Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 119:72
The law of thy mouth [is] better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
72. This is the lesson he has learnt in the school of affliction the inestimable preciousness of God’s law. Cp. Psa 119:14; Pro 8:10-11.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The law of thy mouth – The law which proceeds out of thy mouth, or which thou hast spoken.
Is better unto me – The Hebrew is, Good to me is the law of thy mouth above thousands of gold and silver.
Than thousands of gold and silver – Than any amount of wealth. It is to me the most valuable possession; that which I prize above all other things. Compare the notes at Psa 19:10.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 119:72
The law of Thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
The Bible better than money
I. Because it gives us better food. It is well designated the word of life, because by it the life of God is implanted in the human spirit and by it preserved. Christ is our life, and the support of our life; and the Bible is full of Christ.
II. Because it gives us better raiment. It offers you the robe of righteousness, and the robe of joy;–robes that adorn, protect, exalt, and endure.
III. Because it gives us better friends. A true friend is the dearest treasure of earth. Money can give you friends; but they are seldom true. And even the richest friends that money can buy for you are not to be compared with the poorest friends the Bible can give, the true men of earth, the angels and archangels of heaven, the spirits of just men made perfect, the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, and the praises thereof, these are the friends the Bible offers you.
IV. Because it gives us better homes. Money can give you very fine houses. But it cannot give you a building of God, a house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. The Bible can. (J. Dunlop.)
Gods Word better than wealth
I. It secures a higher culture. It gives a freedom and a force to the intellect, a depth and a purity to the sympathies, a sensibility to the conscience, an invincibility to the purpose, a refinement to the tastes, a penetration to the eye, and a pinion to the imagination, that no other appliances on this earth can furnish.
II. It invests with a higher power. Wealth cannot impart magnanimity, fortitude, courage; but the Word of God does to the highest degree. It enables the soul to glory in tribulation, and to welcome death with rapture.
III. It opens up higher enjoyments. Wealth cannot give the enjoyment of an approving conscience, a loving spirit, an ever-brightening future, and the friendship of the everlasting Father.
IV. It connects with a higher world. The gold and silver of all the earth can form no connection between us and the celestial state, can procure us no admission into the heavenly world. Naked came we into the world, etc. But the Word of God abides in us, goes with us as our light and our sanctuary. (Homilist.)
The preciousness of the Divine Word
I. The true nature, of the Word of God.
1. Its authority, It is a law. As such it is a rule of conduct; solemnly obligatory; and supported by rewards and punishments.
2. Its divinity. The law of Gods mouth: Not of human but of Divine origin. The revelation of Gods mind to man (2Ti 3:16; 2Pe 1:21). It possesses striking evidences of divinity.
(1) Its great and sublime doctrines.
(2) Its antiquity and preservation.
(3) Its renovating influence, sanctifying power, etc. (Joh 17:17).
II. Its inestimable worth.
1. In many things it resembles gold and silver.
(1) On account of its preciousness. Gold and silver most precious of metals. Word of God intrinsically so (Psa 138:2).
(2) In gold and silver there is much value in small compass. So the Word of God. Of more worth than all the books in the universe. Every word precious, etc.
(3) For their purity. Every word of God is pure. The standard of purity (Pro 30:5).
(4) For their splendour. So the Word of God is luminous, resplendent.
(5) For their solidity and weight. Word of God is solid, weighty; nothing trivial or light.
(6) For their unconsumable essence. Fire does not destroy, etc. It purifies, and removes only the dross.
(7):For their usefulness.
2. But it is better than gold and silver.
(1) Better in itself. Heavenly and spiritual in its nature.
(2) Better in its object and design. Destined for the soul.
(3) Better in its effects. Spiritual and eternal advantages.
(4) Better in point of essentiality.
(5) Better in point of certainty. Word of God sure. Thieves cannot rob us.
(6) Better in point of durability. The Word of God as incorruptible as the great Original from whence it proceeded.
