he has followed earnestly and untiringly after sanctification. He endeavours to keep God’s law most conscientiously, in proof of which he is able to appeal to God the Omniscient One. is here the 3rd praet., whereas in Psa 86:2 it is imperat. The future of is both and , just as of both and .
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| 21. SCHIN. | |
161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
David here lets us know, 1. How he was discouraged in his duty by the fear of man: Princes persecuted him. They looked upon him as a traitor and an enemy to the government, and under that notion sought his life, and bade him go serve other gods, 1 Sam. xxvi. 19. It has been the common lot of the best men to be persecuted; and the case is the worse if princes be the persecutors, for they have not only the sword in their hand, and therefore can do the more hurt, but they have the law on their side, and can do it with reputation and a colour of justice. It is sad that the power which magistrates have from God, and should use for him, should ever be employed against him. But marvel not at the matter, Eccl. v. 8. It was a comfort to David that when princes persecuted him he could truly say it was without cause, he never gave them any provocation. 2. How he was kept to his duty, notwithstanding, by the fear of God: “They would make me stand in awe of them and their word, and do as they bid me; but my heart stands in awe of thy word, and I am resolved to please God, and keep in with him, whoever is displeased and falls out with me.” Every gracious soul stands in awe of the word of God, of the authority of its precepts and the terror of its threatenings; and to those that do so nothing appears, in the power and wrath of man, at all formidable. We ought to obey God rather than men, and to make sure of God’s favour, though we throw ourselves under the frowns of all the world, Luk 12:4; Luk 12:5. The heart that stands in awe of God’s word is armed against the temptations that arise from persecution.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
The Schin Section
Scripture v. 161-168:
Verses 161, 162 declare that princes (civil rulers) had persecuted the godly psalmist, “without a cause,” as Saul and his party did David, yet he asserted, “my heart standeth (continually) in awe of thy word,” of its truth, its believability, and its durability, v. 160, as expressed 1Sa 24:11; 1Sa 24:14; 1Sa 26:18; Joh 15:25; Mat 10:28; 1Pe 3:14-15; Luk 12:5. He added, “I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil,” for in it is great profit, Mat 13:44; Rev 1:3.
Verses 163, 164 continue “I hate and abhor lying,” (deception) “But thy law do I love,” above the deceivers, cheats, and vanities of life, v. 29; Eph 4:22-25. For “Seven times a day (the number of perfection) do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments,” in all that He does, v.147,148.
Verse 165 certifies “great peace have they (possess they) which love thy law, and nothing shall offend them,” or cause them to stumble, faint, or fall out, Pro 3:2; Isa 32:17; 1Co 10:13; 1Co 15:58; Gal 6:9; Rom 1:16; Isa 8:14-15.
Verse 166 adds “Lord I have hoped for (believed in) thy salvation, and done thy commandments,” v. 174; Even as Jacob witnessed on his death bed, Gen 49:18.
