Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:63
I [am] a companion of all [them] that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
I am a companion of all them that fear thee – I find my associates and friends among those who worship thee; not with the profane and the wicked. A man is known by the company that he keeps; and it is an evidence of piety when we seek our companions and friends among the pious. It shows where the heart is; what the preferences are; what are the tastes; what is the real condition of the soul. We seek our friends in accordance with our tastes and preferences; our love to God is indicated by our love to his friends. Compare Psa 139:21-22.
And of them that keep thy precepts – That obey thy law. On the sentiment here, compare the notes at Psa 1:1. A man may determine much in regard to his own character by asking himself what is the character of his chosen friends and companions. A member of a church should regard it as a dark sign against himself in regard to his piety, if his chosen friends are taken from the world, and not from the professed friends of God; if he finds more pleasure in their society, and in the scenes where they meet, than he does in the society of Christians however humble, or in places where they assemble for prayer and praise.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 119:63
I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that keep Thy precepts.
Good society
God has made man for society and society for man. The society, however, to which the text points is the society of the highest type, composed of those who fear God and keep His precepts.
I. This is the most honourable society. The only honourable society is the society of honourable men, and the only honourable men are those who fear God and keep His commandments.
II. This is the most happy society. All good men are happy.
III. This is the most growing society. It is large now, composed of an innumerable company of angels, and the spirits of just men made perfect; its numbers increase with every conversion. (Homilist)
The best company
I. The character of the people of God.
1. They fear Him. There is a twofold fear of God:–
(1) A servile fear.
(2) A filial fear: this is the fear intended in the text. This fear is promised (Jer 32:40).
2. They keep Gods precepts.
(1) In purpose and resolution; they approve of them all (Psa 119:117).
(2) In affection (Psa 19:10; Psa 119:77).
(3) They endeavour to observe them; and to observe them all (Psa 119:1; Psa 119:28).
II. What is implied in being a companion of those that fear God
1. A high esteem and affection for them (1Jn 4:20-21; Lev 19:18; Joh 13:34; Joh 15:12).
2. A delight in communion with them (Psa 16:3).
3. Joining with them in public worship (Psa 42:1-2; Psa 84:1-2).
4. A readiness to converse with them (Mal 3:16; Psa 15:4; Rom 1:12).
5. To sympathize with them (Rom 12:15; Rev 1:9; Heb 10:33).
6. A readiness to do them good (Gal 6:10; Jam 2:15-16; Mat 25:34).
III. The obligations we are under to aspire after such a temper and behaviour.
1. The relation we profess to stand in to God. Children of one Father (1Jn 3:1).
2. This temper and behaviour are represented as inseparably connected with true love to God Himself (1Jn 3:14; 1Jn 5:1).
3. Love to all who fear God is mentioned as the most essential and vital part of true religion (1Co 13:4-8; 1Co 13:13).
4. Jesus Christ, as our Redeemer, hath laid us under this obligation (Joh 13:34; 1Jn 3:16-19; Gal 2:20).
5. The utility or profit that resulteth from being a companion of those who fear God (Psa 87:2). (T. Hannam.)
A proper choice of company recommended
I. Its influence on our principles. But if you mingle without caution with the men of the world; if you come into their counsel, and unite in their pursuits, you may expect in time to adopt their maxims, and to abandon your own.
II. Its influence on our conduct. It is dangerous to form an intimacy with those who despise the laws which ye wish to obey, and are addicted to the practices from which you ought to abstain. By degrees you will venture to copy their manners. But, on the contrary, while the companions of ungodly men are in danger of exhibiting in their own behaviour all the deceivableness of unrighteousness, those whose companions are chosen among the servants of the Lord make use of a powerful means of preserving and improving their virtue.
III. Its influence on our enjoyment. In the company of those who fear God and keep His precepts, your happiness will be promoted, whatever may be your rank and situation in life. The best affections of your hearts will be called forth into exercise; and an entertainment will be furnished, of which you may partake without degrading your character, and on which you may afterwards reflect without pain and remorse.
