Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:48
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
48. And I will lift up my hands unto thy commandments] The attitude of prayer, significant of an uplifted heart (Psa 28:2), and here of reverence and devotion.
which I have loved ] The clause overweights the verse, and has probably been accidentally repeated from Psa 119:47.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments … – As an expression of delight or rejoicing, as people lift up their hands with their voice when they give expression to joy. It denotes a high statue of joy, such as leads to an outward expression; not merely that which exists in calm contemplation, but where the heart is full, and when it finds outward expression.
And I will meditate in thy statutes – See the notes at Psa 1:2. I will indicate my joy – my happiness – in thy commandments in every way possible; by outward expressions, and by deep and calm contemplation when I am alone; in my daily employments, in solitude, in the night-watches. This is indicative always of true religion.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 48. My hands also will I lift up] I will present every victim and sacrifice which the law requires. I will make prayer and supplication before thee, lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting.
ANALYSIS OF LETTER VAU. – Sixth Division
The psalmist prays for mercy, and promises to show his thankfulness two ways: –
I. By a bold confession of God’s law.
II. By holy obedience to it.
The whole section consists of two petitions and six promises.
I. I. First petition. “Let thy mercies come also unto me – even thy salvation.” He joins these two, mercy and salvation, as cause and effect; for God’s mercy can alone bring salvation.
This being granted, he vows to be thankful and courageous.
1. He vows to confess God’s law, and answer any adversary who may say, “It is vain for him to hope in the Lord,” by showing that God has fulfilled his word.
2. That he will put his trust in God; because he is omnipotent and merciful.
II. The second petition is, “Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth.” For which he gives a reason: “I have hoped in thy judgments.”
1. “Take not thy word,” in which I boast and glory before my adversaries.
2. “Take not the word out of my mouth,” so that I dare not speak nor openly profess it.
3. “Take it not away utterly.” If for my unfaithfulness thou shouldst shut my mouth for a time, restore thy favour to me, that I may again make confession unto salvation.
4. For which he gives this reason: “I have hoped,” c. I trust in thy fidelity and justice, that thou wilt accomplish, in promises and threatenings, whatsoever thou hast engaged to perform.
II. Now he shows his thankfulness by determining to make confession of God’s mercy in a holy life serving God.
1. With a free heart: “I will walk at liberty;” sin shall have no dominion over me.
2. With a loosened tongue: “I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings.” It is a difficult thing to speak to great men concerning their salvation; it requires great boldness, and equal humility. Rudeness, under the guise of zeal, spoils every good.
3. With hearty affection: “I will delight myself.” He who can delight in his duty has made considerable progress in piety.
4. With corresponding practice: “My hands will I lift up.” My life shall declare that I have not received the grace of God in vain.
5. With a considerate mind: “I will meditate in thy statutes.” My understanding shall frequently examine them, approve of them, and turn them over to a heart full of fervent affection.
6. This was a work to which he was accustomed: “I have loved thy commandments and statutes.” Love feels no loads, and habit is a second nature.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Lift up; to lay hold upon them, to receive and embrace thy precepts and promises by faith and love, and cheerfully and vigorously to put them in practice; for as the hanging down of the hands is a gesture of sloth and listlessness, as 2Ch 15:7, and elsewhere; so the lifting up of the hands is the posture of a man entering upon action, as Gen 41:44; 2Sa 20:21.
I will meditate in thy statutes; my deepest thoughts, as well as my hands, shall be exercised in them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
48. My hands . . . lift up unto . .. commandmentsthat is, I will prayerfully (Ps28:2) direct my heart to keep Thy commandments.
ZAIN.(Ps 119:49-56).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved,…. Showing by such a gesture his great esteem of them, and affection for them; stretching out his hands, and embracing them with both arms, as it were: and this being a praying gesture, 2Ti 2:8, may signify his earnest desire and request that he might have grace and spiritual strength to enable him to observe them; and it being used in swearing, Ge 14:22, may express his firm resolution in the strength of divine grace to keep them; and the phrase signifying a doing or an attempt to do anything, Ge 41:44, may denote his practical observance of the commands, his putting his hand to do them with all his might;
and I will meditate in thy statutes; and thereby get a better understanding of them, and be in a better disposition and capacity to keep them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(48) My hands.See Psa. 28:2. The expression here is elliptical: I will lift my hands in prayer for power to observe Thy commands.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 119:48. My hands also will I lift up That is, says Mudge, “I will hold up my hands to receive God’s law into them: I will be always reading it.” Others think that the meaning is, “I will exemplify my love of thy commandments by a diligent and zealous practice of them.” Thus, by lifting up the hands, is frequently meant the setting about any action, especially of weight and importance. See Gen 41:44. Psa 10:12. Heb 12:12.
ZAIN.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Psa 119:48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.
Ver. 48. My hands also will I lift up, &c. ] Removing all rubs, and pulling thy word to me with both hands earnestly, with my whole man, with my whole might; Utraque manu capessim, , straining the body, and stretching out the hands to do mine utmost at it, while others put it from them with a force, and so judge themselves unworthy of everlasting life, Act 13:46 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
My hands, &c. Hebrew idiom = to swear by, as in Gen 14:22. Exo 6:8 (margin) Deu 32:40. Eze 20:5, Eze 20:6; Eze 36:7. See note on Exo 17:16.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
hands: Psa 10:12, Eze 44:12, Mic 5:9
unto thy: Mat 7:21, Joh 13:17, Joh 15:14, Jam 1:22-25
and I will: Psa 119:15, Psa 1:2
Reciprocal: Psa 112:1 – delighteth Psa 119:31 – stuck Psa 119:47 – which Psa 119:97 – O how Psa 119:117 – and I will Pro 3:1 – let Rom 7:22 – I delight Rom 12:2 – good 1Ti 4:15 – Meditate 1Jo 5:3 – and