Application–
1. Bless God for His precious Word. Next to Jesus and the Holy Spirit His greatest gift to man.
2. Prize and revere it. Set your hearts upon it.
3. Seek to be greatly enriched with it. Covet much of it, etc. Lay it up. Dig for it.
4. Use it. Apply it to your diversity of condition. It is profitable for all seasons and circumstances.
5. What shall be the end of those who neglect the Gospel of Christ? (J. Burns, D. D.)
The value of the Word of God
This is not an utterance in depreciation of gold and silver; precisely the reverse. It sets a high value upon them; and when sentimental pietists declare that they despise money and esteem gold as good for nothing, very many sensible people set it down as so much empty rant and nonsense. Gold is eminently useful in building a house and fitting it up with beauty and splendour, in providing food and raiment, and enabling a man to travel and secure all sorts of legitimate temporal enjoyments; but it makes him no wiser, no purer, no holier–it does not necessarily develop these qualities, or increase his faith, or fortify him against moral and spiritual evil, or expand his love to God and man; it often does the very reverse; while the outcome of Gods law is always, useful and good. Gold and silver are undeniably serviceable in many other directions which it were wrong and sinful fret to recognize. The progressive amelioration of the condition of our race by which this age is characterized beyond all others is instrumentally due in a large measure to the wise and generous use made of earthly treasures, in promoting religious and scientific education, and, above all, in scattering broadcast over the whole world the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So far as money is used for such purposes as these its utility and value can scarcely be overestimated. Yet we must place it in the category of the things which are temporal. But in seeking to form a just estimate of the value of the Word, let us view it–
I. In relation to intellectual development. The great purifying currents of thought that have elevated our race have been formed and directed by the Bible. This alone should be decisive. Without attempting to sketch the history of its brilliant achievements, it may be said in a word that the nations which do not possess or follow the Book move upon a far lower plane intellectually, morally, and spiritually than those which have it. Paganism, in its highest forms, has been an utter failure. Pagan lands have been, and are now, non-progressive and impure, the abodes of mental stagnation, festering vice and horrid cruelties, while Bible lands are fruitful in all manner of useful discoveries. They lead the van of the worlds mental and material progress. They revolutionize the commerce of nations. Their railways and steamships unite the ends of the earth and place its products and luxuries within the reach of all.
II. In relation to moral culture. It is not necessary to disparage ethical systems of heathen philosophers and others as if they contained no truth. Some of them contained a great deal. But looking over them from the days of Aristotle and Socrates to the time of the latest pagan writer, it may be said of them all that they lacked the great fundamental principle which is the backbone of Christian ethics, namely, an infallible standard by which to judge of right and wrong. This was their radical defect, and what renders worthless or positively injurious many systems of modern times. Men look in vain for the standard of right in self-interest, in utility, in feelings of benevolence, in pleasurable emotions, or in the dicta of unenlightened conscience–these are all shifting and uncertain, and, therefore, unfit to serve this purpose. But the Bible reveals an immutable and infallible standard. By general principles and specific precepts, by a comprehensive summary in the Ten Commandments, by the checkered and wonder-laden history of the chosen people, by the writings of inspired prophets and apostles, and by the incomparable lessons of the Lord Jesus Christ and by His spotless life as the incarnate God, the whole duty of man is enforced. Thus broadly and comprehensively viewed in relation to the moral government and culture of the world, who can doubt that Gods Word is better than thousands of gold and silver?
III. As an instrument of salvation to man. We may safely say that as a means of grace it surpasses all others. (D. H. MacVicar, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 72. The law of thy mouth is better] Who can say this? Who prefers the law of his God, the Christ that bought him, and the heaven to which he hopes to go, when he can live no longer upon earth, to thousands of gold and silver? Yea, how many are there who, like Judas, sell their Saviour even for thirty pieces of silver? Hear this, ye lovers of the world and of money!
As the letter teth begins but few words, not forty, in the Hebrew language, there is less variety under this division than under any of the preceding.
ANALYSIS OF LETTER TETH. – Ninth Division
The psalmist, having been afflicted, shows, –
I. How graciously God dealt with him, in bringing him profitably through it.
II. Prays for a right judgment and knowledge.
III. Expresses his love to God’s law, and the value he set upon it.
I. The psalmist gives thanks for mercy granted in affliction.
1. “Thou hast dealt graciously with thy servant.” Graciously in afflicting him, and graciously in relieving him.
2. And this thou hast done “according to thy word.” Thou hast fulfilled thy promise.
II. He prays to be taught of God: –
1. “Teach me good judgment.” Many judge badly; for they think that affliction is a sign of God’s displeasure. Let me have that good judgment that receives it as a fatherly correction from thee.
2. He asks for science and knowledge. A spiritual perception, and taste for heavenly things.
3. For this he gives his reason: “I have believed thy commandments.” If we believe not God, we cannot profit by his word.
4. There is something remarkable in the manner of asking: 1. A good or sound judgment. 2. Knowledge; for without a sound judgment, knowledge is of no use.