Verses 167, 168 relate that the godly psalmist had loved and kept the precepts and testimonies of the Lord with exceeding earnestness, adding, “For all my ways are before thee,” of which both he and the Lord were aware, as attested, Gen 17:1; Job 34:21; Psa 44:20; Psa 44:24; Psa 73:23; Psa 90:8; Pro 5:21; Heb 4:13; Rev 2:23.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
161 Princes have persecuted me without a cause. (34) Here the Psalmist, informs us that sore and grievous as his temptation had been, he was restrained by the fear of God from desiring to attempt anything unworthy of the character of a godly man. We are prone to fall into despair when princes who are armed with power to overwhelm us are hostile to and molest us. The evil is also aggravated from the consideration that it is the very persons who ought to be as bucklers to defend us, who employ their strength in hurting us. Yea, when the afflicted are stricken by those in high places, they in a manner think that the hand of God is against them. There was also this peculiarity in the case of the Prophet, that he had to encounter the grandees of the chosen people — men whom God had placed in such honor-able stations, to the end they might be the pillars of the Church. Some give, more restricted exposition, which is, that David followed the exhortation of Christ in Mat 10:28,
“
Fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell;”
a sentiment which although it had not as yet been uttered by Christ’s mouth, ought nevertheless to have been fixed in the hearts of all the godly. The sense, then, in their opinion is, that the Prophet had not been turned aside from the fear of God by any of the threatening or terrors of his enemies. But his commendation of his own constancy is to be understood in a more extended sense than this. The exhortation of Isaiah is well known,
“
Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid; sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.” (Isa 8:12)
The Prophet in that place shows in general what the weapons are, with which the faithful being armed will succeed in vanquishing all the assaults of the world — he shows that they will do so, provided they not only stand in awe of God, but also rest assured that he will always be the guardian of their welfare, so that they may cast all their cares upon him. Thus it will come to pass that, resting contented with his protection, they will not turn aside to practice whatever may be sinful to secure their safety. In like manner the Prophet, in the passage before us, affirms that although being oppressed by the wrongful violence of princes, he presented a sad spectacle, yet he did not succumb, but considered what was lawful for him to do, and did not attempt to rival their wicked practices, by repelling craft with craft and violence with violence. In this text, as is evident from the connection, to be afraid at God’s word, is to restrain one’s self and to attempt nothing which is unlawful. I have already said that the adverb חנם, hinnam, without a cause, is added for the sake of amplification; for the temptation was so much the harder from the fact, that the tyrants, without cause and merely to gratify their own wicked inclination, assaulted an innocent individual. Men of a good disposition and of a noble mind, it is well known, are more easily excited to anger when the object assaulted is one who has done wrong to nobody. It was therefore a signal proof of self-control for the Prophet to bridle himself by the word of God, that he might not vie with others in evil doing, or, overcome with temptation, go out of the place which had been assigned him in the social body. Let us then learn to remain peaceable, although princes tyrannically abuse the power which God has committed to them, lest by creating insurrection we break in upon the peace and order of society.
(34) “David was persecuted by Saul and his associates ‘without a cause.’” — Warner on the Psalter.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
SCHIN.
(161) Princes.Here again we have an indication of the national character of the psalm. It was the whole community which suffered from the intrigues and violence of princes.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
, Shin.
161-168. Princes have persecuted me Persecutions still return, yet “the joy of the Lord” is his strength. Princes who sat and spake against him now persecute him without cause, yet the fear of God kills out the fear of man. The result of the struggle is like the spoil after a victory. Seven times is the same as many times, the use of “seven” for an indefinite number being very ancient. The division ends with an humble, but confident, appeal to the Searcher of hearts that he has steadily kept his testimonies, an appeal which only the purest conscience can venture to make.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Schin (and Sin) The Believer’s Fellowship with God in Prayer.
v. 161. Princes, v. 162. I rejoice at Thy Word, v. 163. I hate and abhor lying, v. 164. Seven times a day do I praise Thee, v. 165. Great peace have they which love Thy Law, v. 166. Lord, I have hoped for Thy salvation, v. 167. My soul hath kept Thy testimonies, v. 168. I have kept Thy precepts and Thy testimonies,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Psa 119:161. Princes The rulers and prime ministers of thy kingdom. But my heart standeth in awe; namely, so as to do nothing contrary to thy word in my own vindication. See 1Sa 24:6; 1Sa 26:9.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
SCHIN.