IV. Its tendency to prepare us for heaven. (John Johnstone.)
Advantages of good companionship
I would remind you that for climbers of the Alps the only way of safety is to fasten each other together with a rope, and for you, too, a great way of safety is to join yourself to some one else. Ask your companion if he will allow you to draw a little strength from him. He will most likely tell you in his next breath that that is just what he is wanting himself, and you two together will be stronger than if you had been alone. The young man who lives in lonely lodgings and never speaks to any one has a very poor chance of standing temptation. Christianity is a social thing; that is one reason why Christ instituted the Christian Church and the Sacraments, that there might be a bond of union between all His followers. (Henry Drummond.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 63. I am a companion] This was the natural consequence of his own conversion; he abandoned the workers of iniquity, and associated with them that feared the Lord.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Not excepting the poorest and meanest, whose society other princes disdain.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
63. The communion of the saints.Delight in their company is an evidence of belonging to them (Psa 16:3;Amo 3:3; Mal 3:16).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
I [am] a companion of all [them] that fear thee,…. Not of the rich and mighty, much less of the wicked and ungodly; but of such who had the true fear of God upon their hearts, and before their eyes; who feared the Lord and his goodness, and truly served and worshipped him; even “all” of these, whether poor or rich, of whatsoever condition, or of whatsoever nation, being no respecter of persons. With these he was a partner in the blessings of the covenant, in the promises of it, in the graces of the Spirit, and in a right and meetness for the same eternal glory and happiness: he went in company with them to the house of God, and joined with them in all acts of religious worship; he conversed privately with them about what God had done for the souls of him and them; he delighted in their company; he sympathized with them in their troubles; and was a companion with them in their tribulation, sorrows, and sufferings, as well as in their joys and comforts;
and of them that keep thy precepts; as all such do who truly fear the Lord; for by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil, and cannot do those things that others do; cannot allow themselves in a wilful transgression of the divine precepts; but, influenced by the fear of God, observe and keep them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
David had often expressed the great love he had to God; here he expresses the great love he had to the people of God; and observe, 1. Why he loved them; not so much because they were his best friends, most firm to his interest and most forward to serve him, but because they were such as feared God and kept his precepts, and so did him honour and helped to support his kingdom among men. Our love to the saints is then sincere when we love them for the sake of what we see of God in them and the service they do to him. 2. How he showed his love to them: He was a companion of them. He had not only a spiritual communion with them in the same faith and hope, but he joined with them in holy ordinances in the courts of the Lord, where rich and poor, prince and peasant, meet together. He sympathized with them in their joys and sorrows (Heb. x. 33); he conversed familiarly with them, communicated his experiences to them, and consulted theirs. He not only took such to be his companions as did fear God, but he vouchsafed himself to be a companion with all, with any, that did so, wherever he met with them. Though he was a king, he would associate with the poorest of his subjects that feared God, Psa 15:4; Jas 2:1.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
63. I am a companion to all those who fear thee He does not simply speak of the brotherly love and concord which true believers cultivate among themselves, but intimates that, whenever he met with any individual who feared God, he gave him his hand in token of fellowship, and that he was not only one of the number of God’s servants, but also their helper. Such concord is undoubtedly required in all the godly, that they may contribute to each other’s advancement in the fear of God. There seems to be a tacit comparison between this holy combination, by which the faithful mutually keep up and foster among themselves the worship of God and true godliness, and the impious associations which prevail every where in the world. We see how worldly men array their troops against God, and assist one another in their attempts to overthrow his worship. The more then is it necessary for the children of God to be stirred up to the maintenance of a holy unity. The Psalmist commends the faithful, first, for their fearing God, and, secondly, for their observing the law. The fear of God is the root or origin of all righteousness, and by dedicating our life to His service, we manifest that His fear dwells in our hearts.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
Psa 119:63 I [am] a companion of all [them] that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
Ver. 63. I am a companion of all them ] Though never so mean, if there be aliquid Christi in them. Grace is of a uniting property, and purgeth out partiality, Jas 2:1-2 .
That keep thy precepts
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
companion = fellow of the same party.
fear = revere.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
fear
Also; Psa 119:74, (See Scofield “Psa 19:9”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
a companion: Psa 119:79, Psa 119:115, Psa 16:3, Psa 101:6, Psa 142:7, Pro 13:20, Mal 3:16-18, 2Co 6:14-17, 1Jo 1:3, 1Jo 3:14
Reciprocal: Gen 13:11 – they Rth 1:10 – Surely Psa 15:4 – but Psa 26:4 – General Psa 122:8 – General Pro 2:20 – General Joh 13:34 – That ye love Act 4:23 – they Act 28:14 – we found
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
119:63 I [am] a {d} companion of all [them] that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.
(d) Not only in mutual consent, but also with aid and help.