Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:47
And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
47. Cp. Psa 119:16 ; Psa 119:70.
which I love] Cp. vv. [48], 97, 113, 119, 127, 140, 159, 163; and see above, p. 705.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And I will delight myself … – See the notes at Psa 119:16.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 119:47
And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved.
God s commandments to be loved
The love of Gods laws is certainly to be distinguished from the mere outward observance of them. As in the law of Moses, so far more in the Gospel of Christ, religion is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter. As to the reason of the thing, it is plain that in proportion as we have a regard for any person, we always take pleasure in doing what will please him; and that, if we are indifferent and careless about this, it is the strongest of all proofs that our regard for that person is little or none. In the same manner it is plain that there is no proof so decisive of our love or neglect of Almighty God, as whether we love or neglect His commandments. Scripture also solemnly confirms this most reasonable opinion. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me. If a man love Me, he will keep My Word. And the same kind of warning is to be found in the writings of the apostles, particularly in the Epistles of St. John. And what we particularly observe in it is that, as Christians, we are called to put in practice, not some vague, undetermined, fanciful notions of goodness or virtue, but the plain will and pleasure of our best, I ought to say, our only Friend. The Christian, then, who loves Christ Jesus must of necessity also love His commandments. This being certainly true, it seems no less than necessary for us slit to the best of our ability, to see whether or not we really, as we ought, love what our God commands, and, as the prophet says, delight ourselves in it. For in this respect, as in others, no doubt we may deceive ourselves with false confidence. Yet still there is the utmost necessity that, at the very best, we should bear in mind the solemn caution of the apostle, Re not high-minded, be not too confident of your growth in spiritual grace, of your willingness to endure anything for your Redeemers sake; but fear. (Plain Sermons by Contributors to the Tracts for the Times. )
Delight in Gods commandments
It is not a small progress in godliness to delight in the commandments of God. Our corrupt nature counts them burdenable: but the grace of Christ makes us find His yoke easy, and His burden light. And, indeed, so do His children esteem of it, who have found by experience there is more solid joy in the obedience of Gods commandments than in the perishing pleasures of sin. And would to God they who of a long time have proved the pleasures of transgression would turn them, and prove by experience, on the other hand, what comfort there is in mourning for sin; what is the joy of a good conscience, and the sweet inward pleasures of a godly conversation; they should then easily perceive that the delights of the one do by infinite degrees surmount the pleasures of the other. Natural men do some external works of Gods worship, but not with an inward delight; this is no acceptable service to God. They assemble themselves on the Sabbath with the godly to hear the Word; but what the one doth of delight, the other doth of custom, or compulsion. The Lord looks to the affection more than to the action; and we should not only consider what we do, but how we do it; so to come to the temple, that we come with Simeon, by motion of the Spirit; so to hear the Word, that it be with spiritual joy and delight, as David did. And this also condemns those of our age to whom the Word of the Lord is a reproach and weariness. (Bishop Cowper.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 47. Thy commandments, which I have loved.] O shame to Christians who feel so little affection to the Gospel of Christ, when we see such cordial, conscientious, and inviolate attachment in a Jew to the laws and ordinances of Moses, that did not afford a thousandth part of the privileges!
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whereas other princes place their delight in the glories and vanities of this world, and the study and practice of religion is generally irksome and loathsome to them, thy law shall be my chief delight and recreation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And I will delight myself in thy commandments,…. In perusing and practising them;
which I have loved; a good man loves the law of God, and the commandments of Christ, and delights in them after the inward man.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
47. And I will delight myself The sentiment contained in this verse is similar to that which he had previously mentioned. The amount is, he held the commandments of God in such high esteem, that he experienced nothing more pleasant to him than the making of them his constant theme of meditation. By the term delight, he expresses the intensity of his love. The phrase I will lift up my hands, refers, to the same thing. It is a sure indication that we eagerly desire a thing when we stretch out the hands to grasp and enjoy it. This simile, therefor denotes the ardor of his desire. (416) If a man, by his mien and gait pretend any such affection for the law of God, and yet pay no regard to it in the affairs of life, he would be justly chargeable with the basest hypocrisy. Again, he affirms, that that affection, so earnest and so ardent, springs from the sweetness of the law of God having knit our hearts to it. Finally, he says, he would meditate on God’s testimonies. Along with the majority of commentators, I have no doubt that the word שוח shuach, denotes that silent and secret musing in which the children of God exercise themselves.
(416) “ The lifting up of the hands is used in Scripture to denote, first, praying, (Psa 28:2; Lam 2:19; 1Ti 2:8😉 secondly, blessing, (Lev 19:22; Psa 22:4😉 thirdly, swearing, (Gen 14:22; Deu 32:40; Psa 106:26; Eze 36:7; Rev 10:5😉 fourthly, setting about any undertaking, (Gen 41:44; Psa 10:13; Heb 12:12) Aben Ezra, however, explains, (and perhaps rightly,) that the metaphor, in this place, is taken from the action of those who receive any one whom they were glad or proud to see with uplifted hands.” — Cresswell. Merrick explains the phrase thus: “I will reach out my hands with eagerness, in order to receive thy commandments.”
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Ver. 47. And I will delight myself ] sc. In contemplation of thy word. Aristotle telleth us that the principal pleasure is to be found in contemplation (Ethic. lib. 10).
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
have loved = love. Septuagint adds “much”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I will delight: Psa 119:16, Psa 119:24, Psa 112:1, Joh 4:34, Phi 2:5, 1Pe 2:21
which: Psa 119:48, Psa 119:97, Psa 119:127, Psa 119:140, Psa 119:167, Psa 119:174, Psa 19:7-10, Job 23:11, Job 23:12, Rom 7:12, Rom 7:16, Rom 7:22
Reciprocal: Psa 1:2 – But his Psa 40:8 – I delight Psa 119:77 – for thy Psa 119:143 – yet thy Pro 3:1 – let Pro 3:17 – ways of Rom 12:2 – good 1Jo 5:3 – and