Still prosecuting the same subject of suffering, here are the same petitions lodged before the throne. The apostle to the Hebrews was commissioned by the Holy Ghost to teach the church some very sweet and leading truths, by way of accommodating the example of Jesus to his people: It became him (saith the apostle) for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. And, as if this was not enough, that every poor, exercised, tried, and buffetted believer might know where to apply in his affliction, with an assurance of being heard and answered; the apostle was taught to and, that those exercises of the ever blessed Jesus were intended partly by way of example, and partly by way of being the better fitted to administer aid to his afflicted ones. Wherefore (saith the apostle) in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful High Priest, in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people; Heb 2:16-17 . Reader! let you and I think of this, and if possible never lose sight of it. Our great Intercessor was once a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He knows what our troubled days now are by his own. And he can and will give all suited grace, strength, and final deliverance. Precious Jesus! methinks I now hear thee by the ear of faith, in thine high priestly office, saying, Holy Father! keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are, Joh 17:11 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 119:161 SCHIN. Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
Ver. 161. Princes have persecuted me without a cause ] And
Quae venit indigne poena, dolenda venit.
But better without a cause than for evil-doing, 1Pe 4:12-19 David suffered by these potentates, because he was small and despised, Psa 119:141 , as a little dog is worried by the bigger, as the lesser fishes are devoured by the greater.
But my heart standeth in awe of thy word
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 119:161-168 (Shin)
161Princes persecute me without cause,
But my heart stands in awe of Your words.
162I rejoice at Your word,
As one who finds great spoil.
163I hate and despise falsehood,
But I love Your law.
164Seven times a day I praise You,
Because of Your righteous ordinances.
165Those who love Your law have great peace,
And nothing causes them to stumble.
166I hope for Your salvation, O Lord,
And do Your commandments.
167My soul keeps Your testimonies,
And I love them exceedingly.
168I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies,
For all my ways are before You.
Psa 119:161-168 This stanza is characterized by perfect verbs which denote complete, finished, accomplished action. The psalmist is asserting what he has become because of God and His revelation.
1. my heart stands in awe of Your words, Psa 119:161 b, cf. Psa 119:120
2. I rejoice at Your word, Psa 119:162 a
3. I hate and despise falsehood, Psa 119:163 a, cf. Psa 119:104; Psa 119:118; Pro 13:5
4. I love Your law, Psa 119:163 b
5. I praise You, seven times a day, Psa 119:164 a
6. those who love (i.e., of which the psalmist is one) Your law, Psa 119:165 a
7. I hope for Your salvation, Psa 119:166 a
8. I do Your commandments, Psa 119:166 b
9. my soul keeps Your testimonies, Psa 119:167 a
10. I love Your testimonies, Psa 119:167 b
11. I keep Your precepts and testimonies, Psa 119:168 a
12. all my ways are before You, Psa 119:168 b
Psa 119:161 a The term princes (BDB 978) has a wide semantic usage which encompasses civil, tribal, and religious leaders (cf. Psa 119:23). The author of Psalms 119 was not in this social category and is often persecuted by those in power.
Psa 119:161 b It is surprising that this line of poetry expresses a fearful awe of God’s revelation, and the next line speaks of rejoicing in it. Yet both of these emotions are true of Scripture. It brings to fallen mankind fear, hope, peace, and joy!
The JPSOA translates stands in awe (BDB 808, KB 922, Qal perfect) as my heart thrills at Your word to form a parallel with Psa 119:162 a.
Psa 119:162 b Wealth is not associated with physical things but with a knowledge of God’s revelation and a willingness to act on it!
Psa 119:163 seven times See Special Topic: Symbolic Numbers in Scripture .
Psa 119:165 This verse gives two specific benefits of loving God’s revelation.
1. great peace (see Special Topic: Peace [shalom] )
2. no cause for stumbling (BDB 506)
Another way to express this same truth is found in Pro 3:1-26, using the imagery of a father’s teaching and wisdom! Knowing and following God brings benefits in this life and the next!
Remember, the word stumble (BDB 506) is an idiom related to the concept of God’s revelation as a clearly marked, smooth, straight, and obstruction-free, path (Psa 119:105; Pro 6:23).
Psa 119:166 The hope of this verse is paralleled by long for of Psa 119:174. God’s deliverance is future but certain! He will do what He promised (individually and corporately).