III. He acknowledges that God’s chastisements had done him good.
1.”Before I was afflicted.” Prosperity is often the mother or error.
2. “Now I have kept thy word.” Schola crucis, schola lucis, “The school of the cross is the school of light.”
3. He acknowledges that the good God had done him good. To have a right notion of God is a great blessing.
IV. Much of the psalmist’s affliction proceeded from wicked men. These he describes: –
1. They were proud. Pride is the mother of rebellion, both against God and man.
2. They were liars. Evil speaking and calumny are the first weapons of persecutors.
3. They forged these lies; they invented them. There was none ready to their hand, so they framed some to serve their purpose.
4. The psalmist opposes them with humility and truth: “I will keep thy precepts.”
5. He shows more particularly their moral character: “Their heart was as fat as grease;” they were stupid, brutish, hoggish. Their god was their belly. 1. Because they abounded in wealth, they were proud. 2. Because they pampered themselves, they were stupid, and incapable of moral feeling. The fat is the least sensible part of the animal system.
V. He shows the condition of the godly.
1. They see God’s hand in their afflictions.
2. They learn his statutes.
3. They prefer his word to all earthly treasures; and,
4. They persevere in this heavenly disposition, because they continue to depend on God.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Not only thy promises, but even thy precepts, which are so unpleasant and hard to ungodly men, to me they are more desirable and more needful and profitable, because they do not only give me abundant satisfaction and comfort in this life, but also they conduct me with safety and delight unto that eternal and most blessed life, where gold and silver bear no price.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
The law of thy mouth [is] better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. The word of God, the doctrines contained in it; which, coming out of the mouth of God, and spoken by him, carries in it weight and authority, commands reverence and respect; and ought to be considered as indeed the word of God and not of man; and so of more value than thousands of pieces of gold and silver; or, as the Targum, than a thousand talents of gold and silver. The truths and doctrines of the word of God are not only comparable to gold and silver for their intrinsic worth and value; but are preferable to them, and to be received before them: David had his thousands of gold and silver, but he esteemed the word of God above them all; and willingly suffered afflictions, that he might understand it better; see Ps 119:127.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
This is a reason why David reckoned that when by his afflictions he learned God’s statutes, an the profit did so much counterbalance the loss, he was really a gainer by them; for God’s law, which he got acquaintance with by his affliction, was better to him than all the gold and silver which he lost by his affliction. 1. David had but a little of the word of God in comparison with what we have, yet see how highly he valued it; how inexcusable then are we, who have both the Old and New Testament complete, and yet account them as a strange thing! Observe, Therefore he valued the law, because it is the law of God’s mouth, the revelation of his will, and ratified by his authority. 2. He had a great deal of gold and silver in comparison with what we have, yet see how little he valued it. His riches increased, and yet he did not set his heart upon them, but upon the word of God. That was better to him, yielded him better pleasures, and better maintenance, and a better inheritance, than all the treasures he was master of. Those that have read, and believe, David’s Psalms and Solomon’s Ecclesiastes, cannot but prefer the word of God far before the wealth of this world.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
(72) Better unto mei.e., better for me.
Thousands of.We must supply shekels or pieces.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth [is] better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Ver. 72. The law of thy mouth is better unto me, &c. ] For what is all this trash to that true treasure, those lively and life giving oracles? Dionysius worthily preferred Plato before Aristippus, because the one was ever craving money of him, but the other books. It is reported of Plato, that for three choice books he gave thirty thousand silverlings or florins. Now, what were all his books to the Bible? To blame, then, was that Anabaptist, who said in Melancthon’s hearing that he would not give two pence for all the Bibles in the world (Joh. Maul. loc. com. 78).
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
gold and silver. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, for coins made from these metals.
Jod. This is the small letter referred to in Mat 5:18.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
better: Psa 119:14, Psa 119:111, Psa 119:127, Psa 119:162, Psa 19:10, Pro 3:14, Pro 3:15, Pro 8:10, Pro 8:11, Pro 8:19, Pro 16:16, Mat 13:44-46
Reciprocal: Deu 33:4 – the inheritance Neh 8:12 – because Job 28:13 – knoweth Psa 1:2 – But his Psa 19:7 – law Pro 2:4 – thou Pro 23:23 – Buy Jer 15:16 – thy word Luk 18:30 – manifold more Rom 7:22 – I delight Rom 12:2 – good 1Co 3:12 – gold