Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:40
Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
40. His will is good; but he needs fresh strength, and for this he prays on the ground of God’s righteousness, that attribute in virtue of which He must needs be true to His covenant-promises. Cp. Psa 5:8, note.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Behold, I have longed after thy precepts – I have earnestly desired them. See the notes at Psa 119:20.
Quicken me in thy righteousness – Make me to live; to live in obedience to thy righteous laws. See Psa 119:25, note; Psa 119:37, note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 40. Behold, I have longed] Thou searchest the heart; thou knowest that I have long desired thy salvation; thou seest that this desire still remains. Behold it! it is thy work; and through thy mercy I breathe after thy mercy.
Quicken me] I am dying; O give me the spirit of life in Christ Jesus!
ANALYSIS OF LETTER HE. – Fifth Division
In this part, which is wholly precatory, the psalmist prays, –
I. That God would illuminate his mind.
II. That he would remove all those hinderances which might prevent him from doing his duty.
I. 1. The first petition is for illumination: “Teach me;” point me out what I am to learn, and how I am to learn it.
2. The second is, “Give me understanding.” Let me comprehend, that I may profit by this teaching.
3. The end for which he asks, – that he “may keep the law.”
He specifies the manner: 1. He will be no temporizer; he will keep it “to the end.” 2. He will be no hypocrite; he will keep it “with his whole heart.”
1. He prays for power: “Make me to go.” Without thy Spirit’s help I can do nothing: I do not know the way without thy teaching; I cannot walk in it without thy help.
2. He wishes to go in the path; the way in which all God’s followers have walked.
3. It is a path, not a public road; a path where no beast goes, and men seldom.
4. He gives a reason why his petition should be granted: “Therein do I delight.”
II. He prays to have all impediments removed.
1. “Incline my heart.” Bind it down to a willing obedience.
2. “Not to covetousness.” Keep me from the love of money, the world, the creature.
3. He prays against the desire of the eye: “Turn away mine eyes.” Let the eye of my body be turned away from vanity; the eye of my mind turned away to thee.
4. Let me find the benefit of this turning: “Stablish thy word,” – make good thy word; give me grace to stand.
5. For which he gives this reason: “I am thy servant, and am devoted to thy fear.”
6. He is afraid of the consequences if he be not faithful: “Turn away my reproach.” Let it not be said, at the day of judgment, “I was hungry, and you gave me no meat,” c.
7. He knows if God condemns it must be justly: “For thy judgments are good.” Man may condemn where thou approvest he may approve where thou condemnest. Thy judgments alone are good.
8. He concludes, desiring the Lord to look on the state of his heart: “Behold!” 1. Is not my heart right before thee? 2. If so, quicken me; make me alive, and keep me alive! Without the latter, the former will answer no end.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
After thy precepts; after a more solid knowledge and constant performance of thy precepts.
Quicken me; do thou preserve and maintain both my natural and spiritual life.
In thy righteousness; according to thy justice or faithfulness, which obligeth thee to make good thy promises.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Behold, I have longed after thy precepts,…. After a greater degree of knowledge of them, and an opportunity of hearing them explained and enforced, and of yielding obedience to them; see
Ps 119:7;
quicken me in thy righteousness: in the way of righteousness, according to the word of righteousness, the Gospel, and with the righteousness of Christ revealed in it; and which is unto life, and quickens and comforts the heart, and from whence abundance of peace and joy flows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Here, 1. David professes the ardent affection he had to the word of God: “I have longed after thy precepts, not only loved them, and delighted in what I have already attained, but I have earnestly desired to know them more and do them better, and am still pressing forward towards perfection.” Tastes of the sweetness of God’s precepts will but set us a longing after a more intimate acquaintance with them. He appeals to God concerning this passionate desire after his precepts: “Behold, I have thus loved, thus longed; thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I am thus affected.” 2. He prays for grace to enable him to answer this profession. “Thou hast wrought in me this languishing desire, put life into me, that I may prosecute it; quicken me in thy righteousness, in thy righteous ways, according to thy righteous promise.” Where God has wrought to will he will work to do, and where he has wrought to desire he will satisfy the desire.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
40. Behold, I have a desire to thy precepts This is a repetition of what he declared a little before, with regard to his pious affection, and his love of righteousness; and that nothing was wanting but God to complete the work which he had commenced. If this interpretation be admitted, then, to be quickened in the righteousness of God, will be tantamount to being quickened in the way. The term righteousness is often put in this psalm for the law of God, or the rule of a righteous life. This view tends to make the two parts of the verse accord with one another. “Lord, this is now a remarkable kindness thou hast done me, in having inspired me with a holy desire to keep thy law; one thing is still necessary, that this same virtue pervade my whole life.” But as the word righteousness is ambiguous, my readers may, if they choose, understand it thus: Restore, defend, and maintain me for the sake of thy goodness, which thou art wont to show to all thy people. I have already pointed out the exposition which I prefer.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(40) Quicken me in thy righteousnessi.e., Let the sense of thy eternal justice give me vigour and life. Or the thought may be of the invigorating influence of a complete surrender to a righteous law, as in Wordsworths Ode to Duty;
I myself commend
Unto thy guidance from this hour.
Oh let my weakness have an end!
Give unto me, made lowly, wise,
The spirit of self-sacrifice.
The confidence of reason give,
And in the light of truth thy bondsman let me live.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.
Ver. 40. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts ] This he could boldly and safely say to God, offering himself to his trial for the truth of his desires. See Heb 13:18 .
Quicken me in thy righteousness
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
in: or by.
righteousness. Hebrew. zedakah. See App-73.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I have: Psa 119:5, Psa 119:20, Mat 26:41, Rom 7:24, 2Co 7:1, Gal 5:17, Phi 3:13, Phi 3:14
quicken: Psa 119:25, Psa 119:37, Psa 119:88, Psa 119:107, Psa 119:149, Psa 119:156, Psa 119:159, Mar 9:24, Joh 5:21, Joh 10:10, 1Co 15:45, Eph 2:5, 3Jo 1:2
Reciprocal: Deu 12:20 – I will Psa 19:8 – is pure Psa 80:18 – quicken Psa 119:81 – fainteth Psa 119:94 – for I have Psa 119:131 – I longed Psa 119:154 – quicken Psa 119:173 – for Psa 143:11 – Quicken Rom 7:15 – what Rom 7:18 – for to will
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
119:40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: {f} quicken me in thy righteousness.
(f) Give me strength to continue in your word even to the end.