Psa 119:167 keeps Obedience is crucial both in the OT and the NT. The New Covenant (NT gospel) of Jer 31:31-34 changed the mechanism but not the purpose. God wants a people to reflect His character to the nations that they may come to Him and be saved! See Special Topic: Keep .
The verb (BDB 1036, KB 1581, Qal perfect) is repeated in Psa 119:168 for emphasis!
Psa 119:168 b The same truth is the essence of Psalms 139. God fully knows the heart and mind of each of His special creations (i.e., humans, cf. 1Sa 16:7; 1Ki 8:39; 1Ch 28:9; Psa 7:9; Psa 17:3; Psa 66:10; Jer 11:20; Jer 17:10; Jer 20:12; Luk 16:15; Act 1:24).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Princes = Rulers.
word. Same word as in Psa 119:9. Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate, read “words” (plural)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 119:161-168
Psa 119:161-168
STROPHE 21
THE PSALMIST PRAISES GOD’S LAW AND HOPES FOR SALVATION DESPITE PERSECUTION BY PRINCES
Sin, Shin
“Princes have persecuted me without a cause;
But my heart standeth in awe of thy words.
I rejoice at thy word,
As one that findeth great spoil.
I hate and abhor falsehood;
But thy law do I love.
Seven times a day do I praise thee,
Because of thy righteous ordinances.
Great peace have they that love thy law;
And they have no occasion of stumbling.
I have hoped for thy salvation, O Jehovah,
And have done thy commandments.
My soul hath observed thy testimonies;
And I love them exceedingly.
I have observed the precepts and thy testimonies;
For all my ways are before thee.”
“Princes have persecuted me” (Psa 119:161). A line like this almost assures the royal standing of the psalmist. It is hard to imagine princes persecuting some ordinary citizen. A line such as this favors the opinion of many of the older interpreters that David was the author here.
The most astounding thing in the whole composition is the frequency and firmness of the psalmist’s declarations of his being free of violating God’s law. In this single strophe, note the following.
He respects God’s Word (Psa 119:161).
He rejoices at it (Psa 119:162).
He abhors falsehood (Psa 119:163).
He loves God’s law (Psa 119:163).
He hoped for salvation (Psa 119:166).
He has done God’s commandments (Psa 119:166).
He has observed God’s testimonies (Psa 119:167).
He loves them exceedingly (Psa 119:167).
He has observed the precepts (Psa 119:168).
He has observed the testimonies (Psa 119:168).
All his ways are before the Lord (Psa 119:168).
This last line has the effect of an affirmation that God knows he is telling the truth about all these claims. The average Christian must exclaim, upon reading this, “For heaven’s sake, this man is perfect”! However, no one is perfect except the Lord Jesus Christ; and we must therefore understand these marvelous assertions as this psalmist’s earnest and heart-felt intentions, rather than evidences of his absolute perfection. Such statements as these are throughout the psalm, but there is an unusual concentration of them here.
“My heart standeth in awe of thy words” (Psa 119:161). Contrary to our version (the American Standard Version) and the RSV, Dahood suggested that this synonym for God’s law (`thy words’) should be eliminated from this verse, despite the prevailing impression that there is such a synonym in every verse of the whole psalm. He also alleged that, “No such term is to be found in the following verses: Psa 119:37; Psa 119:90; Psa 119:121-122; Psa 119:132, and Psa 119:149.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 119:161. Princes were not officials but were leading persons of any class. Such might feel as if they were privileged characters and would envy a man like David. Their persecution of such a good man would be without a cause to be sure. In spite of such treatment the Psalmist stood in awe, or had deep reverence for the word,
Psa 119:162. David’s estimate of the word was that it was of more value than great spoil, which means great wealth stored away and then accidently found by another.
Psa 119:163. The record of David’s life will bear out the statement of this verse. In the sad affair with Bath sheba he did not attempt even to modify his guilt but plainly admitted, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2Sa 12:13). This would give force to the other part of the verse, that he loved the law of God which was divine truth.
Psa 119:164. Seven as a figurative term denotes completeness and it is used evidently in that way here. It means that David’s entire life was tilled with praise for the Lord and for his righteous judgments.
Psa 119:165. The word offended means to stumble or falter in one’s pathway. Those who love the law of the Lord will have the peace that “passeth all understanding” (Php 4:7), and they will have no occasion to stumble because such persons will be watching where they go. They will be walking “circumspectly” (watching their steps, Eph 5:15), and will thus avoid the snares laid for them by the enemy of souls.
Psa 119:166. David has made frequent reference to salvation, but it is generally concerning relief from his many persecutions. And even the temporal benefits which he expected from the Lord were to be had on condition of doing the commandments.
Psa 119:167. Soul is used for the whole being, because a true servant of God will keep the testimonies with his mind and body.
Psa 119:168. This is another verse that uses two of the terms, precepts and testimonies. The Psalmist had kept them so that all his ways (manner of life) would be before or in the favorable view of the Lord.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Jehovah Inspires Continual Praise
Psa 119:161-170
What a noble conclusion we reach in these closing stanzas! I rejoice at thy word; thy law do I love; seven times a day do I praise thee; let my lips utter praise; let my tongue sing; let my soul live and it shall praise thee. There are many beautiful things in the world around us. We eat and drink and sleep; we read and meditate; we walk in the pleasant fields of nature. We have our homes, our loved ones, the respect and good-will of many. But, above all, we have God, and His Word, our eternal hope, and blessed foretastes of the heaven that is to be. Surely we should be less peevish and morose! We should rejoice in every good thing that the Lord our God gives us. We should take the cup brimming with salvation and praise His holy Name. He that hath so many causes of joy must be very much in love with sorrow, who chooses to turn aside and sit upon his little handful of thorns. And is not this the most wonderful of all, that though we were going astray like lost sheep, the Great Shepherd Himself came to seek and to save? Te Deum Laudamus!
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Princes: Psa 119:23, Psa 119:157, 1Sa 21:15, 1Sa 24:9-15, 1Sa 26:18, Joh 15:25
my heart: Psa 4:4, Gen 39:9, Gen 42:18, 2Ki 22:19, Neh 5:15, Job 31:23, Isa 66:2, Jer 36:23-25
Reciprocal: Psa 35:19 – that hate Lam 3:52 – without
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
SCHIN.
Psa 119:161-164. Princes The rulers and prime ministers of thy kingdom; have persecuted me Whom they ought to have used their authority to protect, knowing me to be innocent and injured; but my heart standeth in awe, &c. I fear thy displeasure more than their wrath, and therefore do nothing contrary to thy word in my own vindication. I hate and abhor lying Or falsehood, in my speech and actions; all hypocrisy, deceit, and fraud; even to the degree of abhorrence and abomination; but thy law do I love I most heartily love those honest courses to which thy law directs me. Seven times a day do I praise thee That is, many times, a certain number being put for an uncertain. Because of thy righteous judgments Because I have the happiness to be acquainted with the justice and goodness of those laws whereby thou governest us.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
119:161 SCHIN. Princes have {a} persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word.
(a) The threatenings and persecutions of princes could not cause me to cease to confess you whom I fear more than men.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
21. Joy in God’s Word 119:161-168
The opposition of powerful individuals did not intimidate the writer (Psa 119:161). He continued to love God’s Word and to find it a ceaseless source of joy, but he hated falsehood (Psa 119:162-164). Great peace (Heb. shalom, the fullness of God’s blessings) is the portion of those who love God’s law and hope in His salvation (Psa 119:165-166). Love had motivated the writer to keep the Lord’s commandments and to live openly before God (Psa 119:167-168).
"The joy, devotion, and benefits of a godly life radiate through this strophe." [Note: VanGemeren, p. 762.]